1. Metaphor: Dickinson uses a metaphor to compare a word to a dead person. This comparison emphasizes the power of words and their ability to convey meaning and emotion, even after they are no longer spoken or heard.
Example: "Could mortal lip divine/The undeveloped freight/A word can carry!"
2. Personification: Dickinson personifies the word by giving it human characteristics, such as the ability to "carry," "expire," and "reveal." This technique brings the word to life and makes it more relatable and tangible to the reader.
Example: "When it has breathed, then gone,/Expiring in the sound,/That memory can repeat/Around to all the sound."
3. Alliteration: Dickinson uses alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds, to create a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem. This technique adds emphasis and reinforces the meaning of the words.
Example: "Could mortal lip divine/The undeveloped freight."
4. Enjambment: Dickinson uses enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause, to create a sense of fluidity and movement in the poem. This technique helps to connect the ideas and images and creates a more dynamic reading experience.
Example: "When it has breathed, then gone,/Expiring in the sound,/That memory can repeat."
5. Rhyme: Dickinson employs rhyme, the repetition of similar consonant sounds at the ends of lines, to create a sense of coherence and unity in the poem. This technique helps to tie the lines together and reinforces the overall structure of the poem.
Example: "dead-bread," "divine-mine," "freight-weight," "gone-on."
6. Symbolism: Dickinson uses symbolism to give words a deeper meaning and to explore the abstract concepts of language and communication. The "word" in the poem can be interpreted as a symbol for the power of expression, the human experience, or the fleeting nature of time.
Overall, Emily Dickinson's use of literary and poetic devices in "A word is dead" contributes to the poem's richness, complexity, and emotional resonance. These techniques enhance the meaning and impact of the poem, allowing Dickinson to convey her unique insights on language and the human condition.