Literary devices are the different structures that writers use to give a distinctive interpretation of their work. In lines 1-24 of the poem “Lycidas” (1637), John Milton continually uses literary devices to emphasize pathos – which, in rhetoric, is an appeal to emotion. Literary devices used by Milton include: imagery, allusion, metaphors, and diction. By adding these literary devices, the audience is able to feel the feelings behind the speaker's words. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay “Lycidas” begins with the use of imagery in order to appeal to the sentimentalities of the speaker. In lines 1-5, Milton writes: Once more, O ye laurels, and once more, ye brown myrtles, with the ivy never grasped, I come to pluck your berries hard and coarse, and with forced fingers coarse , break your leaves before the sweeter year. The Oxford English Dictionary defines “pinch” as “a sudden, sharp pull…a tug, jerk, or snatch.” In these lines, Milton uses the image of the speaker harshly picking the berries from the flowers. Although the speaker does not yet express the reason for his emotions, the act of "picking" the berries implies a certain aggression that suggests he is angry or upset about something. Another element that adds to this imagery is the apostrophe. In these same lines, the speaker uses the word “your”: “I come to pick your berries” (3), “to break your leaves before the sweetened year” (5). By personalizing inanimate objects, it gives the impression that the speaker is so affected by a particular event that they feel the need to harm another being. The use of imagery in these lines allows readers to understand what the speaker is feeling without even having to explain why he feels that way. In the following lines, Milton writes: “Who would not sing for Lycidas? he knew how to sing and construct the noble rhyme” (10-11). The verb “sing” in these lines is a metaphor for writing poetry, alluded to when Milton mentions “noble rhyme.” In this part of the passage, the speaker decides that he wants to write a poem for King reminiscent of his previous works. Singing is a very powerful means of expression, especially in the religious domain. During mass in a Catholic church, the choir sings its praises to the Lord. We also know that the act of singing comes from angels; When Jesus was born, angels were present and sang a hymn to express their happiness. When Milton uses this metaphor, it appeals to emotion by emphasizing that he wants to give back to his friend by recognizing how great he was. In addition to singing being a powerful action, the speaker also mentions that King's rhymes were "noble." According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “noble” means “extending to a great height…”. By calling King's poems noble, the speaker emphasizes the greatness of his works. To further emphasize Edward King's greatness, the speaker of the poem also adds: "He must not float on his watery/unmourned bear, and rush to the parched dryness." wind,/Without recourse to a melodious tear” (12-14). In these lines, the speaker proposes that King deserves to be mourned and that he deserves to be sung about – or in other words, written about. Knowing that the speaker admires King insinuates that he was a good person, which adds to the pathos because it gives the audience additional reason to sympathize for the speaker's loss. Milton uses the expression "tear.