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poetry诗歌英语Poetry, as one of the most beautiful forms of literary expression, holds a special place in the world of literature. It is a means of communicating emotions, ideas, and experiences through carefully crafted words. Here, in this document titled "Poetry: The Art of English Verse," we will explore the essence, elements, and significance of poetry. 1. Introduction to PoetryPoetry is a form of artistic expression that utilizes the power of language to bring forth emotions, provoke thoughts, and create vivid imagery. It has been an integral part of human culture for centuries, with its origins dating back to ancient times. The use of poetic devices such as rhyme, rhythm, and metaphor elevates ordinary words into extraordinary works of art.2. The Elements of PoetryTo understand and appreciate poetry, it is essential to familiarize oneself with its fundamental elements. These include:2.1. Rhyme: The repetition of sounds at the end of words gives poetry a musical quality. Rhymes can be perfect, where the ending sounds match precisely, or slant, where there is a partial match.2.2. Rhythm: The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry creates its rhythmic flow. Different poetic forms, such as sonnets or haikus, have specific rhythmic structures.2.3. Metaphor: A figure of speech that compares two unrelated things, allowing readers to see the familiar in anew light. Metaphors enrich the imagery and deepen the meaning of a poem.2.4. Imagery: The use of descriptive language that appeals to the senses, allowing readers to visualize thepoet's words. Through vivid imagery, poems create a sensory experience for the readers.3. The Significance of PoetryPoetry serves various purposes and holds immense significance in our lives. It enables us to:3.1. Express Emotions: Poetry offers a unique platform to channel emotions, be it love, sorrow, joy, or despair. It allows individuals to express their innermost thoughts and feelings in a profound and relatable manner.3.2. Capture Moments: Through carefully chosen words and evocative imagery, poems capture fleeting moments and experiences, freezing them in time. This ability to encapsulate specific moments makes poetry a powerful tool for storytelling.3.3. Challenge Perspectives: Poems have the power to challenge established norms and provoke new ways of thinking. They encourage readers to question societal boundaries and encourage individuality of thought.3.4. Preserve Culture: Poetry plays a vital role in preserving cultural heritage and traditions. It serves as a medium through which stories, beliefs, and values are passed down from one generation to another.4. ConclusionIn conclusion, poetry stands as a testament to human creativity, emotion, and imagination. Through the careful manipulation of language, poets create works that resonate with readers on a profound level. This document aimed toprovide a brief insight into the art of English verse, highlighting its elements and significance. Remember, poetry is not merely words on a page but a gateway to explore the depth and beauty of the human experience.。
怎么评析一首英语诗歌作文How to Analyze a Poem。
Poetry is an art form that uses language to express complex emotions and ideas. Analyzing a poem can be a challenging task, but by breaking it down into smaller parts and examining each element carefully, you can gain a deeper understanding of the poem's meaning and message.The first step in analyzing a poem is to read it several times. Pay attention to the words, the rhythm, and the overall structure of the poem. Look for any patterns or repetitions, and try to identify the poem's central theme or message.Once you have a basic understanding of the poem, you can begin to examine its individual elements. One important element of poetry is imagery, or the use of descriptive language to create vivid mental pictures. Look for any images or metaphors that the poet uses to convey his or hermessage.Another important element of poetry is sound. Pay attention to the poem's rhythm, meter, and rhyme scheme. Consider how these elements contribute to the overall tone and mood of the poem.The poem's structure is also an important element to consider. Look for any patterns or repetitions in the poem's lines or stanzas. Consider how the poem's structure contributes to its meaning and message.Finally, consider the poem's overall tone and mood. Is the poem joyful or melancholy? Does it convey a sense of hope or despair? Consider how the poem's tone and mood contribute to its overall message.In conclusion, analyzing a poem requires careful attention to its individual elements, including imagery, sound, structure, and tone. By examining these elements in detail, you can gain a deeper understanding of the poem's meaning and message.。
