The theme of our article is the means of expression in the poem. What is it, we will tell below. As an example of analysis and to consolidate the material, the reader is invited to pay attention to F. Tyutchev’s poem “Leaves” and Pushkin’s beautiful poetic lines “Winter Morning”.
What are means of expression?
The means of expressiveness of speech is a complex of sound (phonetic), syntactic, lexical or phraseological elements used to achieve the best effect from the expressed, attract attention, emphasize certain aspects in speech.
Allocate:
- Sound (phonetic) means. This includes the use of certain sounds, which are periodically repeated, giving a special sound. Such methods were often used by symbolist poets. For example, the well-known poem by Konstantin Balmont “The Reeds” fascinates with hissing sounds, which create the effect of the noise of reeds.
- Syntactic. These are the features of building sentences. For example, V. Mayakovsky has short, biting phrases that immediately draw attention to the topic.
- Phraseological. This includes the use by the author of phraseological phrases or the so-called winged expressions - aphorisms.
- Lexical and semantic: related to the word and its meaning.
- Trails. Most often they are inherent precisely in artistic speech. These are metaphors and metonyms, hyperbole.
Means of expressiveness in a poem
Before proceeding to the poem and the study of its means of expression, it is worth paying attention to the style of this genre. As we said above, the means of expression for each genre are different. Most often, these methods of emphasizing the author’s intention are found in the artistic style. Poetry is an uniquely artistic genre (with some very rare exceptions), which is why the means of expression in the poem are used so that the reader can perceive more information and better understand the author. Writers and prose writers can not be constrained by the size and style of their works, while it is more difficult for poets to fit their feelings and thoughts, vision and understanding into relatively short lines.
The most commonly used expressive techniques in poetry
The means of artistic expression in the poem are quite diverse. They are not the property of a particular author, since they were created and improved for decades. But here on specific examples and by favorite means, sometimes it becomes very easy to recognize the author. The poetry of Sergei Yesenin, for example, is always filled with beautiful epithets and amazing metaphors. If a person who knows his style read out an unknown poem, most likely he will name the author without a hitch.
Means of expressiveness in a poem:
- Allegory. Its essence is in the expression of an object or character trait through a specific image. For example, the wolf in fairy tales and fables is always an allegorical symbol of cruelty, ferocity, and self-will.
- Hyperbole and litota. Simply put, artistic exaggeration and understatement.
- Antithesis. A way of expressiveness, which is achieved by comparing or placing next to two or more contrasting concepts. A.S. Pushkin, for example, says about the storm: "The way she bears the beast, she will cry like a child."
- Anaphora. This is the same beginning of several lines, as in the brilliant poem “Wait for me” by Konstantin Simonov.
- Alliteration. The use of consonant sounds of a specific sound series, as in Balmont's “Reeds”, hissing sounds alternating with each other create a mystical presence of plant noise at night.
- Metaphor. The figurative meaning of a word based on one or more features. "An old hut" by Yesenin, for example. The flimsy hut is compared with the old woman due to the advanced age of both.
- Metonymy. One word instead of another, or part instead of the whole.
- Personification. Reception, when the properties of the living are attributed to an inanimate object.
- Comparison and epithet. The first is when one subject is compared with another for the best effect of transmitting information. The second is known to many from the lessons of literature and is an artistic definition.
Means of expressiveness in the poem "Leaves" by Tyutchev
In order to better consolidate the topic, we will consider specific poems and try to figure out what examples are expressive techniques using their example.
This poetic attempt of the writer to understand the meaning of life, to mourn its transience is a true masterpiece of landscape lyrics. She is like a monologue of leaves that are sad about their fate and the summer that has gone so unnoticed.
There are many means of expression. This is personification (leaves say, think, the author presents them to the reader as living beings), and antithesis (leaves contrast themselves with needles), and comparison (“hedgehog needles” they call pine needles). Here we can also see methods of alliteration (sounds "w", "h", "w").
Playing with temporary forms of verbs helps the author to achieve the effect of dynamics, movement. Thanks to this technique, the reader almost feels the transience of time and leaf movement. Well, like any poem, “Leaves” could not do without the use of epithets. There are a lot of them, they are colorful and vibrant.
Pay attention to the size of the poem. In just four short lines, the poet uses many means of expression and raises several philosophical questions. Always be careful when reading poetry, and you will be pleasantly surprised by how much the author tells us.
The poem "Winter Morning"
The expressive means of the poem "Winter Morning" delight with its diversity. This work is an example of the best landscape lyrics.
Receptions that A.S. Pushkin uses to achieve a special mood - this is primarily an antithesis. The juxtaposition of the dark yesterday and the beautiful today distinguishes both pictures of nature - a cold blizzard and a beautiful morning - in separate canvases. The reader seems to see both the noise of the blizzard and the blinding snow.
The special positive epithets “lovely”, “magnificent”, “wonderful” emphasize the mood of the author and pass it on to us. Present in poetry is also an avatar. The blizzard is "angry" here, and the haze "rushed" through the gloomy sky.
Finally
The means of expressing speech do not just decorate and complement speech, they make it lively, artistic. They are like bright colors with which the artist enlivens his picture. Their goal is to emphasize and pay attention, strengthen the impression, perhaps even surprise. Therefore, when reading poetry, do not rush, think about what the author wants to convey. Skipping the words of the great artists of the word hidden between the lines, you lose a lot.