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Question: How do you think a poet uses word choice to create a meaning in a poem!?
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Word choice, or diction, can affect a poem's meaning in many ways!. For example, if the poet uses some difficult words in the poem, he/she may be trying to put emphasis on such ideas described by these words!. By just using easy words, these ideas may have been overlooked!. also, using soft words in a poem that flow together can create a calming, soothing mood in the reader of the poem, whereas harsh sounding words can do just the opposite!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Diction is critical to the effectiveness of a poem!. Here's an experiment: take some lines by a famous poet and change one or two words with similar words!. If the poet is a true master of language, the substituted word will diminish the line's effectiveness!. It will appear close, but not quite on target!. Here's an example: the opening line of Shakespeare's Sonnet # 12, "When I do count the clock that tells the time," the alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables and the regular spacing of one syllable words beginning with the hard /k/ and sharp /t/ sounds mimic the tick-tock of an actual clock!. Replacing just one word, such as "shows the time" for "tells the time," would ruin the effect!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Poets usesimiles, metaphors, personification, symbols, onomatopoeia, rhythm, conconance, assonance, and other characersitics to make a poem come alive!.


Check out Lord Byrons dark poem!. Its so descriptive you can feel everything he says,through his use of word symbolism,

THE DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB

by: George Gordon (Lord) Byron (1788-1824)

THE Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold,
And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;
And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,
When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee!.

Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green,
That host with their banners at sunset were seen:
Like the leaves of the forest when Autumn hath blown,
That host on the morrow lay withered and strown!.

For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,
And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;
And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,
And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!

And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide,
But through it there rolled not the breath of his pride;
And the foam of his gasping lay white on the turf,
And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf!.

And there lay the rider distorted and pale,
With the dew on his brow, and the rust on his mail:
And the tents were all silent, the banners alone,
The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown!.

And the widows of Ashur are loud in their wail,
And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal;
And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword,
Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Expressions, feelings, and emotions are deeply implanted within most poets soulish area and they need choice words to empty their feelings and to create those thoughts on paper for readers to experience and enjoy!. Woo!.!.!. a long sentence!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If he uses words with more meanings it could be to confuse or leave open to thought!. One poem could mean 4 things!.Www@QuestionHome@Com