Theme Of Irony In To An Athlete Dying Young

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Irony in To An Athlete Dying Young When reading literature, the excitement level is enhanced through an author’s use of irony. Through Housman’s poem he uses different literary devices; irony, alliteration, metaphors. Irony (death) is used to be the main theme of this poem. Alliteration appears only in a few lines to demonstrate feelings. Metaphors are used to show the contrast from before to after. In To An Athlete Dying Young, A.E. Housman uses irony to describe a character who overcomes all his accomplishments by time, memory, and the victories of others. The poem opens up with: “the time you won your town the race / we chaired you through the market-place; / man and boy stood cheering by, / and home we brought you shoulder-high” (1-4). This first stanza recollects the young athlete being carried away on the townspeople 's shoulders after winning a race. Therefore, following lines after going into the athlete’s current situation: being dead. These lines are an extended metaphor to the athlete dying, “to-day, the …show more content…

Housman tells the athlete to take his fame to his grave with him so he can now always be remembered for his great performance and no one else could top him. “There is no clear definition of time or space in the poem. It could take place at any time in ancient or recent history and in any country, and therefore, the theme is universal” (Overview: “To an Athlete Dying Young”). Some critics think that this is the only time in his life that he was congratulated for a positive accomplishment, but we’re not sure how old this athlete is or where/when this poem occurs. Then all of a sudden those accomplishments go away and mean nothing anymore because now the athlete has died young, but that is not the

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