47485374 Tools to Analyze a Poem

7/27/2019 47485374 Tools to Analyze a Poem

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/47485374-tools-to-analyze-a-poem 1/3

TOOLS TO ANALYZE A POEM ASPECTS EXPLANATION ASPECTS IN PARTICULAR ZOOM IN ON CONTENTS Describe what happens in the poem THE TITLE Does it contribute?

FORMS OF POETRY

AN EPIC-A long narrative poem that relates the deedsof a hero. Epics incorporatemyth, legend, folk tale, and history, and usually reflect the values of the society from which they originate.

AN ALLEGORY-Prose or verse in which the objects,events or people are

presented symbolically, sothat the story conveys ameaning other than and deeper than the actual incident or charactersdescribed. Often, the form isused to teach a moral lesson.

THE BALLAD-A story told inverse and usually meant tobe sung. The earliest

ballads, known as folk ballads or popular ballads,were composed anonymously and transmitted orally for generations.

NARRATIVE POETRY-Poetry that tells a story. Onekind of narrative poem is theepic, a long poem which setsform the heroic ideals of a

particular society.

LYRICAL POETRY Poetry that expresses aspeaker¶s personal thoughtsor feelings. The elegy, ode,and sonnet are forms of thelyric.

AN ODE-Is typically a lyrical verse written in praise of, or dedicated to someone or something which capturesthe poet's interest or servesas an inspiration for the ode.

AN ELEGY-a mournful poem; a lament for the dead

SONNET- A fourteen-linelyric poem, usually written inrhymed iambic pentameter (in lines of ten syllables witha stress on every other syllable). Sonnets vary instructure and rhyme

scheme, but are generally of two types: the Petrarchan, or Italian, sonnet and theShakespearean, or English sonnet. Sonnetsusually attempt to express asingles theme or idea.

ITALIAN/PETRARCHAN SONNET- A fourteen-linelyric poem consisting of two

parts: the octave (or first eight lines) and the sestet (or last six lines). ThePetrarchan, or Italian sonnet,originated in Italy in

thirteenth century and wasmuch used by the Italian

poet Francesco Petraarch.Its rhyme scheme isabbaabbacdecde.

ENGLISH/SHAKESPEAREAN/ELIZABETHAN SONNET-

A fourteen-line lyric poemconsisting of three quatrains(four line stanza) and aconcluding couplet (tworhyming lines). TheShakespearean, or English,sonnet was NOT invented by William Shakespeare, but isnamed for him because he isits most famous practitioner.Its rhyme scheme isababcdcdefefgg.

DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE- A long, uninterrupted speech(in a narrative or drama) that is spoken in the presence of other characters. Unlike asoliloquy and most aides, amonologue is heard by other characters.

PUNCTUATION

How?PERIOD ( . )To indicate the end of a declarative sentenceExample: Here is the place.

THREE PERIODS--ELLIPSES («)To indicate that a portion of quoted matter is omitted

Example: ³To receive, obey, and pass on«´ COMMA ( , )To separate independent clauses joined by aconjunctionExample: This is the street, but I don¶t know thenumber of the house.

SEMICOLON ( ; )To separate independent statements that are not

joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor,for, yet, so)Example: Black is a mixture of all colors; white is thecomplete opposite.

APOSTROPHE ( ¶ )To show possession (if the word does not end in s, add

an apostrophe and an s.)Example: The doctor¶s advice, the housewife¶s choice,man¶s clothing, Martin¶s house

DASH ( ² )To indicate a sudden, abrupt break of an unfinished word or sentenceExample: ³She will take charge of this post and ± Wait a minute. Who are you?´ To set off a summary of a

preceding series

HYPHEN ( - )To join two or more words serving as a single adjectivebefore a nounExample: a one-way street, chocolate-covered peanuts

QUOTATION MARKS (³´ AND µ¶)

To set off quoted matter (including punctuation marks,usually. See a handbook for details.)Example: ³I saw it,´ he replied.

ITALICS To indicate the titles of books, plays, magazines, longmusical compositions, works of art, movies, and television show seriesExample: I highly recommend The Technique of Clear Writing, by Robert Gunning. To indicate use of foreignwords

PARENTHESES ( )To set off digressions or elements which provide extrainformationExample: The principal parts are (1) the present tense,

(2) the past tense, and (3) the past participle.