Poetry is a form of literary art that uses language to convey complex emotions,ideas, or experiences in a condensed and often rhythmic form.It has been a significant part of human culture for thousands of years,with roots in ancient civilizations such as Greece, China,and India.The beauty of poetry lies in its ability to express profound thoughts and feelings in a way that is both accessible and deeply moving.Elements of Poetrynguage:Poetic language often employs metaphor,simile,and other figures of speech to create vivid imagery and evoke emotions.2.Rhythm and Meter:The rhythm of a poem is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables,which can be regular or irregular.Meter refers to the specific pattern of syllables in a line,such as iambic pentameter.3.Form and Structure:Poems can take various forms,such as sonnets,haikus,or free verse.The structure of a poem includes its stanzas,lines,and the arrangement of these elements.4.Sound Devices:Poets use alliteration,assonance,consonance,and rhyme to create musicality and enhance the poems meaning.5.Symbolism and Imagery:Poems often use symbols and imagery to convey deeper meanings beyond the literal sense of the words.Types of Poetry1.Narrative Poetry:Tells a story,often in a rhythmic form,such as The Odyssey by Homer.2.Lyric Poetry:Expresses personal emotions or thoughts,often in a songlike structure, such as Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats.3.Epic Poetry:A long narrative that recounts the life or deeds of a hero or a significant event,such as The Iliad by Homer.4.Haiku:A form of Japanese poetry consisting of three lines with a575syllable pattern, often capturing a moment in nature.5.Sonnet:A14line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and often expressing love orother deep emotions.Themes in PoetryPoetry can cover a wide range of themes,including love,nature,war,death,and the human condition.Poets often explore these themes through personal experiences or by reflecting on the broader human experience.The Role of Poetry in SocietyPoetry has played a crucial role in society throughout history.It has been used to express political dissent,celebrate victories,mourn losses,and convey cultural values.Poets have often been at the forefront of social change,using their work to challenge norms and inspire action.ConclusionPoetry is a powerful medium that allows us to see the world from different perspectives and to feel deeply about the human experience.It is a testament to the enduring power of language and the human capacity for creativity and expression.Whether you are a reader, a writer,or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of words,poetry offers a rich and rewarding journey into the depths of the human spirit.。
诗歌格式英文作文范文模板英文回答：Poetry Format。
Types of Poetry。
Lyric poetry: Expresses personal emotions and thoughts. Narrative poetry: Tells a story.Dramatic poetry: Presents a dialogue betweencharacters or a monologue.Elements of Poetry。
Meter: The pattern of stressed and unstressedsyllables in a line.Rhyme: The repetition of similar sounds at the end oflines.Scheme: The specific pattern of rhymes in a poem.Imagery: The use of vivid language to create sensory experiences.Figurative language: The use of metaphors, similes, and other devices to create deeper meaning.Structure: The arrangement of lines and stanzas to create a particular effect.Common Poetry Formats。
Sonnet:14 lines。
Iambic pentameter。
Specific rhyme scheme (e.g., ABAB CDCD EFEF GG)。
Haiku:3 lines。
5-7-5 syllables。
Often evokes nature and the present moment。
