1. Seeking Inspiration:
The poet calls upon the muse, deity, or entity for guidance and inspiration in writing the poem. This can be seen as a way of acknowledging the source of creative power and requesting its aid.
2. Setting the Tone and Theme:
The invocation establishes the poem's overall tone and theme. For example, an invocation to a war god would suggest a poem about battle and violence, while an invocation to a love goddess might signal a poem about romance and desire.
3. Establishing the Poet's Persona:
The choice of whom to invoke reveals something about the poet's persona and their relationship to the world. A poet invoking a classical muse suggests a connection to literary tradition, while a poet invoking a personal deity might express a strong belief in the supernatural.
4. Creating a Sense of Ritual:
The act of invocation can create a sense of ceremony and ritual, elevating the poem and giving it a sense of importance.
Examples:
* Homer's *The Odyssey*: "Sing, O goddess, of the man of twists and turns, the wanderer, after he had sacked the sacred town of Troy."
* John Milton's *Paradise Lost*: "Sing, Heavenly Muse, that on the secret top Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That Shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed..."
* T.S. Eliot's *The Waste Land*: "I saw with my own eyes the Sibyl of Cumae hanging in a jar, and when the boys said, Sibyl, what do you want? she replied, I want to die."
It's important to note that not all poems use invocation. It is a traditional poetic device that has become less common in modern poetry, but it can still be a powerful and effective tool.