* Personification: This is the most prominent figure of speech, as Donne directly addresses Death as if it were a person: "Death be not proud, though some have called thee / Mighty and dreadful..." This allows Donne to explore death's power and limitations through a direct confrontation.
* Metaphor:
* "One short sleep past, we wake eternally, / And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die." - This line uses the metaphor of sleep to represent death, suggesting that death is simply a transition to a more permanent state of being.
* "Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men..." - Death is portrayed as a slave, highlighting its powerlessness in the face of various forces.
* Apostrophe: This technique directly addresses an absent person or a personified object, which is closely tied to the personification of Death. Donne addresses Death directly throughout the poem, engaging in a rhetorical debate.
* Hyperbole: Donne uses hyperbole to emphasize his points, such as "Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so" and "One short sleep past, we wake eternally". These exaggerations highlight the fleeting nature of death and the permanence of eternity.
* Paradox: The poem is riddled with paradoxes that challenge traditional understandings of death:
* "Death, thou shalt die" - This statement presents a contradiction that emphasizes death's ultimate defeat.
* "Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men..." - While death is often seen as powerful, this line emphasizes its subservience to other forces.
* Simile: Though not as prominent as other figures, a simile can be found in "Like to the vulgar" which compares death to common people, further diminishing its power.
The effectiveness of "Death be not proud" lies in its skillful use of figurative language to explore the complex themes of death, eternity, and human mortality. These figures of speech engage the reader, challenge their assumptions, and offer a unique perspective on the inevitability of death.