H o w t o A n a l y z e P o e t r y如何分析诗歌I. Definition of PoetryP o e t r y:a k i n d o f w r i t i n g t h a t f o r m u l a t e s a c o n c e n t r a t e d i m a g i n a t i v e a w a r e n e s s o f e x p e r i e n c e i n l a n g u a g ec h o s e n a nd a r r a n ge d t o c r e a t e a s p e c if i c e m o t i o n a l r e s p o n s e t h r o ughi t sm e a n i n g,s o u n d,a n d r h y t h m.诗歌:一般指用韵律语言富有想象地表达强烈感受的一种文学样式.II. Types of Poetry1.L y r i c P o e t r y（抒情诗）L y r i c i s a b r i e f s u b j e c t i v e p o e m s t r o n g l y m a r k e d b y i m a g i n a t i o n,m e l o d y a n d e m o t i o n,a n d c r e a t i n g a s i n g l e u n i f i e d i m p r e s s i o n.(抒情诗是指一种相对短小，以表达诗人主体感受为主的诗歌形式．他以想象丰富，韵律优为特色，给读者一种统一而完整的印象．）T y p e s o f l y r i c p o e t r y:e l e g y（挽歌）o d e（颂诗）s o n n e t（十四行诗）2.N a r r a t i v e P o e t r y（叙事诗）A n a r r a t i v e p o e m i s o n e t h a t t e l l s a s t o r y o r p r e s e n t s a n a r r a t i v e,w h e t h e r s i m p l e o r c o m p l e x,l o n g o r s h o r t.叙事诗是指以诗歌的形式讲述故事．T y p e s o f n a r r a t i v e p o e m s:e p i c（史诗）b a l l a d（民谣）3.D r a m a t i c P o e t r y（戏剧诗）D r a m a t i c p o e t r y i s p o e m s w r i t t e n i n t h e f o r m o f d r a m a t i c m o n o l o g u e o r d i a l o g u e.用独白或对话等写的诗歌．III. Elements of Poetry1.T o n e语气T h e p o e t’s a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d s t h e s u b j e c t a n d t o w a r d t h e a u d i e n c e i m p l i e d i n a l i t e r a r y w o r k.E g.f o r m a l,i n f o r m a l,a f f e c t i o n a t e,h o s t i l e,e a r n e s t,p l a y f u l(戏谑的）,i r o n i c,p l e a s a n t,u n p l e a s a n t,d e p r e s s i n g,c o l d，u n c e r t a i n,b o a s t f u l,p r o t e s t i n g o r s a r c a s t i c.2.F i g u r e s o f S p e e c h修辞T h e v a r i o u s f o r m s o f e x p r e s s i o n u s e d t o c o n v e y m e a n i n g o r h e i g h t e n e f f e c t,o f t e n b y c o m p a r i n g o ri d e n t i f y i n g o n e t h i n g w i t h a n o t h e r t h a t h a s a m e a n i n g o r c o n n o t a t i o n f a m i l i a r t o t h e r e a d e r o r l i s t e n e r.⏹m e t a p h o r a n d s i m i l e暗喻和明喻⏹m e t o n y m y a n d s y n e c d o c h e;换喻，借代和提喻法⏹t r a n s f e r r e d e p i t h e t移就⏹p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n拟人⏹a p o s t r o p h e;呼语法⏹o v e r s t a t e m e n t(o r h y p e r b o l e);夸张⏹p a r a d o x a n d o x y m o r o n;似非而是和矛盾修辞法⏹p u n双关⏹A l l i t e r a t i o n头韵3.I m a g e r y a n d S y m b o l i s m(意象和象征）I m a g e r y:T h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f s e n s e e x p e r i e n c e t h r o u g h l a n g u a g e.S y m b o l i s m:A f i g u r e o f s p e e c h i n w h i c h s o m e t h i n g(o b j e c t,p e r s o n,s i t u a t i o n,o r a c t i o n)m e a n s m o r e t h a n w h a t i t i s.4.R h y m e(韵律）R h y m e i s t h e r e p e t i t i o n o f t h e s t r e s s e d v o w e l s o u n d a n d a l l s u c c e e d i n g s o u n d s.4.1m a s c u l i n e r h y m e(s i n g l e r h y m e)阳韵或单韵:T h e r h y m i n g s o u n d s i n v o l v e o n l y o n e s y l l a b l e.f e m i n i n e r h y m e(d o u b l e r h y m e)阴韵或双韵:T h e r h y m i ng s o u n d s i n v o l v e t w o o r m o r e s y l l a b l e s.4.2i n t e r n a l r h y m e行内押韵、腰韵T h e o n e o r b o t h r h y m i n g w o r d s a r e w i t h i n t h e l i n e.4.2.1e n d r h y m e行尾韵4.2.2h e a d r h y m e行首韵4.3a p p r o x i m a t e r h y m e s4.3.1a l l i t e r a t i o n:t h e r e p e t i t i o n o f c o n s o n a n t s(o r v o w e l s),e s p.a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f w o r d s o r s t r e s s e ds y l l a b l e s.（头韵）4.3.2a s s o n a n c e:t h e r e p e t i o n t i o n o f s i m i l a r v o w e l s o u n d s w i t h i n a n o t i c e a b l e r a n g e.（半谐音）4.3.3c o n s o n a n c e:t h e r e p e t i t i o n o f i d e n t i c a l c o n s o n a n t s o u n d s b e f o r e o r a f t e r d i f f e r e n t v o w e l s.（谐音）4.3.4h a l f r h y m e:t h e f e m i n i n e r h y m e s t h a t d o n o t r h y m e c o m p l e t e l y(准押韵）“f r i g h t f u l”a n d“s l i g h t l y”4.3.5e y e r h y m e:i s f o r m e d b y w o r d s t h a t l o o k l i k e a r h y m e d u n i t b u t d o n o t h a v e t h e s a m e s o u n d s.（目韵）”h o m e”a n d“s o m e”;“h e a r”a n d“b e a r”5.:M e t r i c a l R h y t h m5.1M e t e r格律T h e r e g u l a r p a t t e r n o f s t r e s s e d a n d u n s t r e s s e d s y l l a b l e s.5.1.1i a m b(i a m b i c)抑扬格，短长格（指由一短一长或一轻一重的两音节组成的音步．）d e f e a t5.1.2a n a p e s t(a n a p e s t i c)抑抑扬格（指由两短一长或两轻一重的三音节组成的音步．）w i t h a l e a p5.1.3t r o c h e e(t r o c h a i c)扬抑格（由一重音节及一轻音节构成的音步．）