Pamela
Student No:
Unique No: 668465
ENG2602 Assignment 3
PROSE
Write an essay of approximately 1 000 words in which you analyse the depiction of the
prince’s love for the maiden
The novel “starbook” by Ben Okri is a writing structure that depends on a lot of figurative
language rather than a more literal language in order to generate a better oral image of the
story. During the course of this essay, we shall critically evaluate how the different uses of
figurative language created a magical universe of love that is both a known yet foreign
concept to many of us.
The excerpt begins with the line, “he felt he hadn’t slept” which in turn can be conveyed as a
literal meaning, which basically meant that he felt restless, a feeling that many of us are
familiar with. The simple thought of his love towards someone he barely knew kept him up at
night. The intoxicated thought of love was probably too strong for him to receive any proper
sleep as his mind was consumed by the idea of finding his maiden.
As the first sentence progresses, Okri creates an image that is both peculiar yet decipherable.
The sentence continues with “he spent all night wandering through the world looking for a
maiden who bore his heart in her womb” which is clearly not a literal meaning, but rather a
figurative language, a metaphor to be precise, as one cannot simply travel throughout the
entire world in one night. The use of the metaphor allowed the writer to pack multiple
descriptions and images into one short sentence. The phrase conveys to the reader that he did
sleep but it felt as though he had been wandering the world searching throughout the night for
someone and something he could barely understand. There is a tone of desperation that
evokes a picture of him stirring and turning while having this dream, thus robbing him of a
peaceful sleep. The repetition of the “w” sound throughout the sentence creates an
alliteration.
As we read further towards the phrase, “bore his heart in her womb”, a womb is the part of a
women‟s body whereby a fetus develops and grows. The writer is comparing the part of a
body that stores an unborn child, to a place that now stores his heart. The phrase continues
with, “his heart grew in her like a child”, the literary device used in this sentence is a simile
as the writer is comparing the princes love (heart) to that of a women carrying a child in her
womb. His heart, much like his love, is developing and growing towards this maiden whom
he is searching for. A woman carries the fetus in her womb for 9 months before giving birth.
Perhaps the writer is trying to say that he is eagerly waiting for his maiden to show up so that
his unwavering love can be expressed, ie “born”.
Student No:
Unique No: 668465
ENG2602 Assignment 3
PROSE
Write an essay of approximately 1 000 words in which you analyse the depiction of the
prince’s love for the maiden
The novel “starbook” by Ben Okri is a writing structure that depends on a lot of figurative
language rather than a more literal language in order to generate a better oral image of the
story. During the course of this essay, we shall critically evaluate how the different uses of
figurative language created a magical universe of love that is both a known yet foreign
concept to many of us.
The excerpt begins with the line, “he felt he hadn’t slept” which in turn can be conveyed as a
literal meaning, which basically meant that he felt restless, a feeling that many of us are
familiar with. The simple thought of his love towards someone he barely knew kept him up at
night. The intoxicated thought of love was probably too strong for him to receive any proper
sleep as his mind was consumed by the idea of finding his maiden.
As the first sentence progresses, Okri creates an image that is both peculiar yet decipherable.
The sentence continues with “he spent all night wandering through the world looking for a
maiden who bore his heart in her womb” which is clearly not a literal meaning, but rather a
figurative language, a metaphor to be precise, as one cannot simply travel throughout the
entire world in one night. The use of the metaphor allowed the writer to pack multiple
descriptions and images into one short sentence. The phrase conveys to the reader that he did
sleep but it felt as though he had been wandering the world searching throughout the night for
someone and something he could barely understand. There is a tone of desperation that
evokes a picture of him stirring and turning while having this dream, thus robbing him of a
peaceful sleep. The repetition of the “w” sound throughout the sentence creates an
alliteration.
As we read further towards the phrase, “bore his heart in her womb”, a womb is the part of a
women‟s body whereby a fetus develops and grows. The writer is comparing the part of a
body that stores an unborn child, to a place that now stores his heart. The phrase continues
with, “his heart grew in her like a child”, the literary device used in this sentence is a simile
as the writer is comparing the princes love (heart) to that of a women carrying a child in her
womb. His heart, much like his love, is developing and growing towards this maiden whom
he is searching for. A woman carries the fetus in her womb for 9 months before giving birth.
Perhaps the writer is trying to say that he is eagerly waiting for his maiden to show up so that
his unwavering love can be expressed, ie “born”.
