POETRY grammar

1. POETRY grammar HOW TO ANALYZE WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

2. Poetry Important Stages • As daunting as they may appear, poems are NOT the enemy! Let’s walk through some important stages in analyzing a poem. • (a)              Subject– i.e. what is the poem about? • (b)            Tone– i.e. getting a sense of how the poet feels about his/her subject matter (poet’s attitude) • (c)              Mood – i.e. effect created by the poem • (d)             Theme – i.e. what is the main idea behind the poem? • (e)             Poet’s Purpose – i.e. did he achieve his goal? • (f)               Technical Construction – i.e. techniques the poet uses to show the intent, meaning, effect of poem.

3. The Breakdown: What you should ask • (2) TONE • How does the poet feel? What is his/her attitude?How does the poet portray these feelings to the reader?What’s the tone of voice? • The following are some words used to describe someone’s tone:serious, critical, chatty, concerned, casual, ironic, exaggerated, aggressive, light-hearted, bold, disrespectful, amused, sympathetic, sincere, happy, sad, sarcastic etc.NB: The poet might use a combination of tones!

4. The Breakdown: What you should ask (3) MOODWhat is the EFFECT or ATMOSPHERE created by the poem? • The following are some words to describe moods:serious, heavy, joyful, bitter, thoughtful, reflective, quiet, sad, calm, angry, peaceful (4) THEME • What is the overall idea/purpose/meaning behind the poem? • What is the main message that is being communicated by the poet?

5. The Breakdown: What you should ask • (5) POET’S PURPOSE • What’s the reason for writing this? • Did he achieve his goal?

6. The Breakdown: What you should ask (6) TECHNICAL EXPERTISE • Identify the techniqueswhich the poet used to show intent, meaning and effect in the poem • The following are the techniques to be implemented in analyzing any poem:(1) Type of poem & setting(2) Structure of poem(3) Rhythm i.e. beat/flow of words(4) Choice of Language used i.e. simple, complex, dialect, figurative, suggestive, symbolic(5) Punctuation (commas = continued thought ; full stop= thoughts have ended)(6) Stylistic devices include: contrast, illusion, repetition, illustration, imagery, irony, climax, hyperbole, metaphor, personification, simile, oxymoron, rhetorical question, paradox, alliteration, onomatopoeia.

7. Poem to analyze •   “God’s Grandeur” (1877) The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil. It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod? Generations have trod, have trod, have trod; And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil; And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod. And for all this, nature is never spent; There lives the dearest freshness deep down things; And though the last lights off the black West went Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs— Because the Holy Ghost over the bent World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

8. Grammar in English Period • A period [.] is used at the end of complete sentences that: • Makes a statement – He is the heart of their defensive line. • Gives a command – All assignments are to be handed in no later than noon on Thursday. • Makes a request – Please open your textbooks and turn to page ten. • Asks an indirect question – The principal asked me why my undershirt was showing.

9. Grammar in English Comma • Commas are used for the following reasons: • To separate words in a series – The guy threw the stone, jumped the wall, and ran away as quickly as he could. • To set off information which when removed does not alter the intention/meaning of the sentence – The Causeway, which connects Patmore and Kingston, was replaced with the Patmore leg of the toll road. • To separate adjectives – She is tall, fair, beautiful, eloquent, and sassy. • To separate words/phrases of contrast– Politicians represent the people, yet they exploit them. • To introduce a quote – The defendant addressed the media today. He said, “The truth must come to light, and I will be found innocent.” • To connect independent phrases – Miss New York was the best model, but not the best speaker. • To avoid confusion – Interestingly, the most interesting thing about Edward Seaga is the interest he shows in Tivoli Gardens. • To set off introductory phrases/clauses – On the arrival of each celebrity to the theatre, the paparazzi flocked the vehicles.

10. Grammar in English • Question Mark • A question mark is used to end a question and in most cases, it immediately follows the question. • - What is the verdict? • - We all agreed that she was wrong, but, why didn’t you inform her? • However, when a question is followed by a clause that modifies it, the question mark is placed at the end of the statement. • - How could they hold him accountable for the theft, considering he had an alibi which was substantiated? • As it relates to question marks being used with quotation marks, if the information being quoted is a direct question, the question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks. • - “Who won the match?” Laura asked. • If the information being quoted is not a question, the question mark should be placed outside the quotation marks. • - Whose words are these “I are the one”?

