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Head, Heart: A Common Conundrum

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Head, Heart: A Common Conundrum A feeling, an experience, and a trauma every human being ever living has gone through. In her poem "Head. Heart," Lydia Davis employs personification and imagery to express the struggle between rational thought and emotional intuition. The speaker in the poem describes the conflict between the head and the heart as separate entities in the body, each with its own unique qualities and characteristics. The head is portrayed as logical and analytical, while the heart is portrayed as impulsive and emotional. This struggle between the head and the heart is a universal experience that the poet explores in depth through the use of vivid imagery and powerful personification. The use of personification and imagery …show more content…

The speaker describes the head as "a leader who rules with a firm hand" (Davis 10) and the heart as "a rebel who refuses to be contained" (Davis 11). This metaphor serves to emphasize the struggle between the head and heart and the idea that the two are often in opposition. The use of metaphor adds depth to the poem and allows the speaker to express complex ideas in a succinct and effective manner. Additionally, the metaphor helps to bring the abstract concepts of control and opposition to life, making the poem more accessible and relatable to the reader. Through this device, the poet is able to convey a powerful message about the human experience and the ongoing struggle between rational thought and emotional …show more content…

Heart" effectively employs personification, imagery, metaphor, and repetition to explore the struggle between rational thought and emotional intuition. Through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, the poet conveys the idea that this struggle is a common experience and that reconciling the two can be difficult. The repetition of the phrase "head. heart" emphasizes the central conflict in the poem and draws the reader's attention to it, making the message of the poem even more impactful. These literary devices make the poem a powerful exploration of the human experience and the ongoing struggle between the head and heart. Additionally, through the use of personification, imagery, metaphor, and repetition, the poet is able to bring abstract concepts to life, making the poem more accessible and relatable to the reader. The powerful message of the poem, combined with the vivid imagery and skillful use of literary devices, makes "Head. Heart" by Lydia Davis a memorable and thought-provoking work of

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