Bedecked Themes
This theme is shown when the poem questions why glitter and pink are seen as “wrong” for boys
Gender Roles
The repeated phrase “Tell me” throughout the poem is an example of this literary device, which uses repetition at the beginning of lines
Anaphora / Repetition
Two contradictory words together
oxymoron
What does the speaker mean when she says her son is “bedecked”?
He is decorated / dressed with jewels and glitter. He is adorned
The boy doesn’t see gender rules. For example, he doesn't understand that glitter and the color pink are "reserved" for girls. But, he just likes what’s beautiful and what catches his eye
Innocence of a child / Naivety
The description of “scarlet nails,” “rhinestone strand,” and “rainbows” appeals to the reader’s senses, making this literary device important in the poem. What is this device called?
Imagery / Descriptive diction
The emotional meaning attached to a word beyond its dictionary definition is called this
Connotation
The poem is told from this perspective, showing admiration and concern for the child.
Mother's Perspective
The son is wearing jewels and expressing himself freely. These actions reflect this theme of being true to who you are
Indivisuality / Identity / Self-expression
The jewels and rainbows represent beauty, individuality, and self-expression, making them examples of this literary device
Symbolism
A polite or less harsh way of saying something
Euphemism
Being the first in her family born in the U.S., Redel is considered this generation
First-Generation American
In the poem's final lines, the speaker suggests the boy is "Bedecked" because he embraces what he loves despite judgment. What theme is this?
Courage / Bravery
When the speaker says her son “casts rainbows,” giving him an almost magical ability, this is an example of exaggeration used for emphasis
Hyperbole
A part represents the whole, or the whole represents a part
Synecdoche
This poet, who wrote Bedecked, is a first-generation American
Victoria Redel