Literary Devices in The Caged Skylark

“Uncumberèd” means not encumbered—not hindered, obstructed, or weighed down. The idea of the soul’s being “flesh-bound” (still dwelling in the body) but not encumbered by the body is paradoxical in the context of the sonnet’s octave; however, the paradox is explained in the final line of the sestet. “His bónes risen” is an allusion to the Christian belief in the resurrection of the body after death, its transformation, and ascent to eternal life in heaven.

The “b” sound in “barriers” and “bursts” is created by suddenly expelling air through closed lips in a sort of explosion. The alliteration of the “b” sound in “barriers” and “bursts” creates an auditory image of sudden eruptions of “fear or rage,” emphasizing in a different way the skylark’s and the soul’s ongoing misery.

The imprisonment motif, which has been implied throughout the text, is now made clear; the skylark and the soul both live in cages. The alliteration and diction in “droop deadly” contrast sharply with the musical sound and uplifting tone of the alliteration in the previous line. The contrast emphasizes that the essential misery of the skylark and the soul is ongoing.

The line is driven by the alliteration of the “s” sound, called sibilance, which is soft and musical—like their songs and the “spells” they create. The word “spells” has connotations of being charmed or captivated. The alliteration and the repetition of “sweetest” are themselves captivating, drawing readers into the music of the songs.

“Free fells” also can be interpreted as an example of Hopkins’s creative poetic language. “Fells” is suggestive of “falls” and evokes the image of the skylark in flight, swooping toward the earth.

A fell is a mountain range or hills covered by moors, such as those found in the Lake District in northwest England. Describing the fells as “free” suggests both unlimited physical space and the skylark’s freedom in this habitat. “Free fells” is an example of alliteration; the “f” sound is soft and pleasing to the ear. Bringing the words together in the line emphasizes each word in creating a visual image of the natural world where the skylark once lived but can no longer remember.

“Bone-house” is an actual kenning, a two-word phrase that describes an object through metaphor. In context, “bone-house” is the physical body of the person, in which the soul or spirit is confined. The physical body is described as “mean”; as the word is used here, it means low or wretched.