Question

Barter

Answer 1

The meaning of “barter” is to exchange goods or services for other goods or services instead of using money. In this case, the word “barter” is the name of the poem by Sara Teasdale (1917) and its definition reflects on the meaning of the poem which is to purchase and appreciate magical moments (loveliness) in our life that are worth hard work. For instance, Teasdale mentions “Blue waves whitened on a cliff”, “Soaring fire that sways and sings”, and “And children's faces looking up” as moments that life has to “sell” us and that should be enjoyed never counting the cost. The tone of the poem is joyful, optimistic, and sentimental. In order to support the meaning and the tone of the poem, the writer used some poetic devices. One poetic device used in the poem is simile in the phrases “holding wonder like a cup” and “music like a curve of gold”, making a comparison between two different things. Another poetic device is alliteration in the phrase “Life has loveliness to sell” with the repetition of the sound /l/ in neighboring words (life, loveliness, sell). In this same phrase, a different poetic device can be found: repetition, since it is repeated in Line 7 (Stanza 2). Another poetic device is personification, since the fire is given human qualities like singing in the phrase “Soaring fire that sways and sings”.