Literature comes in many forms ranging from poems, plays, novels and etc., these forms help convey, express, or relay a message to their audience. An Elegy is a form of literature that is defined as either a poem or song that is written in the form of elegiac couplets to honor the deceased. These poems are written for the purpose to help relieve grief, aid in the healing process and commemorate the loss. These elegiac poems are often filled with emotions and follow a specific pattern which involves stanzas that focus on grief, praise, and comfort. The forms of elegy used today, first came into use in literature during the sixteenth century, where these poems were written in elegiac couplets that dealt with subject regarding love, battle and
…show more content…
The lilacs are one of the recurring symbols and images that Whitman uses throughout his elegiac poem, he uses the lilac to represent love, life, and remembrance of Lincoln passing. Whitman uses the image of the lilac to represent love, life and remembrance by associating the heart shaped leaves of the lilac as a symbol of love and describes the lilac’s delicate blossom to symbolize the ideas of the fragility of life. Another recurring image and symbol that Whitman used in his elegiac poem is the fallen star. He uses the fallen star to represent Lincoln; he uses the star as an image that represents Lincoln as a great powerful man who he will always be remembered. Whitman also uses the image of a fallen star to describe the star as being full of “woe” which he uses to associate his empathy for Lincoln. He also uses the fallen star to represent Lincoln’s departure from this world by describing the fallen star now covered by “black murk”. The image of fallen star can also be used to associate Whitman’s feelings regarding his memory of Lincoln’s greatness which still continues to linger through his description that the fallen star still “detains” him. Lastly, the bird is another recurring image and symbol that is used in this elegiac poem. The bird is used to represent the symbol of conformity with death, while the song the bird sings represents the soul’s voice. The image of the bird used by Whitman’s also helps express Whitman acceptance that death is inevitable and part of
The lilacs are one of the recurring symbols and images that Whitman uses throughout his elegiac poem, he uses the lilac to represent love, life, and remembrance of Lincoln passing. Whitman uses the image of the lilac to represent love, life and remembrance by associating the heart shaped leaves of the lilac as a symbol of love and describes the lilac’s delicate blossom to symbolize the ideas of the fragility of life. Another recurring image and symbol that Whitman used in his elegiac poem is the fallen star. He uses the fallen star to represent Lincoln; he uses the star as an image that represents Lincoln as a great powerful man who he will always be remembered. Whitman also uses the image of a fallen star to describe the star as being full of “woe” which he uses to associate his empathy for Lincoln. He also uses the fallen star to represent Lincoln’s departure from this world by describing the fallen star now covered by “black murk”. The image of fallen star can also be used to associate Whitman’s feelings regarding his memory of Lincoln’s greatness which still continues to linger through his description that the fallen star still “detains” him. Lastly, the bird is another recurring image and symbol that is used in this elegiac poem. The bird is used to represent the symbol of conformity with death, while the song the bird sings represents the soul’s voice. The image of the bird used by Whitman’s also helps express Whitman acceptance that death is inevitable and part of