Appreciating writing skills and devices

Have you ever, having read a piece of Literature, taken the time to appreciate the various writing skills and devices the writer, be it a poet, author, playwright etc., has used to make his piece brilliant? We may not always notice but every piece of writing, like an art piece, is carefully put together, creating a perfect and unique expression of the writer.

Although this piece is rather straightforward, the writer did use a few literary devices. This includes the personification, metaphor and hyperbole among the most common ones.

World Take My Son By the Hand

My son starts to school tomorrow!
It's all going to be strange and new to him for a while
and I wish you would sort to treat him gently. You see, up to now he's been the King of the Roost.
He's been the boss of the backyard. I've always been around to repair his wounds and I've always been handy to soothe his feelings. But now things are going to be different. This morning he is going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand, and start on his great adventure that will include wars and tragedy and sorrow. To live his life in the world he has to live in will require faith and love and courage.

So world, I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand and teach him the things he will have to know. Teach him, but gently if you can.
He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, that all men are not true.

Teach him that for every scoundrel, there is a hero; that for every crooked politician there is a dedicated leader. Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend. Let him learn that the bully is the easiest person to lick.

Teach him the wonders of books; give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mysteries of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hill.

Teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas even if everyone tells him they are wrong. Try to give my son strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is getting on the bandwagon. Teach him to listen to all men but to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidder, but never put a price tag on his heart and soul.

Teach him gently, world, but don't coddle him because only the test of the fire makes fine steel.

This is a big order, World, but see what you can do
He's such a nice little fellow, my son.

By : Dan Valentine ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appreciating writing skills and devices