Poetry+Analysis

In analyzing poetry this is a good process to follow:

__Read 1st for general impressions__--SUBJECT

__Read 2nd for specificity__ in SUBJECT

__Read closely__ for the following: SPEAKER? who is it? what can we know about him or her? what can we logically assume? what might his/her perspective be? AUDIENCE? who is it? what can we know about it? how does it seem to impact the speaker? the subject? OCCASION? what prompts the poem? what is the specific event? particular event? assumed event? SETTING (PLACE)? actual? assumed? cultural? values? history? gives context TIME? actual? assumed? cultural? values? history? gives context PURPOSE? why did the speaker say what he/she said? is there a specific message for the audience? IDEA? universal truth that speaks to the speaker. which is central?

__Use a checklist.__ For example: title — appropriate to subject, tone and genre? Does it generate interest, and hint at what your poem's about? subject — what's the basic situation? Who is talking, and under what circumstances? Try writing a paraphrase to identify any gaps or confusions. shape — what are you appealing to: intellect or emotions of the reader? What structure(s) have you used — progressions, comparisons, analogies, bald assertions, etc.? Are these aspects satisfyingly integrated? Does structure support content? tone — what's your attitude to the subject? Is it appropriate to content and audience: assured, flexible, sensitive, etc.? word choice — appropriate and uncontrived, economical, varied and energizing? Do you understand each word properly, its common uses and associations? See if listing the __verbs__ truly pushes the poem along. Are words repeated? Do they set mood, emotional rapport, distance? personification — striking but persuasive, adds to unity and power? metaphor and simile — fresh and convincing, combining on many levels? rhythm and metre — natural, inevitable, integrate poem's structure? rhyme — fresh, pleasurable, unassuming but supportive? overall impression — original, honest, coherent, expressive, significant?

__DIction Analysis__

In analyzing diction: __Identify__ what you are being made to experience __Reflect__ on the effect of that experience __Determine__ the level of diction (high, middle, low) __Characterize__ the diction (think traits from character analysis) with adjectives that describe its manner more accurately and concretely than "high." "middle' and/or "low" diction. __Example:__ " Introduction to Poetry" __Imagery Analysis__
 * What? middle diction? he is writing like an educated person, but with everyday words; simple, direct and forthright, everyday, clear, concise and to the point
 * Why? appropriate to his audience (fellow teachers), appropriate to the writer (he's a teacher), appropriate to the moment (agitated, frustrated), appropriate to what he is saying about poetry
 * How? "I ask them to take a poem and...."

In analyzing imagery: __Identify__ what you are being made to experience __Reflect__ on the effect of that experience __Determine__ what type of image it is: visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory? __Characterize it__ - literal, kinesthetic, other traits(?) keeping in mind youre answer to the second step, determine why we are being made to experience what we are being made to experience in the exact way we are experiencing it. Connect it to the poet's purpose, idea, and his desired effect

__Example:__ "Dulce et Decorum est"
 * We are being made to experience the cruelities of war, specifically own soldiers experience
 * Showed the ugly side of war and the false advertising involved that in the end steals the innoncence of these naive first time soldiers
 * Visual, auditory, tactile
 * Parts are literal (experience itself) and others kinesthetic (frustration and bitterness at helplessness and of beign lied to)