Naming of Parts, by Henry Reed

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The Elaborate Use of Poetry Devices In “Naming of Parts” While one way of thought is factual, more literal, another is more reflective and abstract. In Henry Reed’s “Naming of Parts”, Reed uses both approaches to thinking with his speakers, and this allows his poem to include different points of view and tones. The two speakers are evident in different lines of “Naming of Parts”, and when they merge, they have a different meaning than both alone. Other poetry devices are used to convey the different speakers’ voices, and to also make the poem flow better and sound more harmonious. “Naming of Parts” has a more literal and commanding voice seen in all lines but 5, a more thoughtful and abstract voice seen only in line 5, convergence which allows more interpretations of the each speakers’ lines, diction and imagery which contrasts the two speakers, and rhythmic and sound devices unify the poem as a whole. The first of the two voices, a more factual, instructive voice, is generally seen lines 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 of each stanza of "Naming of Parts". In the first stanza, the instructive speaker is telling of the chore accomplished yesterday, and of the goals of tomorrow. The following stanza the speaker is in explaining the differences between the swivels. The speaker, in the third stanza, is telling the audience how to use a safety feature, and warning the audience not to use their fingers. In the fourth stanza, the speaker is explaining the mechanism of the bolt, emphasizing its back and forth motion. The speaker, in the fifth stanza, is relating the bolt back to the previous stanzas with the repetition of ideas. The first of the two voices contrasts with the ... ... middle of paper ... ...oeia adds to the imagery of the speaker, and the dactylic feet helps to put emphasis on certain words. The use of poetry devices helps to highlight the different voices in “Naming of Parts”. The literal diction of the first speaker versus the abstract imagery of the second helps to indicate the personalities of the two speakers. The two speaker have different tones, which create different implications, and when they converge, their contrasts help create new interpretations of both speakers. The rhythmic and sound devices that Henry Reed uses in his poem help to unify both speakers and their lines into one whole poem. Although these one of these two speakers takes a literal approach to life, and the other speaker sees life in abstract ideas, in the end, they still are joined by the same concepts used in the poem. Works Cited "Naming of Parts", Henry Reed

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