11. Colon and Semi-colon Colon • The main purpose of the colon is to: • Introduce a list • This is the instance in which colons are most frequently used. • - The reporter asked the Minister the following questions: When are you leaving to attend the international conference? What is your government’s stance on the topic to be discussed? • - The recipe for granny’s tasty sauce includes: garlic, tomato sauce, jerk sauce, browning, black pepper and Chinese sauce. • Note: capital letters are used after colons if it precedes complete sentence(s). • Introduce a quotation or explanation • - Lionel Messi said at the postgame interview: “Inter Milan played a patient game; they moved well without the ball and made it very difficult for us.” • - This watch is the better buy: it is made of stainless steel, has rubber strap, it’s water resistant and has date display. • Note: colons are always placed outside quotation marks. • Introduce a statement • - Recall we had to say this every morning: Labour for learning before you grow old, for learning is better than silver or gold, silver and gold will vanish away, but a good education will never decay.

12. Semicolon • This punctuation mark is used for two main purposes: to separate items in a long list, that itself contains the use of commas (this is a prime example); and to replace periods and commas in joining two independent sentences/clauses, to show their connection. • Separating items • Semicolons should be used if items to be listed are long, and contains commas. • - The basketball players shortlisted for the award include Kobe Bryant, a 6ft 6 guard of the Los Angeles Lakers; LeBron James, a 6ft 8 forward of the Miami Heats; Kevin Durant, a 6ft 9 forward of the Oklahoma City Thunder; and Dwyane Wade, a 6ft 4 Guard of the Miami Heats. • Joining Sentences • Semicolons are used in joining sentences, to show/emphasize their relation. • - The lawyer defended his client the best he could; he even found himself in contempt of court on two occasions while feverishly cross examining two of the prosecution’s witnesses. • Note: semicolons are always placed outside quotation marks.

13. Dash and Parenthesis • These punctuation marks are used when a sentence is ‘interrupted’ to state a fact, share an opinion and or to give an explanation. Since they are used for the same purposes, deciding which of the two to use is usually left to the preference of the writer. • - The Miss Jamaica World winner is beautiful – she is the most beautiful winner I have ever seen. Or, The Miss Jamaica World winner is beautiful (she is the most beautiful winner I have ever seen). • - Yao Ming was in the room – the tallest man in the NBA at 7ft 6 – talking to his teammates. Or, Yao Ming was in the room (the tallest man in the NBA at 7ft 6) talking to his teammates • - He attacked the man – eager to avenge deeds he had done to him. Or,  He attacked the man (eager to avenge deeds he had done to him).

14. Quotation Marks • The main use of quotation marks is to set off information which is a direct quote. • - “You have no right to take my pen without my permission,” John said. • - The author in her first piece wrote, “Success is never ending, failure is never final.” • Other uses include: • Indicating an ironic word – The women in the mess hall at the prison, shared “food” to the inmates. • To specify nicknames/alias – Erwin “Magic” Johnson • To indicate the title of artistic work – “Forever Young,” is one of Jay-Z’s singles from his latest album. • The use of other punctuation marks with Quotation Marks • - Question marks, exclamation marks and dashes should be placed inside quotation marks if they are a part of the quotation, otherwise they should be placed outside the quotation marks. • - Colons and semicolons should be placed outside quotation marks.

15. Exclamation Mark • An exclamation mark is used at the end of a command, interjection and or a declaration. - That is utter rubbish! - “Yes!” he replied, “I want it now!” • Exclamation marks are placed inside quotation marks if the information being quoted is an exclamation. Otherwise, the exclamation mark is placed outside the quotation marks. - The dog barked “woof!” at the man. - Stop referring to me as “Oreo”! • Note, commas and periods are not used after exclamation marks. • - “I have been doing this for years!” he said. NOT “I have been doing this for years!”, he said. • - The disaster is finally over! NOT The disaster is finally over!.