Vocabulary for Poetry Analysis

BASIC APPROACHES: VOCABULARY

If you don’t already do so, begin to use the following diction from now on in your poetry (and prose) analyses. I will look for such analytic vocabulary in your writing from now on.

Verbs that move toward analysis:

• SUGGESTS
• IMPLIES
• DEVELOPS
• ILLUSTRATES
• CONTRASTS
• JUXTAPOSES
• EXPRESSES
• REINFORCES
• CREATES
• PROVOKES
• ELICITS
• ALLUDES TO
• PORTRAYS
• EXPANDS
• UNDERSCORES

Phrases and transitions that move toward analysis

• BY EXTENSION
• JUXTAPOSED AGAINST
• A VISUAL EXPRESSION OF
• A VEHICLE FOR
• IN CONTRAST
• SIMILARLY, INADDITION
• WHILE THAT, THIS TOO