Question

Read this passage from Walden, looking for examples of literary devices. Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in. I drink at it; but while I drink I see the sandy bottom and detect how shallow it is. Its thin current slides away, but eternity remains. I would drink deeper; fish in the sky, whose bottom is pebbly with stars. I cannot count one. What device does Thoreau use in this passage

Answer 1

Henry David Thoreau uses metaphor and imagery in the passage from Walden, where he compares time to a stream and expresses a desire to seek deeper meaning in life, with stars symbolizing life's profundity.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the passage from Walden by Henry David Thoreau, one prominent literary device used is metaphor. Thoreau speaks of time as a stream, suggesting it is something continuous that he can interact with in various ways, such as going 'a-fishing' or drinking from it. This metaphor extends further when he mentions wanting to 'drink deeper; fish in the sky, whose bottom is pebbly with stars.' Here, Thoreau uses the notion of drinking deeply from life's experiences and fishing among the stars to convey a sense of seeking deeper meaning and connection with the universe. Moreover, Thoreau uses vivid imagery to paint a scene that allows readers to visualize the sandy bottom of the stream and the pebbly stars in the sky, enhancing the sensory experience of his philosophical reflection.

Answer 2

Henry David Thoreau uses metaphor as a literary device in a passage from Walden, employing the imagery of fishing in a stream and drinking from it to express themes of time, life, and the pursuit of deeper understanding.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the passage from Walden by Henry David Thoreau, the literary device used is a metaphor. Thoreau compares time to a stream where he goes fishing, which allows him to convey deeper philosophical ideas about life and eternity. The metaphor extends when he talks about drinking from the stream and seeing its sandy bottom, indicating the shallowness of temporal existence as compared to the vastness of eternity. Furthermore, the desire to 'drink deeper; fish in the sky, whose bottom is pebbly with stars' represents a yearning for transcendence and deeper understanding of the universe, with the sky as another extended metaphor for unexplored realms of knowledge or experience.