English Literature
Introduction
Genres of Literature
1. Short Stories
2. Poems
3. Plays
THE UNSUNG SONG
POECTIC DEVICES IN THE POEMS
Figures of speech used in a poem
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A word or phrase used in a on literal sense to add rhetorical force to a spoken/written passage
In literature and writing a figure of speech is the use of any of a auxiliary meaning idea or feeling
Examples
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Hyperbole
Irony
Climax
Simile (use of like/as)
Personification (when a thing is given a human attributed)
Metaphor
Alliteration
Imagery (use of vivid and descriptive language to add depth to their work. It appeals to human
senses to deepen the reader's understanding of the work)
WHAT TO IDENTIFY IN A POEM?
1. Tone (Sad, Happy)
2. Persona (The one who wrote or
narrated the poem)
3. Theme
4. Mood
1. LOVE BY JULIA MAMBO
SUMMARY
The persona expresses admiration for his/her loved one. The persona also compares his/her lover to a
gentle wind that is good smelling because it is blowing from freshly blossomed rose flowers. He further
says in stanza two that his lover is a song forever, whose tenderness/goodness flows like a spring that
flows all seasons.
ANALYSIS
THEME
TONE
Love
Appreciative
PERSONA
MOOD
A man/woman who is love or she/he is happy
with his/her loved one
Joyful
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POETIC DEVICES
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Simile-You refresh like sleep
Metaphor-You are a gentle wind
Imagery-The skeleton and use of some words that paint a positive picture of love, good, sweet
etc.
2. DEAR LORD BY IREEN CHIPETA ZIMBA
SUMMARY
The person compares his kind of love and that of the addressee he is comparing the love of the
addressee is much permanent than his love which is temporary.
ANALYSIS
TONE
THEMES
Appreciation
-The unreliability of man’s love
MOOD
-The reliability of God’s love
Happy
-Permanent love
POETIC DEVICES
Simile- like a cloud, like the sun
3. MY LOVE BY BENJAMIN CHIUNDA
SUMMARY
The persona is expressing his commitment to his lover even though they are apart. in the last stanza the
persona expresses that he is able to go and meet his lover even though she/he is far away. He is
consoled by the fact that humans go as far as the moon and he concludes that nothing can stop him/her
from reaching his lover.
ANALYSIS
TONE
THEMES
Faithful
-Genuine love
MOOD
-Commitment to a loved one
Hopeful
-Faithfulness
POETIC DEVICES
Metaphor-You are my paradise
4. THE LAST ACT BY ANTHONY KAZEMBE
SUMMARY
-The persona is describing a deep feeling for a loved one who cannot come back even though they once
shared good moments together. He relates it to a stage performance where after the curtain call go
away leaving skeletons that haunt the stage
ANALYSIS
TONE
Frustrated
MOOD
THEMES
Sad
Frustration, unpleasant memories.
POETIC DEVICES
Personification- only skeletons remain to haunt the stage where the stage is treated as if it is a
human/anima as it is able to be haunted/troubled by the skeletons.
5. MARRIGE BY HERBERT H. KAPOTA
The persona is describing the challenges that married people face abd the role of an independent
mediator plays. In stanza two, marriage is taken as a moving car that moves slowly when it is going
uphill and moves faster when going downhill. And in both cases there is a need for a deliver to control
the movements or the marriage.
ANALYSIS
TONE
THEMES
Mediation
Mediation
MOOD
Importance of family
Persuasive
POETIC DEVICES
Similes-It is like an Ox-cart, it is like a moving car
6. DEAR MOTHER BY ELIZABETH MAKHALA
SUMMARY
The persona is expressing deep wish that his or her mother could still be alive for him/her to share good
moments and gifts, on this special day. He is worried that the mother should have waited for this day
because he has plans and love for her but unfortunately she died. Despite that the mother died he says
he/she sends flowers of love because it is a special day and this means that the persona places flowers
on her tomb.
ANALYSIS
TONE
Regretful
MOOD
THEMES
Sorrowful
Death, motherly love and sad memories
POETIC DEVICES
Apostrophe- the persona is speaking as if he is speaking directly to a person (the mother) who is
listening yet the mother died a long time ago.
7. MAMA BY THOMAS KHUMUWA
SUMMARY
The persona is expressing appreciation to his/her mother for her responsibility over his /her life from
when he was a child to adulthood
ANALYSIS
TONE
Appreciative
MOOD
THEMES
Happy
Appreciative, motherly love
POETIC DEVICES
Metaphors- nine miles which means nine months, twenty miles which means 20 year
Symbolism- Golgotha is used to indicate the end to a problem which in this case is the pain and suffering
of pregnancy.
8. WOMAN BY CHRISS MWAWA
SUMMARY
The persona is sympathizing the woman who is suffering because of lack care from her husband. He says
that the woman is carrying on her back, a big calabash full of water on her head while she is also heavy
with pregnancy and her husband is far ahead of the woman, and he shouts at her to walk faster.
ANALYSIS
TONE
Sympathetic
MOOD
Sad
THEMES
Irresponsibility and gender based violence.