Pick examples from the poem for the following poetic devices.
- Simile
- Alliteration
- Repetition
An example of simile from the poem is 'Came the boys like a flock of sheep' which compares the group of schoolboys to a flock of sheep using the word 'like'.
An example of alliteration from the poem is 'Winter's day' where the 'w' sound is repeated, or 'firm and strong' where the 's' sound is repeated in 'strong' and 'stood'.
An example of repetition from the poem is the phrase 'somebody's mother' which is repeated multiple times to emphasise the universal nature of the old woman's identity and the boy's empathy.
Explanation
(1) A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using 'like' or 'as'. The poem uses this device to describe how the boys moved together in a group, similar to sheep. (2) Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity. The poem contains several examples that create musical quality. (3) Repetition is a poetic device where words or phrases are repeated for emphasis. The phrase 'somebody's mother' is central to the poem's message about treating all elderly people with kindness.