BRACKETS [ ] To set off material inserted in a direct quotationExample: Audubon reports that ³if there are not enoughyoung to balance deaths, the end of the species[California condor] is inevitable.´

COLON ( : )Used after an independent clause (complete sentence)to direct attention to a list, an appositive, or a quotationExample: He laid down three rules: no smoking, no idletalk, and no sleeping.

SLASH ( / )To indicate the end of a line of poetry Example: Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the



Bough, / A Flash of wine, a Book of verse ± and Thou

THEME

What is the poem saying? What is the poem about? Main idea

The main idea or the basic meaning of a literary work. Thetheme of a work is not the same as the works¶ subject. Not all literary works can be said to express a theme. Themegenerally is not a concern in those works that are told

primarily for entertainment; it is of importance in those li terary works that comment on or present some insight about themeaning of life. In some literary works the theme isexpressed directly, but more often, the theme is implicit -that is, it must be dug out and thought about. A simple theme canoften be stated in a single sentence. But sometimes a literary work is rich and complex, and a paragraph or even an essay is needed to state the theme.

POETIC

DICTION

Distinctive language used by poets, i.e., language that would not be common in their everyday speech. Themost common signs of poetic diction include involvearchaisms, neologisms, rhyme, and unusual figures of speech

STYLE

What makes thewriting in this

poem different from other writing?Language ±formal or informal?

Literal or figurative?

Which poetic devices does the

poet use toconvey hisintended meaning?

What is theeffectiveness of these poetic devices?

Diction?

TO: amuse; entertain; mock; teach; praise; protest; sympathize; describe; shock the reader

into thinking; present a

situation; evoke a sense of

«; criticize

explain

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

A term applied to a specific kind of figurative language,such as a metaphor or simile.Everyday language abounds with many different figures of speech, in which we say one thing and meananother.Explain appropriateness and effectiveness

ALLUSION- A figure of speech making casual

reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event.

SIMILE ± a direct statement using the words ³like´,³as´, or ³than´. (Example: ³The fog was as thick assoup´).

DENOTATION- The literal or "dictionary" meaning of a

word

CONNOTATION -The emotion or association that aword or phrase may arouse. Connotation is distinct from denotation, which is the literal or dictionary meaning of a word or phrase.

METAPHOR ± speaking of something as if it were

something else«doesn¶t use ³like´, ³as´ or ³than´.(Example: ³It was raining cats and dogs.´)

PERSONIFICATION ± a type of figurative language inwhich objects or nonhuman subjects are given humanqualities. (Example: ³The sun smiled down on us´.)

ALLITERATION ± Repetition of initial consonant sounds. (Example: ³Betty baked bread badly´.)

ONOMATOPOEIA ± The use of words that imitatesounds. (Example: whirr, thud, sizzle, hiss).

PUN-Usually, the humorous use of a word or phrase tosuggest two or more meanings at the same time.

CLIMAX That point of greatest emotional intensity, interest, or suspense in a narrative.

ASSONANCE-The repetition of similar vowel sounds,usually close together, in a group of words.

HYPERBOLE ± an exaggerated statement used toheighten effect and make a point (Example: ³I love thewhole world´!)

IRONY- contrast or an incongruity between what is

INTENTION Why did the poet write the poem? What is he/she trying to achieve?

TYPES OF POEMS

Narrative (tells a story); Lyrical (expresses an emotion); Dramatic (can be staged)

TONE

How does the poet expresshis attitude towards thetheme?

The attitude a writer takestoward his or her subject,characters, and readers.Through tone, a writer canamuse, anger, or shock thereader. Tone is created through the choice of wordsand details.

humorous; caring;

satirical; mocking; impatient; critical; panic-stricken; angry; bitter; ironic; didactic; solemn; grateful; bored; compassionate

ATTITUDE

How does the poet feel about the theme?

resentful; pleading; open and honest; passionate; anxious; compassionate;

disapproving; serene; dislike; horror,

joy; loathing; appreciative; admiring; awe; scornful; longing; nostalgic; enthusiastic



STRUCTURE

What form does the poet use?SONNET

A fourteen-line lyric poem,usually written in rhymed iambic pentameter (in linesof ten syllables with a stresson every other syllable).Sonnets vary in structure

and rhyme scheme, but aregenerally of two types: thePetrarchan, or Italian, sonnet and the Shakespearean, or English sonnet. Sonnetsusually attempt to express asingles theme or idea.

