Final answer:
In Leonard Cohen's "Anthem," the dove represents hope and the persistence of light with its actions. The last two lines of the poem use an aphorism to convey the message of embracing imperfections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The actions of the dove in Leonard Cohen's "Anthem" metaphorically signify hope and an emphasis on the persistence of light within the darkness. The second stanza of the poem suggests that despite the flawed and broken nature of the world, there is still a possibility for something pure and beautiful like a dove to exist and thrive. The dove typically symbolizes peace and innocence, and its actions reflect the resilient, albeit quiet, presence of these qualities in a troubled world.
The two last lines of Cohen's "Anthem"―"Ring the bells that still can ring / Forget your perfect offering"―emphasize the idea of embracing imperfections and continuing to seek beauty and meaning in life despite the flaws. The literary technique used here is known as an aphorism, which is a concise statement that contains a general truth or observation about life.