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Difficulty: HardPoetic Imagery and Figurative Language

In William Wordsworth's poem *My Heart Leaps Up*, the speaker reflects:

"The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety."

Which literary device is principally demonstrated in the expression "The Child is father of the Man"?

  1. ParadoxAnswer
  2. B
    Oxymoron
  3. C
    Simile
  4. D
    Hyperbole

Answer

Paradox is the principle figure of speech used in the line because the statement seems contradictory on the surface but conveys a profound truth about human developmental continuity.
The expression 'The Child is father of the Man' is a classic paradox because it presents a literal logical impossibility that, upon deeper reflection, communicates a profound truth: that childhood impressions shape adult character and perspective.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the surface meaning of the target poetic expression.
Literally stating that a child fathers an adult is biologically impossible and self-contradictory.
Identifying apparent logical contradiction is the first step in classifying literary tropes.
2
Examine the underlying symbolic meaning within the poetic context.
The phrase implies that early childhood experiences and emotional habits form the foundation for adult identity.
Determining whether a self-contradictory statement reveals a deeper truth establishes if it functions as a paradox.
3
Distinguish between adjacent figurative concepts like oxymoron and paradox.
Since the statement is a full clause conveying thematic truth rather than two adjacent contradictory terms, it is a paradox rather than an oxymoron.
Ensures precise categorization according to standard literary principles.

Key Concept

Distinction between Paradox and Oxymoron in Poetic Imagery
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Topics

Poetic Imagery and Figurative Language

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