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Wilfrid Wilson Gibson uses different literary devices to explore the core theme of grief in his poem, The Stone. Examples of literary devices in “The Stone” include symbolism, antithesis, imagery, and personification. Each device is carefully employed to add effect, drive meaning, and enhance flow.

Read further on “The Stone”

Overview of “The Stone” by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

Content Analysis of “The Stone” by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

Themes in “The Stone” by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

Literary Devices in “The Stone” by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

1. Symbolism

a. The Stone

“The stone” carved by the stonemason is a symbol of the lover’s death, first for the man who died in an accident, then for his lady lover, who requested a tombstone for him.

It also represents the emotional state of the lady as she sat frozen, watching the stonemason, watching with stone-cold emotion.

Thirdly, “the stone” signifies the tombstone itself – one for the man and another for the lady lover.

Finally, “the stone” represents the final resting place of the man and his lover.

b. The Open Door

This is the door to the stonemason’s home through which the lady slowly passed when the carving of her lover’s tombstone was done, never to return. Her act of breathing her lover’s name and sighing in relief before leaving, and the fact that she never returns, builds multiple meanings around the door and the lady stepping through it.

Passing through this door slowly with a sigh of relief could mean that she had accepted what happened and is ready to move on with life. But having been “still and white” coming as “a ghost” (Lines 71-72), and watching “with bloodless lips” (Line 84), and the stonemason noticing that every stroke of the chisel cut deep into her soul, this door could also signify her exit from life, passing to death.

c. The Carving

The carving serves as both a symbol for mourning and a force for transformation for the woman.

• She had requested the stone to be carved as her way of mourning her lover.
• But as the stonemason carved, the process etched further pain into the lady. The narrator described this as death cutting deeper into her heart. And when this was all done, she breathed her lover’s name, sighed, and left. This signified the end of the mourning and a transformation for her.

2. Imagery

Wilfrid Wilson Gibson used imagery not only to elevate the language of the poem, but also to paint a picture of the scenes for the readers to see.

Example 1:

“A lifeless heap, with face of clay,

And still as stone he lay,

With eyes that saw the end of all.”

(Stanza 2, Line 15-17)

This describes how the tall young man lay beneath the rock that killed him. The description builds an image of a young handsome man whose face is covered in mud laying under a rock with his eyes wide open.

Example 2:

“A woman, turned to stone:”

(Stanza 4, Line 31)

This describes the state of the lady after she received the news of her lover’s death. The reader thinks of a stone sculpture of a young lady frozen in time.

Example 3:

“Her tearless, staring eyes,”

Stanza 5, Line 47)

Here, the reader sees clear eyes staring without blinking in the midst of people wailing in mourning.

3. Simile

This is the comparison of two things with the use of “as” or “like”.

Example 1:

“And still as any stone he lay,”

(Stanza 2, Line 16)

This describes how the man lay, unmoving, under the rock that killed him.

Example 2:

“And cut my marrow like cold steel.”

(Stanza 6, Line 64)

This describes the cold gaze of the stone-emotion lady as she watched the stonemason carve a tombstone for her lover.

Example 3:

“And like a ghost she came;”

(Stanza 7, Line 72)

This description is for the appearance and mannerism of the grieving lady as she came to the stonemason’s house night after night to watch him carve the tombstone for her lover.

4. Metaphor

Example 1:

“And Watched with eyes aflame.”

(Stanza 7, Line 74)

This describes the depth of passion for the lover in the eyes of the grieving lady as she watched the stonemason carve the tombstone.

Example 2:

“A woman, turned to stone”

(Stanza 4, Line 31)

Wilfrid Wilson Gibson used this expression to describe the stone-cold emotion and frozen state of the lady after she got the news of the death of her lover. It is also symbolic of grief.

5. Repetition

W.W. Gibson used different forms of repetition to enhance the readability, flow, and emotional impact of the poem. Here are some types of repetition used in “The Stone..

a. Anaphora: This is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines in a poem.

