Quotes from William WordsWorth “The World Is Too Much with Us” 

“Sea that bares her bosom to the moon”, “the winds that will be howling at all hours”, and “sleeping flowers”.  

Wordsworth uses personification in his poem, he gives nature human qualities. Wordsworth gives the “wind” human emotions. Wordsworth says the wind is howling at all hours. Howling is a form of communication, usually, animals howl like wolfs, dogs and humans. Howling assemble a loud and long cry. There are reasons why humans howl usually because they are unhappy and suffering. William Wordsworth says winds are crying and feeling pain, because humans don’t interact with nature. William Wordsworth also uses personification “bares her bosom to the moon”. Wordsworth implies nature has always been there for humanity.  

Quotes from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. 

“The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us”  

The interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano 1789 the narrator uses Imagery. The narrator uses of imagery highlights each slave suffrage. The narrator describes the condition the slaves are in, they are barely able to breath. The imagery the speaker uses help readers to understand the slave’s pain. The narrator uses the word “number” describing the number of slaves gathered in one place.  

Quote from Oroonoko by Aphra Behn 

“His face was not of that brown rusty black which most of that nation are, but of perfect ebony, or polished jett. His eyes were the most awful that cou’d be seen, and very piercing; the white of ’em being like snow, as were his teeth. His nose was rising and Roman, instead of African and at. His mouth the nest shaped that could be seen; far from those great turn’d lips, which are so natural to the rest of the negroes. The whole proportion and air of his face was so nobly and exactly form’d, that bating his colour, there could be nothing in nature more beautiful, agreeable and handsome.” (154) 

In this passage Aphra Behn uses imagery. The speaker describes Oroonoko as a beautiful person; Behn sets him apart from others in his race. The speaker compares Oroonoko’s teeth to snow. Oroonoko is extremely handsome not even nature could compare. Oroonoko beauty is described as one of a kind. By reading Behn description of Oroonoko the reader gets an idea of his appearance.  

ON BEING BROUGHT FROM AFRICA TO AMERICA 

‘Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, 
Taught my benighted soul to understand 
That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too: 
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew. 
Some view our sable race with scornful eye, 
“Their colour is a diabolic die.” 
Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain, 
May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train. 

The poem “On being brought from Africa to America” by Phillis Wheatley. Wheatley uses imagery when he says “Some view our sable race with scornful eye”.  The word “scornful eye” means some humans have negative expression towards them; and look down on their race. They describe their color as “diabolic die”.  

“Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, taught my benighted soul to understand”. 

Wheatley shows irony in her poem, the word mercy in her poem is ironic. Mercy means compassion and forgiveness.  The word “pagan Land” refers to Africa. Africa its Wheatley’s homeland, where she has freedom. She was brought from her “pagan land” to America. She was captured from Africa to America.  

Work cited 

Aphra, Behn. Oroonoko, Penguin.2003 

Wordsworth. The world is too much with us.