l i s t e n5.1.4d a c t y l(d a c t y l i c)扬抑抑格m e r r i l y5.1.5s p o n d e e(s p o n d a i c)扬扬格f o o t b a l l5.2F o o t音步:m o n o m e t e r:o n e f o o t p e n t a m e t e r:f i v e f e e td i me t e r:t w of e e t h e x a m e t e r:s i x f e e tt r i m e t e r:t h r e e f e e t h e p t a m e t e r:s e v e n f e e tT e t r a m e t e r:f o u r f e e t o c t a m e t e r:e i g h t f e e t6.S t a n z a i c F o r m s6.1C o u p l e t:a s t a n z a o f t w o l i n e s w i t h s i m i l a re n d-r h y m e s6.2H e r o i c c o u p l e t:a r h y m i n g c o u p l e t o f i a m b i c p e n t a m e t e r,w i t h a f a i r l y h e a v y p a u s e a t t h e e n d o f t h e f i r s tl i n e a n d a s t i l l h e a v i e r o n e a t t h e e n d o f t h e s e c o n d.6.3T r i p l e t(T e r c e t):a u n i t o r g r o u p o f t h r e e l i n e s o f v e r s e,u s u c o n t a i n i n g r h y m e.6.4Q u a t r a i n:a s t a n z a o f f o u r l i n e s,r h y m e d o r u n r h y m e d.6.5S o n n e t:a f i x e d v e r s e f o r m o f I t a l i a n o r i g i n c o n s i s t i n g o f14l i n e s t h a t a r e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y i n i a m b i cp e n t a m e t e rS h a k e s p e a r e a n s o n n e t:i s u s u a r r a n g e d i n t o t h r e e q u a t r a i n s a n d a c o u p l e t,r h y m i n g a b a b c d c d e f e f g g.7.O p e n f o r m7.1f r e e v e r s e（不受格律限制的）自由诗F r e e v e r s e i s r h y m e d o r u n r h y m e d p o e t r y f r e e f r o m c o n v e n t i o n a l r u l e s o f m e t e rP o e t s f a m o u s f o r t h e i r w o r k s c o m p o s e d i n f r e e v e r s e i n c l u d e W a l t W h i t m a n,E z r a P o u n d,T.S.E l i o t,A m yL o w e l l,a n d C a r l S a n d b u r g.7.2b l a n k v e r s e素体诗，无韵诗（尤指抑扬格的五音部诗．）B l a n k v e r s e r e f e r s t o p o e m s o f u n r h y m e d l i n e s,u s u a l l y w r i t t e n i n i a m b i c p e n t a m e t e r.E n g l i s h p o e t s s u c h a s W i l l i a m W o r d s w o r t h,J o h n K e a t s,A l f r e d T e n n y s o n,R o b e r t B r o w n i n g,a n d A m e r i c a n p o e t s s u c h a s E d w i n A r l i n g t o n R o b i n s o n a n d R o b e r tF r o s t a c h i e v e d p o e t i c a l e x c e l l e n c e i n b l a n k v e r s e.。
Dr. David S. HogsetteCollege Comp IIElements of PoetryI.Introduction•Fiction is a narrative “genre” or classification of literature•Poetry is another genre or type of literature that relies more heavily upon “verse” or “lyrical” language•Fiction uses “prose” or full sentences to express details, information, and action•Poetry uses stylized or creative language, figurative language to express thoughts, feelings, emotions•Poetry uses “an economy of language”; that is, poetry generally uses a minimal amount of language to express a great deal of content•Poetry is more challenging because you have to study and consider the language and the relationship between words far more carefully than in fiction•Just as writers use elements of fiction to put stories together, poets use elements of language to put poems together•The more we understand these elements, the better we will understand and interpret poetryII.Key Elements•Word Choice (Diction)•Poets create a feeling or mood by the type of language used (funny, sad,serious, silly, intellectual, common or vernacular)•Denotation: dictionary meaning of a word•Connotation: the various meanings and associations a word develops over time(“Cool” literally means a low temperature, but a connotative meaning issomething that is accepted as being engaging and interesting to young people)•Need to study both the denotative and connotative meanings of words to betterunderstand the various meanings of a poem•Poets create tone or a mood or a feeling by the types of words used, which cangive clues to the poem’s overall meaning or message•Speaker: the fictional voice or persona of the “person” speaking the poem (like anarrator for a story)•Images•Imagery is a creative use of language that appeals to the senses•Poets use creative language to create vivid pictures or images in our minds andimaginations•Carefully analyze the various images in a poem to help determine the largermeaning of a poem•Figures of Speech or Figurative Language•Describing a thing in terms of something else; describing something bycomparing it to something else•Figurative language often surprises the reader and causes him/her to think orfeel about things in unique, new, or interesting ways•Common Examples:•Simile: