Figurative Language: Apostrophe and Symbolism
Apostrophe
Apostrophe occurs when the speaker of a poem directly addresses someone or something during the poem. Poets do this to add emphasis to their subjects. Apostrophe can add a sense of urgency and drama to a poem. Sometimes, apostrophe can add humor to a poem if the poet is addressing something silly. Make sure not to confuse this type of figurative language with the punctuation mark apostrophe ('). You should use context clues to determine which type of apostrophe is meant when you encounter the word.
"Heart We Will Forget Him!" by Emily Dickinson
You have already read a poem by Emily Dickinson in this module. Because she wrote so many works, they are great examples of a variety of types of figurative language. In the example below, Dickinson uses apostrophe.
Now, read "Heart, We Will Forget Him!" by Emily Dickinson. As you read the poem, try to pick out any evidence of apostrophe. To what or to whom is the speaker speaking?
In this poem, it is pretty easy to see what is being addressed through apostrophe - the heart! In the first stanza, the speaker is having a conversation with her heart, during which she says that she and her heart together will forget about her lost love. She says her heart can forget the warmth her lover brought her and she, herself, will forget the light. In the last stanza, she tells her heart to teach her how to forget about her lover, and then she becomes a bit panicked! She tells her heart "Haste! (meaning quick) tell me how to forget because if you wait too long to teach me how to forget, I might have time to remember." It seems like the speaker is pleading with her heart to help her forget her lover. If the speaker had simply said, "I want to forget my lover," it would not have the same energy as it does with the use of apostrophe.
Symbolism
A symbol is something that stands for itself, but it also represents something beyond itself. Poets use symbols in poetry to further enhance a theme. Remember, the theme of a work is the main idea or underlying meaning. When a poet uses symbols to strengthen a sense of theme in a poem, it it called symbolism.
"I, Too" by Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes was born in 1902 in Missouri, was raised in Ohio and moved to New York to attend Columbia University. Hughes was an influential African-American writer who wrote poetry and other literature during the Harlem Renaissance, a literary movement in the 1920s and 1930s. It was named after the Harlem district of New York City and led by African-American writers.
His first volume of poetry was published to great success in 1926. His literature addressed pride in African-American culture. It also voiced displeasure with the racial oppression he witnessed in America. Although Langston Hughes did not live permanently in Harlem, it was a source of inspiration for him.
Now, read "I, Too" by Langston Hughes. As you read the poem, try to find evidence of symbolism. What importance does symbolism play in the poem?
While reading this poem, you may notice is that there are several mentions of rooms in a house. Specifically, the speaker talks about the kitchen and the dining room table. In the third through fifth lines of the poem, the speaker describes how he has to eat in the kitchen when company comes to the house. From the days of slavery through the American Civil Rights Movement, African-American domestic worker were excluded from eating in the dining room with the families for whom they worked. These lines in the poem are a literal description of what happened, but they are also a symbol for how African-American individuals were treated by society at that time. In lines six through seven, the speaker goes on to say that he does not allow this to make him angry and uses the time to eat and grow strong.
In lines eight through fourteen, the speaker talks about the future. He says that he will be sitting at the table, and that he will not be told to eat elsewhere. Again, he is speaking about his literal right to eat in the kitchen with other people, but this is also a symbol of how there will be future racial equality in general. In the following lines, he notes that those who persecuted him will be sorry for doing so, because he is important to America, too.
Figurative Language Review
Now that you have learned about apostrophe and symbolism in poetry, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Read each question and drag and drop the correct answer into the blank provided. Then, click SUBMIT to check your responses. Click the player button to get started.