Poetry Explication The Art of Examining and Analyzing Poetry

Begin by Examining the title What images come to mind? Examples: “The Chimney Sweepers” by William BlakeChimney Sweepers “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William WordsworthLonely as a Cloud “A Hillside Thaw” by Robert FrostHillside Thaw “The Raven” by Edgar Allen PoeRaven “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert FrostGold

Examining the title (cont’d) What emotions come to mind? Examples: “Never Try to Trick Me with a Kiss” by Sylvia Plath “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman “In the Moonlight” by Thomas Hardy “When You are Old” by William Butler Yeats “The Promise of the Morning Star” by Amy Powell

Ask yourself… Who? What? Where? When? Why? Who is the speaker? Who does the speaker address? What conflicts or themes does the poem present, address, or question? What happens in the poem? Is there a “plot”? Where is the speaker? Physical location? When does the action occur? Why does the speaker feel compelled to speak? What is the motivation?

Speaker/Persona Who is doing the talking? The speaker is the character or persona created by the poet Describe the speakerspeaker Who does the speaker address? What is the conflict? Where is the setting? When does the poem take place? Why does the speaker address the listener?

Literary Devices in Poetry Rhyme Scheme -pattern of rhyme throughout the poem Alliteration-repetition at the beginning - P eter P iper p icked a p ack of p ickled p eppers Assonance-repetition of vowels -Fleet feet sweep by sleeping Greeks Consonance-repetition of consonants sounds within the word -Rap re j ects my tape deck, e j ects pro j ectile

The Importance of Word Choice The words the poet selects and the way they are phrased can alter the meaning of the poem Connotation- the association we make with words -Let’s give it a try… -Again? Allusions- references to other works or events outside the poem Imagery- how does the poet appeal to the senses?

Figurative Language Metaphor- comparison of two unrelated things Simile- comparison using “like” or “as” Personification- inanimate objects given human characteristics Symbolism- an object comes to represent something else entirely

Appreciating Poetry

Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor -- Bare. But all the time I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's, And turnin' corners, And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there ain't been no light. So boy, don't you turn back. Don't you set down on the steps 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard. Don't you fall now -- For I'se still goin', honey, I'se still climbin', And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

There once was a big brown cat That liked to eat a lot of mice. He got all round and fat Because they tasted so nice. Example 1: Example 2: Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.

Say the first thing that pops in your head when you hear the word… lemonade school wheelbarrow melancholy lifesaver money crabs brilliance prom paradise

bug fireworks embarrassment mine creep hope umbrella garlic ring sunset blue shoelace demand glass

I like to chat all the time I am very helpful in an emergency I often play games with my owner I sometimes interrupt when my owner is busy I can drop a beat in the middle of the street I feel important because I go everywhere my owner goes… What am I? A CELL PHONE!