comparison using like or as (“My love is like a red, red rose”)•Metaphor: comparison not using like or as (“Her voice is music to theear”)•Personification: treating an inanimate object as if it were human;attributing human qualities to inanimate objects (“The mountainssighed in relieve as the sun rose over the plains”)•Symbolism and AllegoryA symbol is an object, person, or place that stands for something more thanitselfSymbols are generally more flexible, open-ended, and less specific in their possible meanings• E.g.: a dark forest can symbolize danger and evil; or, it can symbolize the realm of passion and the imagination; or it can symbolize the realm ofthe mind or the spiritAn allegory is an object, person, or place that stands for something more than itself, but the meaning is usually more specific and concreteOften, an allegory has a specific religious or moral significanceIn medieval “morality plays” there were allegorical characters that stood for certain virtues (Patience, Love, Charity, Faith) or vices/sins (Hate, Jealousy,Envy)Some stories are called “allegories” because they have very specific allegorical elements and a very clear religious or moral meaning. E.g.: Pilgrims Progress.When reading, look for symbols and allegories and try to determine their significances, as they generally point toward what the author is trying tocommunicate or accomplish in the poem•Irony: A discrepancy between what actually is and what appears to beSituational irony: what happens is different than what is expectedVerbal irony: saying one thing but meaning something different (sarcasm)Dramatic irony: difference between what the reader knows is true and what a speaker or character in the poem knows is true•Sound Patterns•Poets try to be creative with combining words to create unique sound patterns•Provides different effects, moods, feelings, tones•Alliteration: repetition of consonant sounds (gives a harsher feeling)•Alliteration: repetition of vowel sounds (gives a softer feeling)•Rhyme: repeating the same basic sound of a word: “pound” rhymes with“sound”•End rhyme: words at the end of a line rhyme•Internal rhyme: words in the middle of lines rhyme•Eye rhyme: looks like words rhyme but they do not: “dough” and“enough”•Near rhyme: words that are close in sound but do not exactly rhyme:“ton” and “pond”•Poets play around with different rhymes and reader expectations forrhyming patterns to create interest in a poem•Rhythm•The beat of a poem created by the repetition of stressed and unstressed sounds•Can help establish a tone, feeling, or mood that then helps communicate ameaning•Poetic form•Poetry has different forms or structures•Narrative poem: long epic pieces that tell stories•Lyrical poetry: shorter pieces that emphasize feeling and emotion•Sonnets: 14 lines of iambic pentameter (specific rhythmic pattern)•Italian Sonnet: Octave (8 lines) that present a theme or problemand a sestet (six lines) that resolves the theme•English or Shakespearean sonnet: three quatrains (total of 12lines) that provides variations on a theme and a rhymingcouplet (2 lines) that concludes the poem•Ode: from Greek and Roman poetry; a formal poem that praises orexalts a person or an action/event in history•Open form or free verse: no set structural pattern, more spontaneous III.Conclusion•Poems are written to entertain (to delight) and to edify (to teach or to instruct)•We should read poetry on both levels: read first for the pure pleasure of the language and the reading experience, then read again for the purpose of analyzing it and learningfrom it•Interpretation involves both aspects: articulating how and why the poem delights (or does not entertain) and discussing what it means and how the poem is constructed tocommunicate this meaning•Looking for and analyzing these elements of poetry will aid you in this kind of interpretation and enjoyment of poetry。
