“ “ Willow and Ginkgo” Page 612 A Step-By-Step Analysis using the SIFTT Strategy

Step One Read the poem “Willow and Ginkgo” on p Note the figurative language and what the Willow and Ginkgo represent. -Use these notes or your paper to take notes. -You should notice several similes and an occasional personified object. -Notice what the author uses to appeal to your senses (sight, sounds, texture, hearing, etc.)

Step 2 Now that you have read the entire poem we are going to go step by step to complete the “SIFTT” Strategy.

S = Symbolism You have to analyze two things here…the Title and any Symbols. – Title: Read the title before and after and analyze it’s meaning. The title, “Willow and Ginkgo,” suggests two things are going to be compared using Similes. – Symbolism: I need to think about how the two plants are described to figure out what they symbolize. The Willow represents beauty and feminine characteristics while the Ginkgo represents harsh masculine characteristics.

I= Images For Images, I need to go stanza by stanza and through all my senses in order to analyze this poem correctly. I’m looking for things that help me imagine this poem in my head. – Sight: descriptive language is used through similes and allows me to envision the two plants. (Stanzas 1, 3, 5) – Hearing: describes the beautiful music of the Willow and loud sing-along of the Ginkgo (Stanza 2) – Texture/Touch: I can imagine the softness of the Willow and the roughness of the Ginkgo. (Stanza 3)

F: Figurative Language I need to identify the figurative language that is used throughout the poem to get the point across. – Similes are used throughout the poem to compare the beauty and grace of the Willow to the ugly and rugged Ginkgo. – Personification is used to describe the gracefulness of the Willow dipping into the water. And the forcefulness of the Ginkgo growing in the concrete city.

Quick Write Take a stand: Look at the figurative language used in the poem. Does the author favor one plant above the other? Why? I think the author prefers the Willow/Ginkgo because _____________.

T=Tone I need to figure out how the author/narrator feels toward the subject of the poem. – Brainstorm: At first I think the author loves the Willow and is judging the Ginkgo until the last two italicized lines. Then, I realize he’s putting the two against each other and judging them. He chooses strength over beauty. – ANSWER: (use the sentence starter) I think the tone of this poem is judgmental because of all the comparing the author does between the two plants until he gets his true feelings out. He has an obvious favorite.

T=Theme I need to think about what me, the reader, should learn from reading this poem. – Brainstorm: the author’s favorite is actually the Ginkgo. He admires it’s strength and ability to persevere over adversity. However, he thinks the Willow is beautiful, it doesn’t have as much on the “inside” to make it unique. Answer: I think the lesson the reader should learn from this poem is that beauty isn’t everything. You should get to know where someone/something came from before you judge.

FINISHED Now, we have walked through the entire process. Lets look at the next.