Fast rode the knight by Stephen Crane
Fast rode the knight
With spurs, hot and reeking,
Ever waving an eager sword,
"To save my lady!"
Fast rode the knight,
And leaped from saddle to war.
Men of steel flickered and gleamed
Like riot of silver lights,
And the gold of the knight's good banner
Still waved on a castle wall.
. . . . .
A horse,
Blowing, staggering, bloody thing,
Forgotten at foot of castle wall.
A horse
Dead at foot of castle wall.
Questions
1) How are the figurative language used in the poem? Give the specific word(s), explain what type of figurative language it is and why the poet chose to use this figurative language?
2) Tell us why you like this poem in no less than 100 words.
Answers
1) This poem uses plenty of Figurative Language. In the first Stanza, he used the words "Fast rode the knight" two times as a hyperbole which helps the reader imagine the speed at which the knight was riding. In the second Stanza, he used the words "A horse" two times to let the readers imagine the horse and its current state. In the first Stanza, he used personification to describe the words "Ever waving an eager sword" . As waving a sword usually means going to battle, so he is personifying bravery. In the first stanza, he uses similes. The words were "Like riot of silver lights", which helps the reader create an image of the gleaming armor the knights were wearing.
2) I liked the poem as it symbolises the bravery of a knight and his loyalty to the Queen. This poem also shows how much a sacrifice the knight was willing to make to save the Queen.
