|
Have questions?
Contact us
Already a member? Sign in
|
Get every literary device explanation for BerenicePlus so much more...
Sign up for LitCharts A+Get instant access to every literary device explanation, plus so much more...
Simile
Explanation and Analysis—A Simoon Upon her Frame:
As Poe introduces Berenice to the reader, he uses a simile to illustrate the dire effects of the physical illness that wrecks her body:
Disease—a fatal disease, fell like the simoon upon her frame; and, even while I gazed upon her, the spirit of change swept over her, pervading her mind, her habits, and her character, and, in a manner the most subtle and terrible, disturbing even the identity of her person!
A simoon is a type of wind that blows with extreme intensity and heat, blasting dust across the deserts of the Arabian peninsula. This wind is so strong it is often described as violent and toxic. The all-encompassing, destructive and brutal nature of this natural phenomenon aptly describes the effect of the illness that wrecks Berenice. Her transformation from a girl of “light-heartedness and joy” to a near-unrecognizable wraith is startling both for its tragedy and the sheer speed with which it occurs. The fact that this simoon-like disease crashes “upon her frame” emphasizes Berenice’s fragility, highlighting her vulnerability to the strong force that overtakes her. With this simile, Poe draws a striking parallel between Berenice’s disease and an uncontrollable natural hazard, making it seem as though the devastating effects of her illness operate on a scale equivalent to the destructive force of this sweeping wind.
Monthly
Annual (Best Value)
$595USD/mo
Charged $71.40 USD every year
Teacher$795USD/mo
Charged $95.40 USD every year
Literature Guide PDFs
LitCharts PDFs for every book you'll read this year.
Instant PDF downloads of all 2251 LitCharts literature guides and of every new one we publish. Try a free sample literature guide.
"Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!"
Quotes Explanations
Find the perfect quote. Understand it perfectly. Then rock the citation, too.
For all 50,202 quotes we cover.
For all 50,202 quotes we cover.
Teacher Editions
Close reading made easy for students.
Time saved for teachers.
For every book we cover.
Time saved for teachers.
For every book we cover.
Common Core-aligned
PDFs of modern translations of every one of Shakespeare's 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 3 longer poems.
Literary Terms and Devices
Definitions and examples for every literary term and device you need to know.
Plus a quick-reference PDF with concise definitions of all 136 terms in one place.
Plus a quick-reference PDF with concise definitions of all 136 terms in one place.
Try a free sample literary term PDF.
Advanced Search
Refine any search. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more.
Related Themes
Comparing and contrasting texts? Find where any theme occurs across all of LitCharts in seconds.
Poetry Guides
Line-by-line explanations and analysis of figurative language and poetic devices.
For every lyric poem we cover.
For every lyric poem we cover.
