Figures of Speech Used in Poetry

Abstract

The present study entitled Figures of Speech Used in Poetry is an attempt to identify and describe the FS in the collection of poems, Generation, prescribed for grade twelve. Poetry presents particular problems for teachers and students. The students in our context realize it a difficult job to go through the language of literature, language of poetry and FS used in it. Some students even take the FS used in language and literature, specifically poetry, as something impenetrable. This study helps in clearing the way in that direction. The FS used in poetry is foregrounded. There are two devices for analysis from its point of view: FSs related to poetry and poetry related to FS. FS occur at any level of literature and poetry as well. That is to say, simile, metaphor, irony etc. are found in literature in general and poetry in specific. But the fact is that FS always occur haphazardly; the poet uses from the norms of language and literature on purpose. This study aims to describe the FS used in poetry following the two levels of literature, viz. poetic point and figurative point of view; and to suggest some pedagogical implications. The study is solely based on the secondary sources of data. In order to carry out the research, the seventeen poems prescribed in the course Generation have been collected and analyzed after observing and preparing the checklists. So, the observation and checklist are the tools for data collection. The main findings of the study are the majority of FS used in poetry. There is no definition of using FS in the poetry. And, the frequency of FS is not relevant with poetry. The study comprises four chapters along with references and appendices at the end. The first chapter deals with the general background of poetry and FS. It also contains the literature review, the objectives of the study, and the significance of the study and the definition of the terms used in the study. The second chapter deals with the methodology adopted in the study that includes

the sources of data; sampling procedure; tools for data collection; process of data collection and limitations of the study. Similarly, the third chapter deals with the analysis and interpretation of data. It has been done in accordance with the FS used in the poetry and the fourth chapter comprises the findings of the study. It also suggests some pedagogical implications.