BALLAD-A story told inverse that is by an unknownauthor and meant to besung.

How effective is the form?

STANZAS- A group of linesforming a unit in a poem.Many stanzas have a fixed

pattern-that is, the samenumber of lines and thesame rhyme scheme." Astanza may be as short asthe couplet, two rhyminglines. A favorite form of many English poets hasbeen the heroic couplet, tworhyming lines of iambic

pentameter. The triplet is astanza of three lines oftenwith one rhyme. Thequatrain is a four line stanza

with many patterns of rhymeand rhythm. In ballads, thesecond and fourth lines areusually rhymed while the first and third lines areunrhymed.

COUPLET- Two consecutivelines of poetry that rhyme

HEROIC COUPLET- Twoconsecutive lines of rhyming

poetry that are written iniambic pentameter and that contain a complete thought.In a heroic couplet, there isusually one pause at the end of the first line, and another heavier pause at the end of

the second line.

QUATRAIN- Usually astanza or poem of four lines.However, a quatrain may also be any group of four lines. Unified by a rhymescheme. Quatrains usually follow an abab, abba, or abcb rhyme scheme

SESTET- The last six linesof a Petrarchan (or Italian)sonnet. The sestet, from theLatin word for six, usually has a rhyme scheme of cdecde. A thought or ideathat is introduced in the first eight lines, octave, of the

poem is sometimes further developed in the sestet.

OCTAVE- The first eight lines of a Petrarchan (or Italian) sonnet.

FREE VERSE- Poetry that has no fixed meter or patternand that depends on natural speech rhythms. Free versemay rhyme or not rhyme; its

lines may be of different lengths; and like natural speech, it may switchsuddenly from one rhythm toanother

REFRAIN- A word, phrase,line, or group of linesrepeated regularly in a

poem, usually at the end of each stanza.

stated and what is really meant, or between what isexpected to happen and what actually does happen.

METONYMY-Using a vaguely suggestive, physical object to embody a more general idea, like "the pen ismightier than the sword".

APOSTROPHE-Not to be confused with the punctuation mark, apostrophe is the act of addressing

some abstraction or personification that is not physically present: For instance, John Donnecommands, "Oh, Death, be not proud."

ANTITHESIS-Using opposite phrases in closeconjunction. Examples might be, "I burn and I freeze.´

EPIGRAM-(1) An inscription in verse or prose on abuilding, tomb, or coin. (2) a short verse or mottoappearing at the beginning of a longer poem or the title

page of a novel, at the heading of a new section or paragraph of an essay or other literary work toestablish mood or raise thematic concerns.

OXYMORON-(plural oxymora, also called paradox):Using contradiction in a manner that oddly makessense on a deeper level. Simple or joking examplesinclude such oxymora as jumbo shrimp, sophisticated rednecks, and military intelligence.

SARCASM-Another term for verbal irony--the act of ostensibly saying one thing but meaning another.

ANTI-CLIMAX-a drop, often sudden and unexpected,from a dignified or important idea or situation to onethat is trivial or humorous.

RHETORICAL QUESTION-Often the question is asked in order to get a definite answer from the reader--usually, "no," as J. A. Cuddon suggests. The erotemaoften implies an answer, but usually does not provide

one explicitly.

EUPHEMISM-Using a mild or gentle phrase instead of a blunt, embarrassing, or painful one. For instance,saying "Grandfather has gone to a better place" is aeuphemism for "Grandfather has died."

POLYSYNDETON-Using many conjunctions toachieve an overwhelming effect in a sentence. For example, "This term, I am taking biology and Englishand history and math and music and physics and sociology."

ALLEGORY-The word derives from the Greek allegoria("speaking otherwise"). The term loosely describes any writing in verse or prose that has a double meaning.

47485374 Tools to Analyze a Poem

Documents

Transcript of 47485374 Tools to Analyze a Poem