Read "The Cricket Sang" by Emily Dickinson.
The cricket sang,
And set the sun,
And workmen finished, one by one,
Their seam the day upon.
The low grass loaded with the dew,
The twilight stood as strangers do
With hat in hand, polite and new,
To stay as if, or go.
A vastness, as a neighbor, came,—
A wisdom without face or name,
A peace, as hemispheres at home,—
And so the night became.
In 3-5 sentences, give an example of figurative language from the poem and identify the type of figurative language being used. Next, explain how the poet's use of figurative language added meaning to the poem.
2 answers
An example of figurative language from the poem is the metaphor of the twilight standing "as strangers do/With hat in hand, polite and new". This metaphor is used to compare the twilight to a polite stranger, suggesting that the twilight is a welcomed guest. The poet's use of figurative language adds a sense of warmth and hospitality to the poem, creating a peaceful atmosphere. This helps to emphasize the idea of the night being a time of rest and relaxation.
That first one is a simile, not a metaphor.