XII 2.2 Indian Weavers- Figure of Speech
2.2 Indian Weavers- Sarojini Naidu
1. Symboliam of a Day-
1) The particular time of the day metaphorically symbolizes human life.
For example:-
The Early morning ( at the break of the day) -Symbolizes birth
The late evening ( at fall of night ) - symbolizes the period of youth /childhood
Solemn and still (cold Night/moonlight chill) - symbolizes old age as well as death; the
final stage of human life.
Symbolism of Color-
The colors mentioned in each stanza have significance. The color of the clothes
indicates the mood of that particular stage.
For Example:
The blue color mentioned in the first stanza stands for the hopes and expectations of
childhood.
The purple-green color stands for new beginnings and responsibilities in youth
days.
Lastly, white color indicates colorless & lifeless in the life of old age.
'the wing of a halcyon wild' The freedom and enjoyment of childhood life is
symbolized through the wings of a bird.
2) Imagery-
Imagery means the use of words that provide a ‘mental picture’ or
image.
1. The poet has painted the picture of Indian weavers who weave tirelessly
at different times of the day.
2. Similarly the line ‘Weavers weaving at break of day’ creates images of
early morning ( Dawn ) and weavers weaving cloth.
3. 'Weavers, weaving at fall of the night' creates images of the late evening ( Dusk) and weavers weaving cloth.
4. Weavers, weaving solemn and still' create images of stillness, calm, and a ceremony of death. It also creates an image of the cold night.
5. ‘The plumes of a peacock, purple and green,’ creates a beautiful picture of a peacock.
6. 'White as a feather and white as a cloud', creates an image of the white cloth of the shroud.
3. Alliteration:
1. 'Weavers, weaving at fall of night,'
- The sound 'W' is repeated for poetic effect.
2. 'We weave the robes of a new-born child.'
-The same sound 'W' is repeated for poetic effect.
3. 'Weavers, weaving at fall of night,'
- The same sound 'W' is repeated for poetic effect.
4. 'We weave the marriage-veils of a queen.'
-The same sound 'W' is repeated for poetic effect.
5. 'Weavers, weaving solemn and still,'
- The sounds 'w' and 's' are repeated for poetic effect.
6. 'We weave a dead man’s funeral shroud'
-The sound 'W' is repeated for poetic effect.
4. Repetition -
'White as a feather and white as a cloud,'
- The word ‘White as’ is repeated for poetic effect.
5. Simile:
1. 'Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild,'
-'The blue color of cloth' is directly compared with a 'wing of wild
halcyon'.
2. 'Like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green,'
- 'The bright garment' is directly compared with 'purple & green colored
of plumes of peacock'.
3. 'White as a feather and white as a cloud,'
- 'The whiteness or purity of a funeral shroud' is directly compared with 'the
whiteness of feathers and clouds.'
6. Metaphor:
'The weaving time of weavers' is indirectly compared with 'the life cycle of human beings'.
7. Interrogation:
The question is emphasized for poetic effect.
Why do you weave a garment so gay?......
Why do you weave a garment so bright?........
What do you weave in the moonlight chill......
8. Tautology-
Weavers, weaving solemn and still
-The words 'solemen and still' have the same meaning but the words are
different.
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