Question

Read the first stanza of “Overheard Over S.E. Asia” and answer the question.

"White phosphorus, white phosphorus,


mechanical snow,


where are you falling?"


There is a winter song that begins, “Snow, snow, when are you falling?” When contrasted with the first line from the song, the poet’s introduction to “Overheard Over S.E. Asia” is an example of _____.


idiom

irony

metaphor

hyperbole

Answer 1

irony

Step-by-step explanation:

The use of the phrase "white phosphorus, mechanical snow" in contrast to the traditional winter song "Snow, snow, when are you falling?" creates a sense of irony. The traditional song is about the beauty and wonder of snow, whereas the phrase in the poem refers to white phosphorus, which is a toxic and destructive substance used in warfare. The contrast between the innocent and joyful connotations of snow and the destructive connotations of white phosphorus creates a sense of irony.