Common Cold by Ogden Nash employs various poetic devices

 "Common Cold" by Ogden Nash employs various poetic devices to convey the humorous and exaggerated description of the symptoms and experience of having a cold. Here are some of the key poetic devices used in the poem:

1. Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows a consistent rhyme scheme throughout, with an AABB pattern in each quatrain. This regular rhyme scheme contributes to the poem's rhythmic flow and comedic tone, enhancing its overall humor and readability.

2. Hyperbole: Nash employs hyperbolic language to exaggerate the severity of the common cold's symptoms and effects. For example, the line "My nose is cold, my toes are numb" exaggerates the sensation of coldness associated with having a cold, emphasizing the discomfort experienced by the speaker.

3. Personification: The common cold is personified and depicted as a mischievous and malevolent force. For instance, the cold is described as "an uninvited crawler" that "crept in," attributing intentionality and agency to the virus. This personification adds a humorous and whimsical element to the poem, portraying the common cold as a sneaky and unwelcome intruder.

4. Alliteration: Nash uses alliteration, or the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, to create rhythm and emphasis in the poem. For example, in the line "My hands are clammy, my throat is dry," the repetition of the "h" and "c" sounds adds a musical quality to the verse, enhancing its playful and rhythmic nature.

5. Onomatopoeia: The poem incorporates onomatopoeic words to evoke the sounds associated with having a cold. For example, the line "My ears are cold, my throat is dry" utilizes the word "cold" to mimic the sound of congestion or nasal obstruction, enhancing the reader's sensory experience of the speaker's discomfort.

6. Irony: Nash employs irony to juxtapose the serious and mundane nature of the common cold with the exaggerated and humorous descriptions used in the poem. By presenting the symptoms of a cold in a comical and exaggerated light, Nash highlights the absurdity and inconvenience of the condition, eliciting laughter and amusement from the reader.

Overall, these poetic devices work together to create a lighthearted and entertaining portrayal of the common cold in Ogden Nash's poem. Through hyperbole, personification, and playful language, Nash captures the universal experience of having a cold with humor and wit, turning an ordinary affliction into a source of comedic delight.