The Highwayman –Critical Essay
How does the poem make effective use of poetic devices?

• Give the title of the poem
• Give the name of the writer
• Explain in a sentence what the poem is about
• Say what your essay is going to do

• Say that Noyes uses metaphor
• Give an example of a metaphor
• Explain what is being compared to what
• Explain why this is appropriate

• Give another example of a metaphor
• Explain what is being compared to what
• Explain why this is appropriate

• Say that Noyes uses other techniques
• Explain that he uses alliteration
• Give an example
• Explain how the sound works
• What does the sound remind us of?

• Say that Noyes also uses repetition
• Say that works to reinforce ideas
• Give an example of repetition
• Explain the effect of the repetition

• Say that Noyes also uses onomatopoeia
• Say that works to give sound images
• Explain that this gives the reader a “sensory experience”
• Give an example of onomatopoeia
• Explain the effect of this

• Say that Noyes also uses symbolism and connotation
• Give an example of this
• What is the effect – what are the connotations?
• How does this contribute to the overall themes of the poem

• Say that the Highwayman is an interesting poem
• Explain that the techniques you have discussed bring the poem to life
• Say they help us to visualise the events of the poem
• Say that this shows how powerful language can be