Notes to assist you in your poetry analysis

Please note that poems do not consist of “hidden meanings” lurking behind the words waiting to attack you rendering you in a state of permanent confusion. Poetry does, however, require a bit of effort to understand. The rewards are well worth the effort.

Form and Structure in poetry

Form, in poetry, is the physical structure of the poem:

· the length of the lines,

· their rhythms,

· their system of rhyme and repetition.

Another meaning of "form" is certain familiar patterns - these can be simple and open-ended forms, such as blank verse, or can be a complex system of rhymes, rhythms and repeated lines within a fixed number of lines such as a sonnet.

Source http://www.poetryarchive.org/glossary/form

The Line

A line of poetry is not the same as a sentence. The words on one line do not necessarily complete a thought. At the end of a line which is not punctuated, one should not pause but continue reading.

Stanza

A group of lines in a poem. A stanza is similar to the paragraph.

Quatrain : a stanza of four lines

Couplet: a stanza of two lines

Lyric: a poem that expresses the personal mood, feeling, or meditation of a single speaker.

Narrative: a poem that tells a story.

Sonnet: Sonnets usually have 14 lines; however, there are different types of sonnets.

Petrarchan sonnet (or Italian sonnet):

Each of its 14 lines will be written in iambic pentameter. There will be an octave (a group of 8 lines) at the beginning, and a sestet (a group of 6 lines) at the end.

Shakespearean sonnet (or English sonnet)

Each of its 14 lines will be written in iambic pentameter. There will be three quatrains, and will end with a couplet. The rhyme scheme will be A-B-A-B, C-D-C-D, E-F-E-F,G,G

Rhyme: words or lines of poetry that end with the same sound including a vowel ( e.g. sad, mad, glad, bad).

Rhythm: a regular and repeated pattern of sounds ( e.g. of strongly and weakly stressed or syllables)

What is iambic pentamenter?: Iambic pentameter is often used in traditional English poetry and drama. It refers to the rhythm created by the stresses used in a line of poetry. If a line of poetry has 5 feet (small groups of syllables), and those 5 feet are all iambs (one unstressed and stressed syllable), the line of poetry is called iambic pentamter.

For example: How do / I love / thee? Let / me count / the ways. “Sonnet 43”

By Elizabeth Barrett Browning

What is blank verse?

Blank verse is unrhyming iambic pentameter. This 10-syllable line is the most common rhythm of traditional English dramatic and epic poetry. It is considered to be closes to English speech patterns.

Source: http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/tlc/tipsheets/reading-and-analyzing/poem-form-and-structure.pdf

Diction, syntax and sentence structure

Diction: diction refers to the choice of words in a writer’s work. Diction changes according to various situations. We come across different types of diction. Diction can refer to register which could be formal (for example in academic writing or for press conferences) or informal (when conversing with our friends). Slang, colloquialisms and jargon are examples of informal register.

Ways to describe diction:

1. Words can be monosyllabic (one syllable in length) or polysyllabic (more than one syllable in length). The greater the number of polysyllabic words there are, the more difficult the content is.

2. Words can be mainly colloquial (slang), informal (conversational), formal (literary) or old-fashioned.

3. Words can be mainly general or specific.

4. Words can be mainly denotative (containing an exact meaning, e.g., dress) or connotative (containing suggested meaning, e.g., gown)

5. Words can be concrete (specific) or abstract (general or conceptual).

6. Words can euphonious (pleasant sounding, e.g., languid, murmur) or cacophonous (harsh sound, e.g., raucous, croak).

More words to describe diction can be found on page 120.

Source: https://d2ct263enury6r.cloudfront.net/Yd3huDmQdmiGjJvWdGDlWd5iXK5nR7upLspmU1fsxeRdH97m.pdf

Syntax: the manner in which elements of language (linguistic elements) such as words are put together to form units (as phrases or clauses).

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syntax

Sentence structure: generally refers to the names we give to describe syntax ie simple, compound and complex sentences.

Imagery and symbolism

• Imagery: the mental images created in a person’s mind through the use of words. Imagery

• makes use of particular words that create visual representation of ideas in our minds.

• Imagery appeals to the senses and in order to do so, needs the help of figures of speech

• such as: simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia.