Elemrnts of PoetryThe elements of poetry are simply the techniques, strategies, and methods used by poets in practicing their craft. In the coming chapters, in the poetry unit of this book, you will find explanations of how the poet uses figurative language (metaphor, simile, personifications, and so on),line breaks and other aspects of poetic form, sound, rhyme, rhyme and meter, symbolism, irony, imagery, and tone. Some of this discussion will sound familiar because it is related to our discussion of fiction, and some of the discussion might be new to you.Some of the new parts of the discussion are rhythm, rhyme, line breaks, and stanzas. Langston Hughes uses all four in his poem ”Evenin’ Air Blues.” We will be exploring all of these aspects of poetry in the following chapters.Denotative and Connotative MeaningsMeanings of words are themselves complex. Every word in a language has a denotative meaning, that is, the meaning or meanings as stated in a dictionary of that language. Many words have connotative meanings as well. The connotative meaning of a word has to do with the associations that word calls up in our minds, and these associations may range far afield from the actual denotative meaning of the word. The following poem by Puerto Rican—American poet Judith Ortiz Cofer describes the alternating journey and homecomings that are the actual experience of the sailor and his family, but the poem is rich with connotative ,or suggested, meanings as well. Who’s Talking?------The Speaker of the poemAnother thing that influences the poet’s choice of words in a poem is the nature and perspective of the speaker. The speaker of the poem is the equivalent of the narrator of a work of fiction. Just as the narrator is not necessarily the author, the speaker of the poem does not necessarily represent the poet but can, instead, be an imagined voice. Who is the speaker of the poem? Whose voice are we hearing when we read it? From whose perspective is the poem spoken? In Cofer’s poem, we recognize the voice of an adult speaker looking back on a childhood experience. The adult boice looks back in a thoughtful and searching way, in an almost reverent tone, as she tries to describe the nature of the experience as the child of a sailor. In contrast , the speaker of Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess”is the Duke who doesn’t go in much for soul searching or reverence but is more accustomed to command. Careful word choice allows the poet, through the Duke’s own words, to make a chilling revelation about his last marriage, even as the listener(for reader) recognizes that he’s planning to marry again.Levels of dictionDepending on who the speaker of the poem is, the poet might to use a certain level of diction. We can speal of formal diction, middle diction, informal diction, and mixed diction as ways of discussing different levels of formality or informality in the use of language. For instance, Browning’s Duke, in “My Last Duchess,”speaks in formal diction, using such words as “countenance”and “munifivence.”The poem also contains some archaic (old_fashioned or out_of_date)diction (like “twas” and “durst”) since it was written in 1842. On the other hand , a well_known poem written by Gwendolyn Brooks,”We Real Cool” .is an example of informal diction, both in terms of its vocabulary and its grammar.Word ChoiceThe concepts just discussed also relate to the larger matter of word choice. Through all of the above techniques——and for all of the above reasons——the poet chooses words carefully to convey meaning in compact and effective ways. The following Iyric comes from a collection of Sanskrit poetry compiled by the Indian poet Vidyakara around the year 1100. The original poet, Manovinoda, may have lived in the 10th or 11th century. Kama is the Hindu god of love.Word OrderIn addition, word order can contribute to the rhythm of a poem as well as to its meaning. In Gwendolyn Brooks’s “We Real Cool”, so much would be lost if the poet had used a more conventional, more predictable word order_if she had begun each line with the word “We” instead of placing most of these at the ends of her lines. Look for other ways in which these poets use word choice and word order to enhance sound, rhythm, and meaning.A poet who is rather well_known for his innovative use of word choice and word order, as well as punctuation and other mechanics of the language, is e. e. cummings. This poet also preferred to have his name represented in lower_case letters. His poem “in Just” is an example of the deliberate use of word order to convey meaning in the poem. How does the unusual form of the poem reflect the poet’s themes here? What’s the Tone-Sad? Sarcastic? Pathetic? Playful?Tone is often defined as the author’s attitude toward the subject, and this is a good. Practical definition. So now we need to ask, How is the author’s attitude