Final answer:
An extended metaphor is a literary device where a comparison is drawn throughout an entire poem, thus option d is correct. It is part of the broader use of figurative language in poetry, which includes tools like similes, allusions, and imagery. Understanding these elements is crucial for interpreting the deeper meanings and emotional nuances in poetic works.
Step-by-step explanation:
Extended Metaphor in Poetry
When analyzing poetry, the concept of extended metaphor is fundamental. An extended metaphor is a comparison that extends throughout a poem or a significant part of it. Unlike a regular metaphor that might compare two things in a single line or image, an extended metaphor continues to draw a connection between the two elements, offering deeper insights and fostering complexity in the text. This device is part of the rich tapestry of figurative language that poets use to add layers of meaning and emotional depth to their work.
Consider the poem 'My love is a red, red rose' by Robert Burns. The extended metaphor here is the comparison of love to the rose, not just in a fleeting instance but throughout the entire poem, exploring different facets of the emotion through the characteristics of the rose.
Extended metaphor often goes hand in hand with other literary devices such as allusions and imagery. Allusions hint at or evoke additional meanings beyond the literal, while imagery uses sensory details to create vibrant pictures in the reader's mind. Understanding these concepts helps in appreciating the connotations, as well as the denotation, or dictionary definition, of words within poems.
Figurative language, including similes and other metaphors, works by drawing comparisons to enhance understanding and provide new perspectives. It is through this layering of the literal and figurative that poets express complex themes and evoke emotional responses. Extended metaphor, with its ability to stretch across verses, stanzas, or even entire poems, is one of the most potent forms of figurative language at a poet's disposal.
In conclusion, the correct answer to the question is d. a comparison that extends through an entire poem.