Symbolism: makes use of symbols to suggest ideas and qualities through the use of symbolic meanings that differ from the literal meaning. Usually, symbolism involves an object that represents another by giving it a completely different meaning which is deeper and way more significant; however, an action, an event or a word could be symbolic too. For example: “smile” is a symbol of friendship. Symbols may change their meanings depending on the context in which they are used. For example “A chain” may mean a “union” or “imprisonment” too. Symbols may change their meanings depending on the background and worldview of the person who reads them too.

• Common examples of symbolism:

• The dove is a symbol of peace.

• A red rose or red colour stands for love or romance.

• Black is a symbol that represents evil or death.

• A ladder may stand as a symbol for a connection between the heaven and the earth.

• A broken mirror may symbolize separation.

Winter may symbolise death or the period leading to the end of one’s life .

Spring may be symbolic of rebirth or renewal.

Source: http://literarydevices.net/symbolism/

Figurative language

Figurative language is found in literature and poetry where the writing appeals to the senses. Figurative language makes use of figures of speech in order to be more effective, persuasive and to have greater impact. Figures of speech include: metaphors, similes, onomatopoeia, personification, alliteration, assonance, allusions etc and they go past the literal meanings of the words so that the reader gains new insight

Source: http://literarydevices.net/figurative-language/

Intention, mood and theme

Intention: intention refers to why the author wrote or created the text e.g to inform, or to entertain. Refer to page 125 to provide you with useful vocabulary to describe intention.

Mood: is the atmosphere of a piece of writing; it’s the emotions a selection arouses in a

reader. Refer to page 125 for additional vocabulary to help you.

Theme: is the main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly. There are major and minor themes. A major theme is an idea which is repeated in his work, thus it is the most significant idea in a literary work. A minor theme, on the other hand, refers to an idea that appears in a work briefly and gives way to another minor theme.

What’s the difference between a theme and a subject?

The subject is a topic which acts as a foundation for a literary work whereas a theme is made up of an opinion expressed on the subject. For example, the subject of war may be chosen for a writer’s story but the theme of the story may be the writer’s personal opinion that war is an evil curse for humanity. Readers are expected to explore a theme through the analysis of characters, plot and other literary devices.

Tone

Source: http://literarydevices.net/theme/

What is Tone?

“In literature, tone is the attitude or approach that the author takes toward the work’s central theme or subject.” Source: http://www.literarydevices.com/tone/

Tone is present in all works of literature. Elements such as syntax, diction, imagery, details, and figurative language are used by authors in order to create tone. Words are the tools of the author to convey emotions and feelings. The choice of these words is what creates the tone the author wishes to express towards the main subject of the text.

Literary works can have more than one tone. There may be a shift if tone throughout a work as the narrator’s viewpoint changes, or as the plot becomes more complex. There might also be more than one tone that an author considers towards a text simultaneously. A novel can be, for example, both dark and humourous, or both formal and sentimental.

The difference between tone and mood

Students are sometimes confused between the tone and mood. The definition of tone is the author’s attitude towards the work, whilst the mood consists of the feelings produced by the work in the audience or reader. Setting, theme, and voice may be used by an author in the creation of a particular mood. In movies, directors are able to add the use of music (sound track), editing, and images to help create mood. Think of the music accompanying horror movies which almost always include music which creates suspense and anxiety.

Source: http://www.literarydevices.com/tone/mood

Definition of Style

In literature, style is made up of many literary devices which are used by an author to create a clear-cut feeling for a piece of work. These devices include, amongst others, point of view, symbolism, tone, imagery, diction, voice, syntax, and the method of narration. Certain types of writing are required to have a certain style, such as academic or journalistic writing – your transactional writing pieces are all required to have a particular style; however, each piece of creative writing has its individual style.

Common Examples of Style

Orators often have a unique style of speaking. Martin Luther King Junior’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, was written beforehand; however, the most famous part of the speech was the repetition of “I have a dream”. This was not part of the original planning but was instead Martin Luther King Jr. speaking impromptu in a style that was similar to that of a preacher. Some more extracts of famous speeches with distinctive styles are:

• “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender…”—Winston Churchill

• “I decline to accept the end of man. It is easy enough to say that man is immortal because he will endure: that when the last ding-dong of doom has clanged and faded from the last worthless rock hanging tideless in the last red and dying evening, that even then there will still be one more sound: that of his puny inexhaustible voice, still talking. I refuse to accept this. I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail.”—Wiliam Faulkner

“I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”—Martin Luther King Jr.

