The Poems of Henry Derozio Literary Elements

The poems are narrated in first-person perspective by an unnamed speaker.

"The Harp of India" and "Song of the Hindustani Minstrel" are written in a lyrical form.

"The Harp of India" - "Silence hath bound thee with her fatal chain"
Silence is metaphorically represented as a force that binds the harp emphasizing its mute state.

"Song of the Hindustani Minstrel" - "With surmah tinge the black eye’s fringe, ‘Twill sparkle like a star"
This simile compares the effect of applying surmah (kohl) to the fringe of the eye to the sparkling of a star.

"Song of the Hindustani Minstrel"- "With roses dress each raven tress"
Alliteration occurs with the repetition of the “r”
Assonance occurs with the repetition of the “e”

The irony lies in the fact that while the speaker wants to revive the harp's music, the harp remains unplayed and silent.

Lyric poetry

The setting remains largely abstract, allowing the themes and emotions to take precedence.

"The Harp of India" has a melancholic and sorrowful tone. "Song of the Hindustani Minstrel" has a romantic and passionate tone

In "The Harp of India," the protagonist is the personification of the silent harp. The harp symbolizes the past glory and musical heritage that has been abandoned. The antagonist is the forces of neglect, time, and circumstances.

The poems revolve around themes of loss, longing, and the juxtaposition of past glory with present desolation. Across Derozio's poetry, there is a prevalent conflict between the idealized past and the harsh reality of the present.

In "The Harp of India," the climax is the emotional peak where the speaker expresses the intense desire to awaken the divine notes of the harp again.

In "Song of the Hindustani Minstrel," the climax is in the stanza that expresses hope for a brighter future despite the current adversities faced by the lovers.

The themes of love and hope in "Song of the Hindustani Minstrel" foreshadow the speaker's optimistic outlook despite the challenges faced.

"Many a hand more worthy far than mine / Once thy harmonious chords to sweetness gave"

The speaker downplays their worthiness compared to the proficiency of those who once played the harp with excellence.

Derozio's engagement with cultural themes and sentiments prevalent in his time touches upon nationalism and the cultural heritage of India.

The phrase "raven tress" is a metonymy for black hair.

The speaker personifies the harp by treating it as a human entity with loneliness.

In "The Harp of India," the line "Silence hath bound thee with her fatal chain" is a hyperbolic expression that attributes a sense of severity to the silence.

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