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The Dash Poem Analysis

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Significance of Life “The Dash Poem” by Linda Ellis is a valuable piece that is worthy of remaining in the curriculum. This poem’s “awakening” message offers the reader an opportunity to question their priorities and establish new perspectives. While this poem offers a deeper insight into a person’s life, it also uses symbolism as its main literary device. In this poem, symbolism is used in order to emphasize the poem’s focal points. For instance, readers are invited to question their lives as the poem says, “For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth and now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth”. (9-12) This particular line invokes the reader to ask themselves what their “little line” is …show more content…

Through this poem, readers are encouraged to have a better attitude towards others as it says “be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before… treat each other with respect”. (25-29) Furthermore, the poem appeals to the reader’s moral compass by emphasizing that people should live life loving one another, and not let anger or pride cloud their decisions. Readers are given a new perspective on the importance of expressing their love and appreciation towards others. For example, many people grieve and feel regret when their loved ones die because they cannot shake off the feeling of “I should have told them” or “I could have done more”. For this reason, readers are encouraged to smile, to love, to respect, and to live a joyous life. In addition, readers are persuaded to take a new approach to life by “remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.” (31-32) In conclusion, “The Dash Poem” carries out an “awakening” message that gives a new insight on the importance of life by teaching readers that what really matters is “how we spend our dash”. (16) By questioning the reader’s priorities and offering new perspectives, the poem teaches the readers to live in the present as if tomorrow will never come. Whether people are remembered by their actions or by their personality, the poem reminds the readers that after death, they will only be remembered by the worth of their

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