Source: http://www.literarydevices.com/style/

Diction

Diction refers to the choice of words in a writer’s work. Diction changes according to various situations. We come across different types of diction. Diction can refer to register which could be formal (for example in academic writing or for press conferences) or informal (when conversing with our friends). Slang, colloquialisms and jargon are examples of informal register.

Vocabulary to describe: tone, intention, mood and style

http://valenciacollege.edu/east/academicsuccess/eap/documents/tonewords.pdf

Useful vocabulary to describe STYLE:

archaic aristocratic casual cliched colloquial

concise conversational decorative descriptive detached

dramatic elaborate emotional emotive factual

genteel humorous informative journalistic lurid

lyrical metaphorical objective old-fashioned ornate

playful poetic polite precise rhetorical

scholarly scientific sensational simple sophisticated

technical verbose

Useful vocabulary to describe INTENTION:

to amuse to acclaim to accuse to advertise to advise

to advocate to agitate to announce to apologise to appeal

to applaud to argue to attack to belittle blame

to celebrate to chastise to clarify to command to compliment

to condemn to confirm to convince to criticise to debate

to educate

to encourage to enlighten to excite to excuse to explain

to flatter to frighten to glorify to honour to horrify

to humiliate to incite to inform to inspire to instruct

to justify to mock to notify to offend to persuade

to praise to promote to prove to publicise to rebuke

to report to ridicule to sell to scold to shock

to support to teach to tempt to urge to war

Useful vocabulary to describe mood

Mood

Mood is the atmosphere of a piece of writing; it’s the emotions a selection arouses in a reader.

Some common mood descriptors are:

POSITIVE MOOD WORDS

NEGATIVE MOOD WORDS

amused awed bouncy calm cheerful chipper confident contemplative content determined

dignified dreamy ecstatic empowered energetic enlightened enthralled excited exhilarated

flirty giddy grateful harmonious hopeful hyper idyllic joyous jubilant liberating

light-hearted loving mellow nostalgic optimistic passionate peaceful playful pleased

refreshed rejuvenated relaxed relieved satiated satisfied sentimental silly surprised

sympathetic thankful thoughtful touched trustful vivacious warm welcoming aggravate

annoyed anxious apathetic apprehensive barren brooding cold confining confused

cranky crushed cynical depressed desolate disappointed discontented distressed drained

dreary embarrassed enraged envious exhausted fatalistic foreboding frustrated futile

gloomy grumpy haunting heartbroken hopeless hostile indifferent infuriated insidious

intimidated irate irritated jealous lethargic lonely melancholic merciless moody morose

nauseated nervous nightmarish numb overwhelmed painful pensive pessimistic predatory

rejected restless scared serious sick somber stressed suspenseful tense terrifying threatening

uncomfortable vengeful violent worried

Source: http://ourenglishclass.net/class-notes/writing/the-writing-process/craft/tone-and-mood/

Useful vocabulary to describe diction

1. Words can be monosyllabic (one syllable in length) or polysyllabic (more than one syllable in length). The greater the number of polysyllabic words there are, the more difficult the content is.

2. Words can be mainly colloquial (slang), informal (conversational), formal (literary) or old-fashioned.

3. Words can be mainly general or specific.

4. Words can be mainly denotative (containing an exact meaning, e.g., dress) or connotative (containing suggested meaning, e.g., gown)

5. Words can be concrete (specific) or abstract (general or conceptual).

6. Words can euphonious (pleasant sounding, e.g., languid, murmur) or cacophonous (harsh sound, e.g., raucous, croak).

Other words to describe diction:

Artificial, bombastic, colloquial, concrete, connotative, cultured, detached, emotional, esoteric, euphemistic, exact, figurative, formal, grotesque, homespun, idiomatic, insipid, jargon, learned

false

high sounding, pompous, ostentatious vernacular (slang)

actual, specific, particular

alludes to; suggestive

cultivated, refined, finished

cut-off, removed, separated expressive of emotions

understood by a chosen few insincere, affected

verbatim, precise

serving as illustration

academic, conventional

hideous, deformed

folksy, homey, native, rustic Peculiar, vernacular

uninteresting, tame, dull