What to say about a poem

1. What to say about a poem� Eleanor Butler

2. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Title The title of a poem will frequently synopsize its theme, or at least specify a starting point which the first line of the poem will abruptly take for granted.

3. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Title The title of a poem will frequently synopsize its theme, or at least specify a starting point which the first line of the poem will abruptly take for granted. a. What is the significance of the poem�s title? How does this title relate to the poem�s theme?

4. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Title The title of a poem will frequently synopsize its theme, or at least specify a starting point which the first line of the poem will abruptly take for granted. b. Does the title specify a locale for the poem? Does the title specify a person to whom the poem is addressed? Does the title specify some person or object about whom the poem is written?

5. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Title The title of a poem will frequently synopsize its theme, or at least specify a starting point which the first line of the poem will abruptly take for granted. c. Does the title specify an incident or action about which the poem is written? Does the title specify a dominant purpose for the poem?

6. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Title The title of a poem will frequently synopsize its theme, or at least specify a starting point which the first line of the poem will abruptly take for granted. d. Does the title allude to some incident or event in literature which the poem assumes as a starting point?

7. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Context Almost all poems assume a context based on some incident, event, action or idea. Typically, this context is specified either in the poem�s title or implied by its first line. The context of a poem explains its raison d�etre; consequently, if a poem�s context is understood, its content is frequently made plainer.

8. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Context Almost all poems assume a context based on some incident, event, action or idea. Typically, this context is specified either in the poem�s title or implied by its first line. The context of a poem explains its raison d�etre; consequently, if a poem�s context is understood, its content is frequently made plainer. a. Where is the speaker at the outset of the poem? Is he alone? Is there any significance to his being in that place?

9. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Context Almost all poems assume a context based on some incident, event, action or idea. Typically, this context is specified either in the poem�s title or implied by its first line. The context of a poem explains its raison d�etre; consequently, if a poem�s context is understood, its content is frequently made plainer. b. Is the speaker addressing someone else? Is he addressing something? Is he talking to himself? Why?

10. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Context Almost all poems assume a context based on some incident, event, action or idea. Typically, this context is specified either in the poem�s title or implied by its first line. The context of a poem explains its raison d�etre; consequently, if a poem�s context is understood, its content is frequently made plainer. c. What is the occasion of the poem? What prompts the poem? Is the poem prompted by the speakers encounter with someone, some animal, some object?

11. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Context Almost all poems assume a context based on some incident, event, action or idea. Typically, this context is specified either in the poem�s title or implied by its first line. The context of a poem explains its raison d�etre; consequently, if a poem�s context is understood, its content is frequently made plainer. d. Is there a relationship between the poem�s first line and its title? Does the first line lead naturally from the title?

12. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Speaker Convention assumes that every poem has a speaker. However, while some speakers will simply function as an organizing point of view in the poem, other speakers are clearly differentiated. The highly differentiated speaker is called a persona, and may have all the muti-facetedness (sic) of a character in a play.

13. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Speaker Convention assumes that every poem has a speaker. However, while some speakers will simply function as an organizing point of view in the poem, other speakers are clearly differentiated. The highly differentiated speaker is called a persona, and may have all the muti-facetedness (sic) of a character in a play. a. Who is the speaker? Is the speaker male or female? Has the speaker been given a name? Does the speaker have a well-defined identity or does he function simply as an �I� point of view for the sake of the poem?

14. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Speaker Convention assumes that every poem has a speaker. However, while some speakers will simply function as an organizing point of view in the poem, other speakers are clearly differentiated. The highly differentiated speaker is called a persona, and may have all the muti-facetedness (sic) of a character in a play. b. How does the speaker feel about the incident, idea, event, object, or person described in the poem? Does the speaker express any of his feelings in the poem?

15. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Speaker Convention assumes that every poem has a speaker. However, while some speakers will simply function as an organizing point of view in the poem, other speakers are clearly differentiated. The highly differentiated speaker is called a persona, and may have all the muti-facetedness (sic) of a character in a play. c. Is the speaker differentiated as a person? Does he express any well-defined feelings or attitudes? Does the speaker express any peculiarities or idiosyncrasies?

16. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Speaker Convention assumes that every poem has a speaker. However, while some speakers will simply function as an organizing point of view in the poem, other speakers are clearly differentiated. The highly differentiated speaker is called a persona, and may have all the muti-facetedness (sic) of a character in a play. d. What is the speaker�s motive for feeling or thinking the way he does? Do the speaker�s feelings or attitudes coincide with the way a �reasonable person� might be expected to feel? Or are his/her feelings and attitudes peculiar to him/her?

17. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Language and Imagery Poetry uses imagery in a variety of ways: to reinforce a speaker�s perception of the world, to underscore a subtle meaning, to limn a symbol.

18. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Language and Imagery Poetry uses imagery in a variety of ways: to reinforce a speaker�s perception of the world, to underscore a subtle meaning, to limn a symbol. a. What kind of imagery does the speaker use in his descriptions? Do these images have anything in common? Do they cluster around a dominant theme or impression? Is there a common thread of meaning between the images?

19. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Language and Imagery Poetry uses imagery in a variety of ways: to reinforce a speaker�s perception of the world, to underscore a subtle meaning, to limn a symbol. b. How do these images color the speaker�s perceptions of the world? Do these images suggest of imply any attitude peculiar to the speaker?

20. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Language and Imagery Poetry uses imagery in a variety of ways: to reinforce a speaker�s perception of the world, to underscore a subtle meaning, to limn a symbol. Is the imagery used to describe any object consistent with the way the object is typically regarded? Does the imagery suggest any special meaning for the object? (is this a symbol?)

21. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Language and Imagery Poetry uses imagery in a variety of ways: to reinforce a speaker�s perception of the world, to underscore a subtle meaning, to limn a symbol. d. How would you characterize the diction of the poem? Does the speaker use slang words? Is the diction formal, or is it standard? What does the speaker�s choice of words reveal about him?

22. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Sound Elements Rhyme, rhythm, and meter Rhyme, rhythm and verse form are frequently deployed in a poem to underscore theme, and for that reason are well worth any attention you can give them in your analysis.

23. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Sound Elements Rhyme, rhythm, and meter Rhyme, rhythm and verse form are frequently deployed in a poem to underscore theme, and for that reason are well worth any attention you can give them in your analysis. a. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? Does the poem employ full rhyme, half rhyme or no rhyme? Does the poem use inter-stanza rhyme? Is the rhyme appropriate to the poem�s subject?

24. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Sound Elements Rhyme, rhythm, and meter Rhyme, rhythm and verse form are frequently deployed in a poem to underscore theme, and for that reason are well worth any attention you can give them in your analysis. b. Does the rhythm of the poem underscore its theme? Does the rhythm of the poem seem to run counter to the surface meaning of its words? (beware of satire)

25. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Sound Elements Rhyme, rhythm, and meter Rhyme, rhythm and verse form are frequently deployed in a poem to underscore theme, and for that reason are well worth any attention you can give them in your analysis. c. Is the poem written in any recognizable verse form? How many lines does each stanza have? Are the stanzas written in an equal number of lines and in the same rhyme scheme? What is the effect of the stanza arrangement in the poem? Is there any significance to the stanza breaks?

26. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler Sound Elements Rhyme, rhythm, and meter Rhyme, rhythm and verse form are frequently deployed in a poem to underscore theme, and for that reason are well worth any attention you can give them in your analysis. d. Examine the lines of the poem. Is each line a single unit of sense? Does the meaning run on into the next line? What is the effect of the arrangement of the poem�s lines on the theme? (End stopped or enjambed?)

27. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler THEME It is customary in writing and talking about poetry to sum up the dominant meaning, effect, or characteristics of the poem into a statement of its theme. Once the theme is extracted from the poem, the purpose of analysis is to demonstrate that the theme is an appropriate hypothesis which can be supported by references to the poem itself.

28. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler THEME It is customary in writing and talking about poetry to sum up the dominant meaning, effect, or characteristics of the poem into a statement of its theme. Once the theme is extracted from the poem, the purpose of analysis is to demonstrate that the theme is an appropriate hypothesis which can be supported by references to the poem itself. a. What is the theme of the poem? Does your version of the them account for the major emphasis of the poem?

29. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler THEME It is customary in writing and talking about poetry to sum up the dominant meaning, effect, or characteristics of the poem into a statement of its theme. Once the theme is extracted from the poem, the purpose of analysis is to demonstrate that the theme is an appropriate hypothesis which can be supported by references to the poem itself. b. What proof can you use from the poem itself to support your statement of theme? Can you give specific quotations from the poem to support your version of the theme?

30. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler THEME It is customary in writing and talking about poetry to sum up the dominant meaning, effect, or characteristics of the poem into a statement of its theme. Once the theme is extracted from the poem, the purpose of analysis is to demonstrate that the theme is an appropriate hypothesis which can be supported by references to the poem itself. Is the theme you have inferred from the poem commonly found in literature? good v. evil light/dark materialism/idealism mimesis or art imitating life human nature life/death.

31. What to say about a poem� by Eleanor Butler THEME It is customary in writing and talking about poetry to sum up the dominant meaning, effect, or characteristics of the poem into a statement of its theme. Once the theme is extracted from the poem, the purpose of analysis is to demonstrate that the theme is an appropriate hypothesis which can be supported by references to the poem itself. d. Does the language of the poem, its imagery, rhyme, rhythm, support your version of the theme? Can you demonstrate the techniques and prosody that work toward the theme? Make sure that you read the tone correctly.