Monday, June 29, 2009



Lesson 1: Figurative Language

Types: Hyperbole, Personification, Metaphor, Simile and Symbolism

Life Is Fine by Langston Hughes
I went down to the river,
I set down on the bank.
I tried to think but couldn't,
So I jumped in and sank.

I came up once and hollered!
I came up twice and cried!
If that water hadn't a-been so cold
I might've sunk and died.

But it was Cold in that water! It was cold!

I took the elevator
Sixteen floors above the ground.
I thought about my baby
And thought I would jump down.

I stood there and I hollered!
I stood there and I cried!
If it hadn't a-been so high
I might've jumped and died.

But it was High up there! It was high!

So since I'm still here livin',
I guess I will live on.
I could've died for love--
But for livin' I was born

Though you may hear me holler,
And you may see me cry--
I'll be dogged, sweet baby,
If you gonna see me die.

Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!

Hyperbole - exaggeration, invoke an emotion or image
- 'holler' and 'cry' are used repeatedly, expressing the sad life of the author.
- 'Life is fine!' is repeated at the end to confirm that life is really fine, though it is exaggerated, as from the first six paragraphs, the author had actually wanted to commit suicide, implying that life was not that fine after all.
- 'It was cold!' and 'It was high!' is added at the end of the sentence to exaggerate the coldness and height, which leads to the author having a change of mind to survive.

Personification - giving an abstract object human traits and qualities
Personification is not found in this poem.

Metaphor - comparing seemingly unrelated subjects without words 'like', 'as' etc.
Connecting 'dogged' with 'die' - Dogged: obstinately determined.

Simile - uses words 'like', 'as' etc. to compare seemingly unrelated subjects
Simile is not found in this poem.

Symbolism - using a representing figure to carry additional meaning
The 'sweet baby' symbolises a better life, which is one of the main reasons why the author decided to live on.

Why I like this poem
This is a poem that is written completely using simple words and is simple to understand, yet carries a lot of meaning - the meaning of life. This poem shows the importance of life and how precious it is that we cannot afford to take it away so easily. Through simple examples, the poet passes a simple yet meaningful message to the readers: No matter how tough life is, there is always a solution. You will just have to find the right key, which might have always been by your side, to open the door. The door to a better life.

Posted by 1A123 Yue Jun at 8:13 AM

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