Volta: A Poetic Device

Volta: Etymology, Literal and Conceptual Meanings

Etymology

The term “Volta” traces its etymological origins to Italian, specifically from the late 16th century. Derived from the Latin word “volvere,” meaning “to turn” or “to roll,” the term evolved through various linguistic phases, including Old Italian and Vulgar Latin, before settling into its current form. The trajectory of its linguistic evolution reflects the concept of a cyclical or turning motion, capturing the essence of change and revolution.

Literal Meaning

• Electrical Term: In the realm of physics and electrical engineering, “Volta” pays homage to Alessandro Volta, an Italian scientist renowned for his invention of the voltaic pile, the precursor to the modern electric battery.
• Measure of Electric Potential: In this context, “volta” is also a unit of measurement for electric potential, representing one joule of energy per coulomb of charge.

Conceptual Meanings

• Revolution and Innovation: The term carries connotations of revolutionary change and innovation, aligning with Alessandro Volta’s groundbreaking contributions to the field of electricity.
• Cyclic Motion: Reflecting its etymological roots, “Volta” can symbolize cyclical patterns or turning points, suggesting a constant evolution or transformation.
• Metaphorical Energy: Beyond its electrical connotations, the term can be metaphorically associated with dynamic energy and transformative power, evoking a sense of vitality and momentum.

Volta: Definition as a Literary/Poetic Device

In poetry, the “Volta” denotes a structural and thematic shift within a poem, typically occurring at the start of a new stanza or section. This poetic device serves as a turning point, signaling a change in tone, perspective, or argumentative direction. The Volta is a sophisticated tool utilized by poets to introduce complexity, surprise, or resolution, thereby enhancing the overall impact and cohesion of the poetic work.

Volta in Poetry: Shakespearean

1. Sonnet 18 (“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”)
   • [Volta:] “But thy eternal summer shall not fade”
   • The volta here shifts from the speaker’s comparison of the beloved to a summer’s day to a declaration of the timeless beauty of the beloved.
2. Sonnet 29 (“When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes”)
   • [Volta:] “Haply I think on thee, and then my state,”
   • The volta in this sonnet marks a shift from the speaker’s lamentation of his own misfortune to finding solace and comfort in thoughts of the beloved.
3. Sonnet 73 (“That time of year thou mayst in me behold”)
   • [Volta:] “This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong,”
   • The volta in Sonnet 73 shifts from describing the aging process to asserting that this very awareness of mortality enhances the strength of the speaker’s relationship with the beloved.
4. Sonnet 116 (“Let me not to the marriage of true minds”)
   • [Volta:] “Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds,”
   • The volta here marks a transition from defining love to negating qualities that would diminish its constancy and steadfastness.
5. Sonnet 130 (“My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun”)
   • [Volta:] “And yet by heaven, I think my love as rare,”
   • The volta in Sonnet 130 shifts from a series of unconventional comparisons to an affirmation of the speaker’s genuine and unique love for his mistress.

Volta Poetry: Examples

1. John Milton – “Paradise Lost”
   • Volta: The shift occurs in Book III when Satan and his followers are introduced, altering the focus from heavenly harmony to the fallen angels’ rebellion.
2. William Wordsworth – “The World Is Too Much With Us”
   • Volta: It, in this sonnet, occurs in the concluding lines, where Wordsworth shifts from lamenting the materialistic world to a plea for a deeper connection with nature.
3. John Keats – “Ode to a Nightingale”
   • Volta: The poem takes a turn in the third stanza as Keats acknowledges the transient nature of the nightingale’s song and contrasts it with human mortality.
4. Elizabeth Barrett Browning – “Sonnet 43 (How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways)”
   • Volta: It comes in the final lines, where Browning moves from enumerating ways to love to asserting the depth and breadth of her love.
5. T.S. Eliot – “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”
   • Volta: It is seen when Prufrock shifts from his internal musings to considering whether he should disturb the universe by expressing his feelings.
6. Seamus Heaney – “Digging”
   • Volta: Heaney’s volta occurs when the speaker transitions from describing his family’s traditional skills to affirming his own identity as a writer.
7. Robert Frost – “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
   • Volta: The final stanza brings it, as Frost shifts from admiring the tranquil snowy scene to acknowledging responsibilities and the journey ahead.
8. Emily Dickinson – “Because I could not stop for Death”
   • Volta: Dickinson’s volta is evident when the carriage ride with Death shifts from a leisurely journey to a reflection on the finality of life.
9. Langston Hughes – “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”
   • Volta: It occurs as Hughes shifts from narrating the ancient history of rivers to expressing the speaker’s deep connection to African heritage.
10. W.B. Yeats – “The Second Coming”
    • Volta: It happens in the final stanza, where Yeats shifts from describing the chaos of the world to anticipating the arrival of a new era.

Volta in Poetry: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Volta
Formalism	Recognizes the structural significance of the voltas in shaping the overall form of a poem.
New Criticism	Focuses on close reading and analysis of the voltas as a key element in understanding a poem.
Structuralism	Views the volta as a structural component that contributes to the overall meaning of the text.
Poststructuralism	May deconstruct the voltas, exploring how it challenges or subverts traditional poetic norms.
Reader-Response Theory	Considers how readers interpret the voltas and the impact it has on their understanding.
Feminist Criticism	Examines how gender roles and perspectives are reflected in the voltas and its implications.
Cultural Criticism	Analyzes the voltas in the context of cultural norms, values, and historical influences.

Volta in Poetry: Relevant Terms

Poetic Device	Definition
Enjambment	Continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, stanza, or couplet.
Caesura	A pause or break in a line of verse.
Metaphor	A figure of speech that implies a comparison between two unrelated things.
Simile	A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using “like” or “as.”
Symbolism	The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
Alliteration	Repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words.
Imagery	Use of vivid and descriptive language to evoke sensory experiences.
Irony	A contrast between expectation and reality.
Personification	Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities.
Anaphora	Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines.

Volta in Poetry: Suggested Readings

1. Abrams, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. 11th ed., Wadsworth, 2014.
2. Brooks, Cleanth, and Robert Penn Warren. Understanding Poetry. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1960.
3. Fry, Stephen. The Ode Less Traveled: Unlocking the Poet Within. Gotham Books, 2006.
4. Perrine, Laurence, and Thomas R. Arp. Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982.
5. Preminger, Alex, et al., editors. The New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics. Princeton UP, 1993.
6. Vendler, Helen. The Art of Shakespeare’s Sonnets. The Belknap Press of Harvard UP, 1997.