"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, to various questions of "Adonais".
Literary devices
Symbols
Adonis: Adonis represents Keats himself. In Greek mythology, Adonis was a handsome youth loved by Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Like Adonis, Keats is portrayed as a young, beautiful poet whose life was cut short.
The Nightingale: The nightingale is a symbol of the poet’s voice and creativity. Shelley uses the image of the nightingale to highlight Keats’ poetic genius and its enduring nature.
The Lyre: The lyre is a symbol of poetry and creativity. The poem is broken, signifying the premature end of Keats’ poetic career and life.
The Wind and the Sea: These elements represent the destructive forces of nature, which are contrasted with the eternal beauty of Keats’ poetry. They also symbolize the harsh criticism and negative reviews Keats received during his lifetime.
The Tears of the Muses: The tears of the Muses represent the collective sorrow of the poetic community over Keats’ death. They weep for the loss of his talent.
The Star: The star mentioned in the poem represents Keats’ enduring fame and influence, which continues to shine brightly after his death.
Figures of Speech
Allusion: Shelley references Greek mythology and literature, drawing upon the story of Adonis and the works of earlier poets like John Milton to create a rich tapestry of allusions.
Imagery: The poem is filled with vivid and evocative imagery, such as the opening lines describing Keats as “a pale flower” and “a lily of the vale.”
Simile: Shelley uses similes to compare Keats to various natural elements, like “a fading coal,” “a meteor,” or “a rose.”
Metaphor: The poem employs metaphors to convey the idea of Keats’ untimely death as a loss to the world of poetry and nature.
Personification: Shelley personifies various elements of nature, such as the “couchant lion” and the “Seasons,” giving them human qualities and emotions.
Hyperbole: Shelley uses hyperbolic language to emphasize the magnitude of Keats’ death, describing it as “the pall of death” and “a grief profound.”
Oxymoron: Shelley employs oxymorons like “unawakening, with unwearying eyes,” which paradoxically describe the eternal sleep of death.