Horses by Edwin Muir Essay

The poem Horses by Edwin Muir engages imagery and figurative language to establish and participator the the themes such as nature, machine, power and myth. Edwin Muir uses a variety of language tools such as Paradox, simile and fable to create a particular effect. He conveys his feelings through the poem and to link to the past. In addition, Muirs use of rhyme scheme with the repetition of words puts emphasis on certain air travels which in turn provides organic evolution for the tone. The Rhyme scheme for the poem is AABB thorugh out the poem that gains interest from the readers.Muir uses many literary devices. In the phrase, large(p) Horses in the Steady Plough he uses Enjambment comparing the Horses on a steady be serve to a bare field. The effect created by the use of enjambment is that the feelings or memories of the poet are still on-going and this is reflected. The enjambment helps the poem flow into the next line. The word lumbering is defined as moving in a slow, hea vy manner. There is consonance in the words Those, Horses, cover. The consonance creates a more elusive effect with the repetition of the os.The word containing 3 syllables slows down the rhythm of the sentence. The term steady plough means a device pulled through the even ground in order to break it make into furrows for planting. The poet implies that he still has a fear of Horses by expressing his childhood dismay for Horses. The use of the Perhaps denotes his scruple or possibility and he does not wish to be too definite or self-assertive in the expression of an opinion. The word Childish refers to a silly or suitable for a child. He is referring and relating to the past to deliver evidence to fear.There is internal rhyme in the words some and come that adds particular emphasis and quickens the pace of the Rhythm in the phrase. The phrase contains alliteration in the words puerile and come. The Alliteration emphasizes the words giving the sentence a good sense of Rhythm an d sound. The source uses alliteration in the phrase standing still in order to suggest the silence, calmness and restore position of the Horses. The alliteration creates the effect of silence by associating it to the theme of the text such as a Machine. He compares that the Horses are showing signs of movement and yet they are standing still.He uses simile to create a vivid mental image and to carry on the effect of the Horses effortless behaviour and power. Consonance adds to the effect by the words seem, standing still. It increases the Rhythm of the sentence and combines with the Horses steady movement. To describe the Horses movement up and down, the and in the line slows the sentence down by the amount of syllables and by connecting two clauses. The contradiction in terms in the line where Muir describes the Horses movement but claims that it is standing still brings out a humorous effect. The line has a total of ten syllables which is a normal spoken sentence.