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Carol Ann Duffy's poem 'Hour' delves into the intimate moments of a love affair, contrasting material wealth with the value of time spent with a loved one. Using a modernized Shakespearean sonnet form, Duffy employs literary devices like enjambment and metaphor to highlight the transient nature of time and the enduring power of romantic love. The poem is a testament to the significance of love in the face of time's relentless march.
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The poem uses various literary devices to express the urgency of savoring the present with a loved one, highlighting the transient nature of time
Material Symbols
By likening time spent with a lover to precious natural and material entities, Duffy emphasizes the intrinsic value of love over worldly possessions
The poem intertwines the themes of time and romantic love, suggesting that love can create moments that seem to stand outside of time's relentless march
Duffy's adaptation of the sonnet form is notable for its lack of consistent meter, reflecting her intent to modernize the sonnet while still engaging with the timeless theme of love
Enjambment and Caesura
Enjambment contributes to the poem's fluidity, mirroring the lovers' continuous experience, while caesurae introduce reflective pauses
Simile, Metaphor, and Personification
These literary devices create analogies between love and objects of value, enriching the romantic atmosphere of the poem and giving life to abstract concepts like time and love
The tone of "Hour" echoes the Romantic poets' celebration of nature, individualism, and emotional depth
Homage to the Romantic Movement
Duffy's inclusion of natural imagery pays homage to the Romantic literary movement, proposing that the love between individuals is as eternal and significant as the natural world
Ties to the Tradition of Love Poetry
The sonnet form of the poem ties it to the rich tradition of love poetry, underscoring the persistent relevance of romantic love in literature
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Collection 'Rapture' form
'Rapture' lacks traditional sonnets, diverging from classic sequences.
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'Hour' adaptation style
'Hour' is a modern take on the Shakespearean sonnet, updating the form.
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Literary devices in 'Hour'
Uses metaphor, imagery, and symbol to convey urgency and transience of time.
