Question

Pride” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919)

There is a pride that children have
When they are praised for learning;
A pride that prompts the soul to strive
To nobler heights of yearning.


But there is pride that shuts the heart
Against the voice of warning,
That draws the curtains, blinds the light
And kills the hope of morning.


The one uplifts man to the skies,
The other drags him under.
The one is like a burning torch,
The other like blind thunder.


O, seek the pride that leads to light,
That turns not from the teaching;
The pride that rides on wings of right,
And not the pride of preaching so What is one example of figurative
language from the poem, “Pride?”
and how does it contribute to the
mood of the poem? Remember to
share the quoted section, the type
of figurative language, and the
mood of the poem. Write at least
two complete sentences.

Answer 1

"The one is like a burning torch, / The other like blind thunder." This is a simile comparing two kinds of pride; it creates a mood that is both uplifting (the "burning torch" suggests warmth and guidance) and cautionary/ominous (the "blind thunder" suggests destructive, blinding force), so the poem feels inspiring yet warning.