Example 1:

“Had blurted out the news to her,
Had struck her lover dead for her,
Had struck the girl’s heart dead in her,
Had struck life, lifeless, at a word,”

(Stanza 3, Lines 23-26)

Example 2:

“A flash, a shock,
A rumbling fall . . .”

(Stanza 2, Lines 12-13)

Example 3:

“Those still, grey eyes that followed me,
Those eyes that plucked the heart from me,
Those eyes that sucked the breath from me”

(Stanza 6, Lines 59-61)

b. Epiphora: This is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses, sentences, or lines in a poem.

Example 1:

“Those still, grey eyes that followed me,
Those eyes that plucked the heart from me,
Those eyes that sucked the breath from me”

(Stanza 6, Lines 59-61)

Example 2:

“With still eyes ever on my hands,
With eyes that seemed to burn my hands,
My wincing, overwearied hands,”

(Stanza 9, Lines 81-83)

c. Symploce: A combination of anaphora and epiphora.

Example 1:

“With still eyes ever on my hands,
With eyes that seemed to burn my hands,”

(Stanza 9, Lines 81-82)

Example 2:

“Those still, grey eyes that followed me,
Those eyes that plucked the heart from me,
Those eyes that sucked the breath from me”

(Stanza 6, Lines 59-61)

d. Consonance and Assonance: There is a combined effect of consonance and assonance in some parts that adds to the rhythm of the poem.

Example 1:

And not a sound or murmur broke
The quiet, save the mallet stroke.

(Stanza 8, Lines 79-80)

Example 2:

Next night I laboured late, alone,
To cut her name upon the stone.

(Stanza 11, Lines 96-97)

e. Refrain: This is the reuse of a phrase, clause, or sentence for emphasis or effect. The request the grieving lady made of the stonemason is repeated in different forms in stanzas 1, 6, and 11.

“”And will you cut a stone for him,
To set above his head?
And will you cut a stone for him—
A stone for him?” she said.”

(Stanza 1, Lines 1-4)

“”And will you cut a stone for him?”
She said: and spoke no more:”

(Stanza 6, Lines 51-52)

“Next night I laboured late, alone,
To cut her name upon the stone.”

(Stanza 11, Lines 96-97)

6. Personification

Human attributes were assigned to death. The narrator described death as carving pain into the heart of the lady. He, the stonemason, and death chiseling away, together.

“And every stroke my chisel cut,
Death cut still deeper in her heart:
The two of us were chiselling,
Together, I and Death.”

Stanza 9, Lines 86-89)

7. Antithesis

The frozen stone-emotion of the lady lover and that of the wailing mother who has lost her son are contrasted in stanza 5. Also, the rest of death is accrued to the man while the lady could not sleep after she got the news.

“His mother wept:
She could not weep.
Her lover slept:
She could not sleep.”

(Stanza 5, Lines 36-39)

8. Paradox

This is the use of contradicting statements that carry an underlying truth or insight. The writer used paradox to describe the state of the lady who had lost her lover, how she stared on tearlessly as if she could do nothing, yet she remained fully aware.

“Her tearless, staring eyes,
That, seeing naught, saw all.”

(Stanza 5, Lines 47-48)

9. Enjambment

This is a continuation of a sentence or phrase beyond the end of a line in a poem without the use of punctuation to create a pause. These run-on lines help move the readers forward.

Example 1:

“Who never closed her eyes
From sunset to sunrise,”

(Stanza 5, Lines 44-45)

Example 2:

“I could not bear to feel
Those still, grey eyes that followed me,”

(Stanza 6, Lines 58-59)

Conclusion

The vivid descriptions of what grief looks like in “The Stone” paint clear images for the reader to understand what the protagonist of this narrative poem was going through. To explore the depth of meaning, W. W. Gibson used symbolism, and death was given a human form, to carve pain into the lady’s heart.

All the literary devices used in “The Stone” by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson work together to make the piece meaningful and memorable.

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