Figure of Speech in The Ball Poem Class 10 First Flight In-Depth Analysis | Figures of Language

By | January 23, 2024
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Here is The Ball Poem, a detailed exploration and explanation of the figure of speech and its many facets.  In this post, we have explained various examples of figurative speech, providing a comprehensive understanding of The Ball Poem in terms of all Poetic Device. We have also told the reason why a particular figure of speech occurs in a particular line. This is going to help the children of various classes Class X. Dive in for figure of speech examples- 

Figure of Speech in The Ball Poem Stanza:  1

What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,  
What, what is he to do? I saw it go  
Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then  
Merrily over — there it is in the water!

1. Figure of Speech: Anaphora  
Exact Line: “What is the boy now, who has lost his ball, / What, what is he to do? I saw it go”  
Reason: The repetition of “What” at the beginning of these lines is an example of anaphora. It emphasizes the poet’s reflective questioning about the boy’s emotional state and his subsequent actions following the loss of his ball.

2. Figure of Speech: Assonance  
Exact Line: “What is the boy now, who has lost his ball.”  
Reason: The prominent sound of the vowel ‘o’ in this line creates a melodic quality, contributing to the poem’s lyrical rhythm.

3. Figure of Speech: Imagery  
Exact Line: “Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then, Merrily over — there it is in the water!”  
Reason: These lines provide a vivid visual description of the ball’s journey, from bouncing merrily to ending up in the water. This imagery effectively captures the sudden transition from joy to loss.

4. Figure of Speech: Personification  
Exact Line: “Merrily bouncing”  
Reason: The ball is personified with the description of it ‘merrily bouncing.’ Merriment is a human emotion, and attributing it to the ball adds a layer of emotion to the scene, contrasting with the boy’s impending sense of loss.

Also Read:

The Ball Poem Poetic Device edumantra.net
Figure of Speech in The Ball Poem Class 10 First Flight In-Depth Analysis | Figures of Language 2

The Ball Poem Poetic Device- Stanza- 2

No use to say O there are other balls:  
An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy  
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down  
All his young days into the harbour where  
His ball went. I would not intrude on him;  
A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now  
He senses first responsibility

1. Figure of Speech: Imagery  
Exact Lines: “An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy 
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down ” 
“All his young days into the harbour where 
His ball went.”  
Reason: These lines provide a vivid visual and emotional image of the boy’s reaction to losing his ball. The description of his physical and emotional state paints a clear picture of his profound grief.

2. Figure of Speech: Hyperbole  
Exact Line: “An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy”  
Reason: The phrase ‘ultimate shaking grief’ is an exaggeration that intensifies the emotional impact of the boy’s loss, indicating that his reaction is profound and deeply felt, though it’s unlikely to be the utmost grief possible.

3. Figure of Speech: Personification  
Exact Line: “An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy”  
Reason: Grief is personified here as it ‘fixes’ the boy, implying that it has the power to immobilize or control him, which is a human-like action attributed to an emotion.

4. Figure of Speech: Metaphor  
Exact Line: “All his young days into the harbour where / His ball went.”  
Reason: This line metaphorically suggests that the boy’s childhood or innocence, symbolized by ‘his young days,’ is lost along with the ball into the harbour. It’s not just the physical ball that’s gone, but a part of his youth.

5. Figure of Speech: Symbolism  
Exact Line: “He senses first responsibility”  
Reason: The boy’s realization or ‘sensing’ of responsibility symbolizes his coming of age or maturation, representing a transition from childhood innocence to a more mature understanding of loss and impermanence.

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Figures of Speech Poem – The Ball Poem Stanza- 3

In a world of possessions. People will take  
Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.  
And no one buys a ball back. Money is external.  
He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,  
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up  
Knowing what every man must one day know  
And most know many days, how to stand up.

1. Figure of Speech: Alliteration  
Exact Line: “buys a ball back”  
Reason: The repetition of the ‘b’ sound in “buys a ball back” creates a rhythmic effect, enhancing the musicality and emphasis on the idea of not being able to repurchase lost childhood.

2. Figure of Speech: Assonance  
Exact Line: “He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,”  
Reason: The prominent ‘e’ sound in this line creates a harmonious sound, adding to the emotional depth and contemplative mood of the stanza.

3. Figure of Speech: Repetition  
Exact Line: “Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.”  
Reason: The repetition of the word “balls” emphasizes the inevitability of loss, underscoring the poem’s theme of accepting the impermanence of possessions.

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4. Figure of Speech: Symbolism  
Exact Line: “Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.”  
Reason: The ball is used as a symbol for childhood and innocence. Its loss represents the inevitable transition from childhood to the harsher realities of adulthood.

5. Figure of Speech: Metaphor  
Exact Line: “The epistemology of loss, how to stand up”  
Reason: The term “epistemology of loss” serves as a metaphor. Epistemology, the study of knowledge, is used here to refer to the boy’s learning and understanding process about loss.
The phrase doesn’t describe a literal study but rather the boy’s experiential and emotional journey in comprehending and internalizing the concept of loss. This metaphorical expression encapsulates the transition from innocence to a more mature understanding of the impermanent nature of life and possessions.

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