Poetry and Forbidden Ear E.
Poem: Success is counted sweetest
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory
As he defeated--dying--
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!
Emily Dickinson
1. Paraphrase:
Lines 1&2: people with success often don't appreciate as much as losers do.
Stanza 1 : A loser knows how to appreciate a moment of success because they don’t have it.
Stanza 2 : Winners don’t understand success as much as the losers do they also don’t know what they can accomplish as winners.
Stanza 3: The Dying solider hears the winning team celebrate over a piece of land, while for the dying solider winning would be the chance to live.
2. Structure
The structure of this poem is three quatrains.
3. Meter and sound devices:
A. Meter: Trimeter
b. Alliteration: Success is counted sweetest As he defeated – dying He took the flag today
C. Rhyme: By those who ne’er succeed; requires sorest need. On chose forbidden ear; burst agonized and clear.
D. Consonance: - Not one of all the purple Host - Not one of all the purple Host - Can tell the definition - On whose forbidden ear
E. Assonance: Success is counted sweetest.
4. Figures of speech:
A. Metaphor: The defeated solider is compared to the ability to appreciate something you don’t have
B. Paradox: - Success is counted sweetest: By those who ne’er succeed - To comprehend nectar: Requires sorest need.
5. Symbolism: “Success is counted sweetest by those who ne’er succeed” Success means everything to a loser, only he can appreciate and taste true victory. “To comprehend nectar requires
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory
As he defeated--dying--
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!
Emily Dickinson
1. Paraphrase:
Lines 1&2: people with success often don't appreciate as much as losers do.
Stanza 1 : A loser knows how to appreciate a moment of success because they don’t have it.
Stanza 2 : Winners don’t understand success as much as the losers do they also don’t know what they can accomplish as winners.
Stanza 3: The Dying solider hears the winning team celebrate over a piece of land, while for the dying solider winning would be the chance to live.
2. Structure
The structure of this poem is three quatrains.
3. Meter and sound devices:
A. Meter: Trimeter
b. Alliteration: Success is counted sweetest As he defeated – dying He took the flag today
C. Rhyme: By those who ne’er succeed; requires sorest need. On chose forbidden ear; burst agonized and clear.
D. Consonance: - Not one of all the purple Host - Not one of all the purple Host - Can tell the definition - On whose forbidden ear
E. Assonance: Success is counted sweetest.
4. Figures of speech:
A. Metaphor: The defeated solider is compared to the ability to appreciate something you don’t have
B. Paradox: - Success is counted sweetest: By those who ne’er succeed - To comprehend nectar: Requires sorest need.
5. Symbolism: “Success is counted sweetest by those who ne’er succeed” Success means everything to a loser, only he can appreciate and taste true victory. “To comprehend nectar requires