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The first poem "The Bean Eaters" has a lot of metaphorical language in it. Does that add or subtract from the poem? Discuss in Gwendolyn Brooks' "The Bean Eaters."

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Final answer:

Metaphorical language in poetry, such as in Gwendolyn Brooks' works, enriches the text by creating sensory connections to abstract ideas, as evidenced in both 'The Bean Eaters' and Laura Kasischke's 'Confections'.

Step-by-step explanation:

The use of metaphorical language in The Bean Eaters by Gwendolyn Brooks adds depth to the poem, helping readers connect with the abstract ideas presented in the text in a more tangible way. One of the main purposes of the metaphors is to evoke images and emotions that allow the audience to relate to the concepts being discussed on a sensory level. For instance, in Laura Kasischke's poem Confections, the line 'Chaos is a pinch of joy, a bit of screaming' uses metaphorical language to personify chaos in a way that readers can imagine and feel.

Analysis of stylistic choices, such as the use of metaphors or similes, imagery, and careful diction, allows us to understand more profoundly the messages and themes of a poem. Take, for example, the phrase 'Caramel is sugar burnt/to syrup in a pan' from Kasischke's work. It begins as a fact but sets the stage for understanding how metaphor intertwines definition with imagination, linking concrete experiences to abstract notions.

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