"Adonais" : Literary devices
"Adonais" is a notable literary work by Percy Bysshe Shelley. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of "Adonais".
Literary devices
Apostrophe: Apostrophe means directly talking to someone who is not present or cannot reply. In Adonais, Shelley talks to Keats, who is dead. He also talks to Urania, a goddess. These direct addresses show deep emotion. They help express grief, anger, and love. This device makes the poem more personal and powerful.
Personification: Personification means giving human qualities to non-human things. In the poem, Shelley shows Nature as a living being that cries for Keats. He also calls the wind “sobbing” and Echo “silent” with pain. This makes Nature feel close and alive. It shows how deeply the world shares the poet’s sorrow.
Classical Allusion: A classical allusion is a reference to old Greek or Roman stories. Shelley uses the myth of Adonis to compare Keats’s early death. He also brings in Urania, Echo, and Narcissus. These references give deep meaning. They connect Keats to beauty, love, and suffering. They also make the poem rich and timeless.