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The Patriot Literary Style and Literary Devices(Figures of Speech)

The Patriot Literary Style and Literary Devices(Figures of Speech)

Literary Style

Dramatic monologue
The Patriot is a dramatic monologue. A dramatic monologue is a form of poetry that conveys a single speaker's thoughts and actions. Typically, such a poem is meant to be read out in a dramatised manner as if a single actor is delivering a continuous speech.
In The Patriot, there is only one speaker who narrates his side of the story. This is clearly seen through the use of the first person throughout the poem.
Had I said, "Good folk, mere noise repels
Alack, it was I who leaped at the sun
And I think, by the feel, my forehead bleeds,
By the end of the poem, we get to know the speal about his situation as well.

Rhyme scheme
The poem has a clear structure and a consistent rhyme scheme. It is made up of six stanzas, each following the rhyme scheme ababa.

Contrasting imagery
Browning has skilfully used imagery throughout this poem. The use of contrasting imagery helps us as readers develop a clear picture of the speaker's status in the present and the past. For instance, in the first stanza, we are able to visualise the speaker's path being showered with flower petals. This is contrasted with the image of the public throwing stones at the speaker in the fifth stanza.
Similarly, in the first stanza, rooftops are filled with admiring people. However, later, there is not a soul on the rooftops.

Symbolism
Browning has also woven in symbols in the poem. The roses are a symbol of the public's love and affection, while the stones are al symbol of their contempt.
It was roses, roses, all the way
Stones at me for my year's misdeeds

Figures of speech
The Patriot is also rich in figures of speech.

Irony
The use of irony is the most striking. It is ironical that a person can go from being a deeply admired person to an extremely despised one within a span of a year.

Hyperbole
There is also an instance of hyperbole or exaggeration where the speaker describes his influence among the people.
Had I said, "Good folk, mere noise repels
But give me your sun from yonder skies!" They had answered, "And afterward, what else?"
In these lines, the speaker claims that not only would the public pluck the sun out of the sky for him, they would also ask him what more he wanted. This use of hyperbole helps us understand the extent of the speaker's popularity.

Personification
Personification has been used where inanimate houses have been given the human quality of heaving and swaying..
The house-roofs seemed to heave and sway

Alliteration
The use of alliteration is also remarkable in this poem.
This use adds to the rhythm of the poem. For example:
With myrtle mixed in my path like mad
The church-spires flamed, such flags they had The old walls rocked with the crowd and cries In triumphs, people have dropped down dead.

The Patriot by Robert Browning. :-
1. Question and Answers RTCs: http://the-patriot-question-and-answers
3. Themes, Setting, Form and Structure: http://the-patriot-themes-setting-form
4. Literary Devices and Literary Style (Figures of Speech): http://the-patriot-figures-of-speech

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