Question

Select the correct answer from the drop-down menu.

How does the poet use language to develop a metaphor in "The Oven Bird"?
The poet uses words and phrases like
cease, past, and diminished
mid-summer, mid-wood, and summer days
singer, he says, and he knows
solid tree, cherry bloom, and petal-fall
to develop the metaphor the bird is

Answer 1

In "The Oven Bird," the poet uses language to develop the metaphor of the bird as a symbol of the transition from summer to autumn, employing phrases that denote the end of a season and the passage of time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The poet in "The Oven Bird" uses language to develop the metaphor of the bird as a harbinger of the end of summer and the inevitable transition into autumn. Through words and phrases such as cease, past, and diminished, the poet crafts a metaphor that reflects on the changes and declines accompanying the end of a season. Furthermore, the combination of mid-summer, mid-wood, and summer days aids in painting the metaphorical shift in time from the peak of summer to its decline, whereas the phrases singer, he says, and he knows personify the bird and contribute to the metaphor by giving it a voice of wisdom and knowledge of the passing time. Thus, the poet's language choices are pivotal in shaping the central metaphor, allowing readers to relate the Oven Bird's song to the broader themes of time, change, and mortality.