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Gwendolyn Brooks Literary Devices

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Jeremy Zucker Mrs. Riordan AP Lit 6 February 2022 Liberty, Freedom, (and a whisper): English Mechanics in “Boy Breaking Glass” In Gwendolyn Brooks’ “Boy Breaking Glass”, language holds a significant power to the overall work. Brooks uses several literary devices to bring something forth of great creative measure in all of her poems These choices were all intentional and led to her getting lots of attention for her works. This specific work incorporates all of these aspects to create something that is enticing to read and forces creative thinking. Throughout “Boy Breaking Glass”, punctuation, syntax, and allusions are all important details that create an entertaining and engaging work. The first detail is how she uses punctuation throughout her work. In “Boy Breaking Glass'' there is the use of parentheses. An interesting choice of punctuation to have in a poem, but it fits rather well with the topic. Brooks wants readers to feel as if they are being let in on a secret, and the main use to give this perspective is that the glass that is being broken is taboo. Windows breaking isn’t a good thing, and …show more content…

Throughout “Boy Breaking Glass”, many different references are made. Jesus and the salt of the earth is seen in line ten and in line twenty two, the American government is mentioned. Her choice to include these allusions are especially prominent in lines twenty two and twenty three. She uses prominent figures in culture, especially American culture; “Who has not Congress, lobster, love, luau, the Regency Room, the Statue of Liberty…”. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom, of a new life. This boy who has shattered the glass has done something freeing, yet he will have to start a new life. The life of responsibility for actions that we take are coming down upon him. Her syntax is purposeful with deeper meanings than what meets the eye, especially for the bow who broke the

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