NCHS AP English Language

The Tropes of "The First Lowering" (Chris Fitzer)

Melville seems to rather enjoy using tropes [literary devices, figures of speech] in his works. He are a few that are within the propted passage. The following are used in the description of the small vessels departure from the Pequod and journey into the turbulent sea, as stated in the paragraph beginning with "It was a sight full of quick wonder and awe."

"omnipotent sea" - personification
"eight gunwales" - synecdoche
"like gigantic bowls in a boundless bowling-green" - simile
"Boundless bowling-green" - kenning, alliteration
"suspended agony of the boat" - personification
"knife-like edge" - kenning
"knife-like edge of the sharper waves, that almost seemed threatening to cut it in two" - metaphor
"opposite hill" - metaphor
""like a wild hen after her screaming brood" - simile
"charmed, churned circle" - alliteration

posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 7:34 PM