The chosen poem is as follows:
Life Is Fine by Langston Hughes
I went down to the river,
I set down on the bank.
I tried to think but couldn't,
So I jumped in and sank.
I came up once and hollered!
I came up twice and cried!
If that water hadn't a-been so cold
I might've sunk and died.
But it was cold in that water! It was cold!
I took the elevator sixteen floors above the ground.
I thought about my baby
And thought I would jump down.
I stood there and I hollered!
I stood there and I cried!
If it hadn't a-been so high
I might've jumped and died.
But it was high up there! It was high!
So since I'm still here livin',
I guess I will live on.
I could've died for love--
But for livin' I was born.
Though you may hear me holler,
And you may see me cry--
I'll be dogged, sweet baby,
If you gonna see me die.
Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!
How Figurative Language is used in this poem-
1) Hyperbole: I came up once and hollered!
I came up twice and cried!
I stood there and I hollered!
I stood there and I cried!
Reason for using this mode: Emphasizes on the emotion of the person in the poems
2) Personification: ~~~~~
3) Metaphor: ~~~~~
4) Simile: Fine as wine!
Reason for using this mode: Tells us how life is fine, like wine.
5) Symbolism: If that water hadn't a-been so cold
I might've sunk and died.
If it hadn't a-been so high
I might've jumped and died.
I'll be dogged, sweet baby,
If you gonna see me die.
Reason for using this mode: Tell us how the water, height and the fact that she'll be dogged prevents her from commiting suicide.
Why I like this poem-
This is about how a mother, divorced, tries to kill herself, but in the end cannot, for the conditions were not right, and she can't leave her baby to fend for itself. So she lies to her child how fine her life is.
