Comprehensive Analysis of Figures of Speech in Lenrie Peters’ The Panic of Growing Older

Lenrie Peters’ poem The Panic of Growing Older is a reflective piece that explores the inevitable passage of time and the emotions associated with aging. It examines the contrast between youthful expectations and the harsh realities of adulthood. Through the use of powerful figures of speech, the poet conveys a deep sense of regret, disillusionment, and the universal fear of lost time.

Poem: The Panic of Growing Older by Lenrie Peters

The Panic of Growing Older

The panic of growing older
spreads fluttering wings from year to year.
At twenty, stilled by hope
of gigantic success,
time and exploration
lay ahead.

At thirty, a sudden throb of pain.
Laboriously the wheels of life
move uphill.
At forty, the small, mocking
accidents of the years
multiply,
Seizing their toll.

At fifty,
balance and poise
dry in the mind.
The oil has run out.
At sixty, the image
is an antique lamp.

The light flickers,
its goals are spent.
Its strength is gone.

Figures of Speech in The Panic of Growing Older

Here are 10 figures of speech identified in the poem, with examples and explanations:

1. Metaphor
   • Example: “The panic of growing older spreads fluttering wings from year to year.”
     Aging is metaphorically described as a bird with wings, suggesting its persistent and unstoppable nature.
   • Example: “The image is an antique lamp.”
     The antique lamp symbolizes old age, indicating something that has lost its vitality and purpose.
2. Personification
   • Example: “The panic of growing older spreads fluttering wings.”
     Panic is personified as a living entity with wings, creating a sense of movement and inevitability.
   • Example: “Laboriously the wheels of life move uphill.”
     Life’s journey is personified as a struggling vehicle, highlighting the challenges of middle age.
3. Imagery
   • Example: “The light flickers, its goals are spent.”
     This visual imagery represents the diminishing energy and unfulfilled dreams of old age.
   • Example: “The oil has run out.”
     The imagery of oil running out symbolizes depletion and exhaustion.
4. Alliteration
   • Example: “Small, mocking accidents of the years multiply.”
     The repetition of the ‘m’ sound emphasizes the relentless and mocking nature of life’s minor setbacks.
5. Symbolism
   • Example: “The antique lamp” symbolizes the fragility and decline of life in old age.
   • Example: “The wheels of life” symbolize the ongoing, arduous journey of existence.
6. Hyperbole
   • Example: “The panic of growing older spreads fluttering wings from year to year.”
     The description exaggerates the pervasive nature of the fear of aging, making it feel overwhelming.
7. Juxtaposition
   • Example: “At twenty, stilled by hope of gigantic success” versus “At thirty, a sudden throb of pain.”
     The contrast between youthful hope and the reality of aging underscores the disillusionment over time.
8. Repetition
   • Example: “At twenty… At thirty… At forty… At fifty…”
     The repetition of age markers creates a rhythmic structure, emphasizing the stages of life and their distinct challenges.
9. Oxymoron
   • Example: “Small, mocking accidents”
     The combination of “small” and “mocking” highlights how minor setbacks in life accumulate to create significant frustrations.
10. Enjambment

• Example: “At twenty, stilled by hope / of gigantic success.”
  The flow of the sentence across lines mimics the passage of time, urging the reader to keep moving through the poem.

Class Activities for The Panic of Growing Older

1. Life Stage Collage
   • Students create a visual collage representing the different stages of life as described in the poem, using magazine clippings or drawings.
2. Figure of Speech Hunt
   • Divide the class into groups and have them identify and explain the figures of speech in the poem, presenting their findings to the class.
3. Dramatic Reading
   • Students perform a dramatic reading of the poem, using tone and expression to convey the emotions associated with each stage of life.
4. Poem Paraphrase
   • Students rewrite the poem in simpler language, preserving its meaning but making it accessible to younger audiences.
5. Thematic Discussion
   • Facilitate a class discussion about the themes of aging, hope, and disillusionment, connecting them to students’ own experiences or cultural perceptions of growing older.

Class Assignments for The Panic of Growing Older

1. Analytical Essay
   • Write an essay analyzing how Lenrie Peters uses figures of speech to explore the theme of aging in the poem.
2. Personal Reflection
   • Write a reflective essay about your own feelings on the passage of time, drawing parallels with the poem.
3. Creative Writing
   • Compose your own poem about the stages of life, using at least five figures of speech.
4. Research Assignment
   • Research Lenrie Peters’ life and cultural background and write a report on how these elements might have influenced the themes in The Panic of Growing Older.
5. Comparative Analysis
   • Compare The Panic of Growing Older with another poem about aging or time, discussing similarities and differences in themes and literary techniques.