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