by ; Friedrich Nietzsche
Poem Analysis :
This poem expresses a different religious opinion on God . The poet uses a man as an example to show off the opinion of those who don't follow God's words and religious rules, this man is named Madman . In the poem he is described as crazy and psychotic based on his actions and spoken words. He constantly repeats that God is dead and that he has killed him. The Madman describes the world being destroyed with its own people and nature . At the end of the poem the Madman questions the people surrounding him about the God he "killed". Almost like asking them who's going to save them now ,while barging into many churches the Madman doesn't see the world with Religious Significance.
Literary devices :
The literary devices used in the poem by Friedrich Nietzsche are euphemism , hyperbole , paradox and simile. What is an euphemism you may ask ? Well its when a phrase or word is used to paraphrase another word or phrase in a kinder way. the example used in the poem is "Do we hear nothing as yet of those noise of the gravediggers Gods, too , decompose." because the word decompose is used instead of a word signifying death in a worst way. The word death is very morbid and so is decompose but decompose can be used differently. The next example of a literary device is a hyperbole , a hyperbole is am exaggeration not taken literally . " Who gave is the sponge to wipe away the entire horizon " is a hyperbole because you can't wipe away the horizon with a sponge, this statement is exaggerated to the max compared to the size of a sponge and a entire world's horizon. Another literary device found was a paradox , a statement that is self -contradicted. "Have you not heard of that madman who lit a lantern in the bright morning hours" this is a paradox because why would he light a lantern in the morning when there is light out . Last but not least , simile was used as well . "Did he lose his way like a child ?" this is a literary device because this statement compares the lose mind with a innocent child .