Asked by bindiya farswani

Please can anyone help me understand how metaphor is being used in the poem, "Tableau".
Answered by Writeacher
Oh, my goodness! It's filled with them.

First, we need to make sure you're understanding the term. Tell me what you understand a metaphor to be.
Answered by bindiya farswani
I know that metaphor compares two unlike and at same time describes how they are alike in one way.
Answered by Writeacher
http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/52568-Countee-Cullen-Tableau

The poem has 12 lines, right? 3 stanzas of 4 lines each.

Look at lines 3 and 4.
Look at lines 11 and 12.

Those lines should get you started.

What/who is/are being compared? To what? What is the contrast?

Study some of the links in here if you don't see the metaphors:
http://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+identify+metaphor&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1GGLL_en___US379
Answered by bindiya farswani
Am I right?
Answered by bindiya farswani
Oh, I just saw your message. :)
Answered by Writeacher
What do you think about those lines I gave you?
Answered by bindiya farswani
This is what I understand:

"What/who is/are being compared? To what? What is the contrast?"

Ans: Two boys- one black and one white. And their friendship is being compared.

Am I right?
Answered by Writeacher
"And their friendship is being compared." <~~ What does that mean?
Answered by bindiya farswani
Am not that sure but I think along with the boys friendship the merging or bonding between the white and black is taking place.
Answered by Writeacher
<b>The golden splendor of the day
The sable pride of night.</b>

What colors do you see here? You should see two?

What are the nuances of "splendor" and "pride"?

Who is "day"? Who is "night"?

Use http://www.answers.com and/or http://www.dictionary.com to look up ALL WORDS that are not crystal clear to you.
Answered by bindiya farswani
The day is the white boy and night is the black boy.
Answered by Writeacher
Right -- and how are they being contrasted? Is one better than the other? Are they both needed equally in our world? How can you tell?

What colors do you see???
Answered by Writeacher
They are definitely not merging. Each boy's identity will remain whole in himself, even though his friendship with the other grows.

http://www.answers.com/topic/golden

http://www.answers.com/topic/sable
Read the adjective definitions.
Answered by bindiya farswani
Both are important and both are equal. If one is golden splendor of the day and one is sable pride of the night. Colors i think one dark and one bright.
Answered by Writeacher
Excellent -- write it up and let me know how you phrase it all.

=)
Answered by bindiya farswani
Thanks for the links. I just saw the links and i see the colours are yellow and grayish yellow brown.
Answered by Writeacher
Good! The more detail you can get into your explanation, the better.
Answered by bindiya farswani
Alright! I'm getting the hang of this! :d Thanx for the help. :d
Answered by Writeacher
You're very welcome.

=)
There are no AI answers yet. The ability to request AI answers is coming soon!