Literary Devices and Themes in “Night” by Wole Soyinka
“Night” is a poem written by Wole Soyinka, an author, playwright, and political activist. Wole Soyinka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. The poem, Night, depicts the different shades and influences of the night. This article covers the analysis of literary devices and themes in “Night” by Wole Soyinka.
You can read the content analysis of the poem here.
Literary Devices in Night by Wole Soyinka
1. Imagery
The poem paints clear pictures of the sea and the shadows lurking in the darkness. “Night” is depicted as having a “jealous eye” that quenches the “sea’s fluorescence”.
Example:
“I saw your jealous eye quench the sea’s
Flouorescence, dance on the pulse incessant”
(Lines 5-6)
2. Metaphor
Soyinka uses metaphors to express the depth of power of Night and the helplessness of those it envelopes. The “heavy hand” of night on the speaker’s brow speaks of the weight he has to bear brought upon it by Night.
“Your hand is heavy, Night, upon my brow”
(Line 1)
Another example of metaphor in the poem is the use of “fluorescence” to describe the shiny surface of the sea.
“I saw your jealous eye quench the sea’s
Flourescence, dance on the pulse incessant”
(Lines 5-6)
3. Personification
Night is spoken of an individual whose hand is pressed down on the speaker’s brow (line 1). “Night” is written as a proper noun, beginning with a capital letter. This gives it a persona, a human form. Night’s “hand is heavy upon brow”.
Example:
“Your hand is heavy, Night, upon my brow
I bear no heart mercuric like the clouds, to dare”
(Lines 1-3)
4. Simile
The speaker admits that in the face of Night, his heart is not resistant or strong enough to move contrary to Night’s demands. The weight that Night places on his brows overpowers him and with no resistance, he yields.
“I bear no heart mercuric like the clouds, to dare”
(Line 2)
Unlike the clouds that can rapidly change and move in the sky or mercury that can easily turn to a liquid with quick fluid motion, the speaker can only bend to the will of Night.
5. Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds adds rhythm to the poem.
Example 1: The sound /h/ is repeated in “hand” and “heavy”.
“Your hand is heavy, Night, upon my brow” (line 1).
Example 2: The sound /b/ is repeated in “brine” and “blood”.
“Submitting like the sands, blood and brine” (line 8).
Example 3: The sound /s/ repeated in “sensation” and “silent”.
“Sensations pained me, faceless, silent as night thieves.” (Line 12).
6. Symbolism
An example of symbolism in the poem, Night, is the use of the expression – “night children” to represent those who perpetrate evil in the night.
“Hide me, when night children haunt the earth”
(Stanza 5, line 13)
7. Enjambment
There are different points where the poem has the run-on-line which enhances the rhythm and pushes the reader forward.
Example 1:
“I saw your jealous eye quench the sea’s
Flourescence, dance on the pulse incessant
Of the waves. …”
(Lines 5-7)
Example 2:
“… Night, you rained
Serrated shadows through dank leaves
Till, bathed in warm suffusion of your dappled cells
Sensations pained me, faceless, silent as night thieves.”
(Lines 9-12)
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Themes in Night by Wole Soyinka
1. Dominance/Oppression and Submission
The poem explores “Night” as an oppressive force that causes people to submit. The speaker is passive and vulnerable under this weight. This theme is captured by “heavy hand” and “subtle plough”, expressions that suggest being raided by a stronger force with no other option but to give in. The tone shows resignation and powerlessness.
2. The complex nature of the night.
“Night” is described as different things and unrelated roles in the poem. Here are some of the different aspects of Night captured in the poem
– Night was described as the bringer of sleep who wields a heavy hand on the brow not one dares to resist (lines 1-2).
– Night is seen as a jealous person who squashes the beautiful light of the sea, taking away the beauty without care (lines 5-6).
– Night as a covering that can provide refuge (line 13) but can also distort vision (lines 9-11).
3. Isolation as a tool of oppression
This theme is captured in the expression, “Woman as a clam, on the sea’s crescent”. The speaker speaks of being isolated and left to bear the harness of the environment where Night ploughs. Night has no care for the people or the environment; it simply strikes, quenching the “sea’s fluorescence”, altering views, and leaving those under its power to deal with the consequences.
4. Darkness and what it symbolizes.
Darkness is portrayed as mysterious, yet transformative. The writer used imagery to describe the nature of darkness. Here are some examples –
Example 1:
– Darkness can alter how we see things. It may make it worse or add beauty.
“… Night, you rained
Serrated shadows through dank leaves
Till, bathed in warm suffusion of your dappled cells”
(Lines 9-11)
Example 2:
– Darkness hides things both good and bad.
“Hide me now, when night children haunt the earth”
(Line 13)
5. Fear
The fear of Night resonates throughout the poem. The writer expresses this in different ways. One is where he says he does not dare to challenge the power of Night (line 2) – “I bear no heart mercuric like the clouds, to dare.”
The other example is where he pleads to be hidden from night children haunt (line 13) – “Hide me now, when night children haunt the earth”.
6. Vulnerability
The writer did not only express fear, the extent of his vulnerability to Night was clearly captured. After he begs to be hidden from night children haunt, the writer proceeds to express how vulnerable he is to what comes with Night.
“… These misted calls will yet
Undo me; naked, unbidden, at Night’s muted birth.”
(Lines 14-15)
It is also evident that there is no escape whatsoever for the speaker. When Night arrives, he has to yield, completely, without any resistance.
“… And I stood, drained
Submitting like the sands, blood and brine
Coursing to the roots…”
(Lines 7-9)