What are the poetic devices used in "A Character" by William Wordsworth?

Poetic devices used in "A Character" by English poet href="http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/william-wordsworth">William
Wordsworth include:

1. Rhyme
Scheme

This poem consists of five stanzas
and each stanza has four lines of verse. In each stanza, lines 1 and 2 rhyme, and lines
4 and 5 rhyme. This rhyme scheme is consistent throughout the entire poem of 20 lines in
total.

2.
Alliteration

An example of alliteration
occurs in stanza two in line two, “Such strength…” Alliteration here appears as the same
consonants at the beginning of the two words – the letter “s”
repeated.

Alliteration also occurs in stanza three in line
two, “ten times…” as well as in stanza four in line two, “shame scarcely
seeming…”

3.
Meter

There is a regular meter to this poem.
The meter is apparent as the poem is read. It essentially is four beats per line based
on the unstressed and stressed syllables. Reading the poem you can tap your feet or hand
to the four beats in each line.

4.
Atmosphere

There is a pensive atmosphere to
“A Character.” The mood or feeling that William Wordsworth creates is one that causes
the reader to ponder what Man is. Right from the start the theme of what constitutes an
individual is apparent. Each person can be full of contrasts throughout his or her life
depending on the situations they face and the life circumstances that occur, as well as
the relationships they have.

The atmosphere of the poem is
set right from the get-go with the line:

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“I marvel how Nature could ever find
space

For so many strange contrasts in one human
face”

Immediately, the reader
begins to ponder the complex makeup of
Man.

5.
Hyperbole

There is some hyperbole in this
Wordsworth poem – overstatement in some lines – words that go beyond typical discourse.
This is heightened or adorned language that gives the poem more of a sense of importance
and elegance. Examples from the poem are these two lines from stanza number two (lines
three and four):

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“Could pierce through a temper that's soft to
disease,

Would be rational peace—a philosopher's
ease.”

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