Study Notes
Margaret Atwood's poem 'The City Planners' uses various linguistic devices to critique the artificial order of suburban life and the hidden chaos beneath its surface.
- Personification — giving human traits to non-human things.
Example: "the houses in pedantic rows" scold the speaker for imperfections. - Alliteration — repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.
Example: "the houses in pedantic rows, the planted sanitary trees." - Consonance — repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words.
Example: "the smell of spilled oil a faint sickness lingering." - Assonance — repetition of vowel sounds within words.
Example: "the houses in pedantic rows, the planted sanitary trees."
Exam Tips
Key Definitions to Remember
- Personification: Giving human characteristics to non-human objects.
- Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.
- Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words.
- Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within words.
Common Confusions
- Confusing alliteration with consonance.
- Overlooking subtle personification in descriptions.
Typical Exam Questions
- How does Atwood use personification in 'The City Planners'? Atwood uses personification to give human traits to suburban elements, suggesting they judge and control.
- What effect does alliteration have in the poem? Alliteration adds musicality and emphasizes the artificial order of suburbia.
- How does consonance contribute to the poem's tone? Consonance creates a sense of tension and highlights the hidden chaos.
What Examiners Usually Test
- Understanding of how linguistic devices contribute to the poem's themes.
- Ability to identify and analyze examples of personification, alliteration, consonance, and assonance.
- Interpretation of the poem's critique of suburban life.