English Literature - Poetry and Poetic Devices

English Literature
English Literature - Poetry and Poetic Devices

Which poetic technique is most prominent in the phrase "nodding by the fire" ?


Read the following poem and answer the question:

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

Options:

  1. Alliteration
  2. Imagery
  3. Personification
  4. Metaphor

Right Answer: Imagery

The phrase ‘nodding by the fire’ appeals directly to the reader’s senses and creates a picture of an old woman drowsing in the warmth of the hearth, her head dipping as sleep overtakes her. Language that works in this way, by making the reader see, hear or feel a scene, is called imagery. There is no repetition of initial consonant sounds, so alliteration is not the answer; no lifeless thing is given human qualities here, so it is not personification; and no implied comparison between two unlike things is made, so it is not a metaphor.

This question is part of English Literature - Poetry and Poetic Devices, which has 17 practice questions with answers.

Recent questions from every quiz

Latest Articles

Published: | Last Updated:
Deepak - Educational Content Creator

Written by Deepak

Educational Content Creator

I am an educational content creator dedicated to making learning simple, engaging, and accessible for students preparing for competitive exams. He specializes in creating high-quality study materials, including notes, multiple-choice questions (MCQs), previous year question papers, practice tests, and exam-oriented resources.

Experience: 10+ years in Education and Competitive Exam Content Creator