• Poetry goes beyond the rhyming of words.

• The object of writing a poem is usually to make a very complicated statement using as few words as possible.

• Every word and stanza is packed with meanings.

• When a poet writes, he is trying to communicate with the reader in a powerful way.

• A poet uses the elements of poetry to get his point across.

• These elements consist of a variety of ways to use words to convey meanings.

In the analysis of poetry, two important questions the reader must ask himself or herself are:

1. What is the poet trying to say?

2. How does he or she try to say it?

• It is helpful to think of analysis as decoding.

• The combination of elements the poet uses makes up the "code" of the poem.

• Analysis means literally picking a poem apart--looking at elements such as imagery, metaphor, simile, poetic language, rhyme scheme, and so on--in order to see how they all work together to produce the poem's meaning.

• By looking at a poem in terms of its elements, one decodes the poem.

•Read the poem more than once.

•Use a dictionary when you are unsure of a word’s meaning.

•Read the poem slowly.

•Pay attention to what the poem is saying; do not be distracted by the rhyme and rhythm of the poem.

•Try reading the poem out loud to get a sense of the way the sounds of the poem effect its meaning.

1. Symbolism - Often poems will convey ideas and thoughts using symbols. A symbol can stand for many things at one time.

• Symbolism is the use of a word, a phrase, or a description, which represents a deeper meaning than the words themselves.

Fog

The fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

--Carl Sandburg

Poem analysis:

The fog symbolizes the problems one can sometimes have in their life. The problems can creep upon you them silently like a cat, linger in their life, linger on their mind, and then suddenly move on. Just like the weather, it cannot be controlled.

2. Theme – the message that the writer of the poem wishes to convey to his or her readers. For instance, the subject of the poem is about love, and you have to find out from the poem what he or she thinks about love and then write it down in a complete sentence.

For example: “Love makes us miserable.”

The sentence expressing the theme must be generalized. In other words it must apply to everyone.

3. Tone - tone refers to the feeling of the poem.

• Tone in Poetry is basically the attitude the poet conveys which can, for example, be comforting or vicious. Lots of the time the tone can start out one way, such as sad, and end up with a different feel by the end of the poem, such as hopeful.

4. Allusion - a brief reference to a person, historical event, place, phrase, or other literary work with which the author believes the reader will make a connection.

IF

If I was Romeo and you JulietI wouldn't dare kill myselfOn sighting you dead.I'll just kiss your tender lips- "The kiss of life"For that's enough to wake you up.

If I was Julius Caesar and you CalpurniaI'd rather accept being called a cowardThan disregard your dream, and make you sadFor your love is but a shield.

If I was trapped with youIn a desolate islandLike the legendary Robinson CrusoeTo yearn for rescue I'll notFor a romantic adventure it'll beTo seek for protection I'll notFor your love is but a shieldTo pray for guidance I'll notFor an angel from heaven you are. Dowell Ighohwo Oba

5. Paradox occurs when two things that should not be able to exist at the same time are said, in a poem, to exist at the same time.

• Because human beings frequently experience two or more emotions at the same time or can see things from two points of view at the same time, they often use paradox in poetry to express such a situation.

Dark and Light

Dark remembers light,The day they

separated,They try to be friends,

butcan't.

Dark doesn't like light Their friendship no

longer exists.

When analyzing poetry, identify different poetic devices and how they convey the poem’s message:

• Simile – comparison using like or as

• Metaphor – a direct comparison

• Personification – giving human qualities to nonhuman things

• Point of view – who is the telling the poem?

• Imagery - creating pictures with words

• Alliteration – repeating the same letter