Literary devices are the different structures that writers use to give a distinctive interpretation of their work. In lines 1-24 of the poem “Lycidas” (1637), John Milton continually uses literary devices to emphasize pathos – which in rhetoric is an appeal to emotion. The literary devices used by Milton include: imagery, allusions, metaphors, and diction. By adding these literary devices, the audience is able to sense the feelings behind the speaker's words. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay “Lycidas” begins with the use of imagery to appeal to the speaker's sentimentalities. In lines 1-5, Milton writes: Once more, O ye laurels, and once more ye brown myrtles, with ivy that never burns, I come to pluck your berries sour and raw, and with fingers forced rude , shatter your leaves. before the softening year. The Oxford English Dictionary defines “pluck” as “a sudden, sharp jerk…a tug, tug, or tear.” In these lines, Milton uses the image of the speaker picking berries from flowers in a harsh manner. Although the speaker does not yet express the reason for his emotions, the act of “picking” the berries implies a certain aggression that suggests he is angry or upset about something. Another element that is added to these images is the apostrophe. Within these same lines, the speaker uses the word “thy”: “I come to pluck your berries” (3), “crush your leaves before the year that ripens” (5). By personalizing inanimate objects, it gives the sense that the speaker is so affected by a particular event that he feels the need to hurt another being. The use of imagery in these lines successfully allows readers to understand how the speaker feels without even having to explain why they feel that way. In the next lines, Milton writes, “Who would not sing to Lycidas? he himself knew how to sing and construct the high rhyme” (10-11). The verb “to sing” in these lines is a metaphor for writing poetry, which is hinted at when Milton mentions “high rhyme.” In this part of the passage, the speaker decides that he wants to write a poem for King that is reminiscent of his previous works. Singing is a very powerful way of expression, especially in religion. During mass in a Catholic church, the choir sings praises to the Lord. The act of singing is also known to come from angels; when Jesus was born, the angels were present and sang a hymn to express their happiness. When Milton uses this metaphor, he appeals to the emotions by emphasizing that he wants to give back to his friend by recognizing how great he was. In addition to considering singing a powerful action, the speaker also mentions that King's rhymes were "elevated." According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “lofty” means “to extend to a great height…”. By describing King's poems as noble, the speaker emphasizes the greatness of his works. To further accentuate the greatness of Edward King, the speaker of the poem also adds: wind,/Without the compensation of some melodious tear” (12-14). In these lines, the speaker proposes that King deserves to be mourned and that he deserves to be sung about – or in other words, written about. Knowing that the speaker admires King suggests that he was a good person, which then adds to the pathos because it gives the audience more reason to sympathize with the speaker's loss. Milton uses the phrase “melodious tear” in line 14 to describe the poem that is supposed to be composed for King. The diction he uses in this verse gives the term more beauty, recommending that poetry written for King should consist of beauty rather than simplicity. In the.