toward the subject conveyed to the reader? What might lead us to describe the tone of “ in just”for instance, as playful? Word choice and word order can certainly contribute to oursense of the speaker’s tone in a poem. In cumming s’s playful poem, the words are scattered across the page, just as the children scatter across the playground at the end of winter, and just as the marbles are scattered across the ground. The innovative use of word choice and word order in cummings’s made-up words such as “mud-luscious,”“puddle-wonderful,” and even “eddieandbill” also contribute to the fanciful tone of the poem.Word choice can be used as a way of establishing tone in a poem, and it can also be used as a means of shifting the tone. Several poems in this chapter illustrate the interesting results that can achieved by the coordinated effects of word choice, word order, and tone.In “flower Feet”Ruth Fainlight uses careful word choice at the outset of the poem to establish a tone that conveys wonder, praise, and admiration for the beautiful details of the tiny shoes.Even money uses imagery and symbolismAlthough five dollar bills may pass through our hands daily, we rarely stop to think about the images printed on them. The visual images on the dive dollar bill include the face of Abraham Lincoln; his features are square-jawed and clear eyed, and his expression in the artist’s rendering on the literal level. But the image has symbolic meaning for us as well. We are meant, when looking at this championing of egalitarian ideas, of his conduct of the Civil War, of the Emancipation Proclamation, and Gettysburg Address. In other words, the very image of Lincoln’s face is intended to symbolize American values and ideals. Other symbolic images on the front of the bill are the eagle on the Federal Reserve seal and the scales of justice on the Treasury Department seal. The represent-tation of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the bill is meant to symbolize many of the same ideas and ideals, and perhaps also to remind us of our nation’s capitol.SymbolismThe “lady acrobat”is an example of a contextual symbol or a literary symbol. The acrobat has a particular meaning or meanings (freedom, mobility, power) within this particular work of literature; although, in other contexts, it might have a different meaning. A universal symbol or a conventional symbol would ,on the other hand ,be one which is recognized by most people within a culture to have a certain meaning wherever it appears; for example, a wedding ring, a Star of David, or a Christian cross.Any image, object, or character within a poem can have a symbolic meaning in addition to its literal significance; as symbols, they may also have multiple possibilities for interpretation .In an allegorical work, on the other hand, each object, place or character has exactly one corresponding meaning. Symbols may suggest ,however, various meaning beyond the literal level ,as does Divakaruni’s “lighted sign of the lady acrobat.” What do you think are the most interesting imagesin Divakaruni’s “Tiger Mask Ritual” below? Do you think any elements of the poem are symbolic?What Are Figures of Speech?In the previous chapter, we talked about how meaning can operate both on the literal level and beyond it （on the symbolic level）. Another way poems may have meaning beyond the literal level is through the use of figurative language, or figures of speech.. We speak of such an image or phrase as being meant figuratively not literally .Figurative language is one of the ways used to infuse poems with imagination, often with emotion.PersonificationAnother example of the figurative use of language is personification. When the poet assigns human attributes to an object, animal, or other nonhuman element, we refer to this as personification. Personification is at work when the speaker of Plath’s poem says,”I am not cruel, only truthful”and “I meditate on the opposite wall”. In the second stanza, the speaker says of the woman, “then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon,” and the reader knows that literal lying is not being referred to , but instead that a softening of the woman’s appearance in the dim light makes her age less obvious. The candles and the moon are metaphorical, not literal, liars. Controlling Metaphor, Extended MetaphorPoet Claribel Alegria was born in Nicaragua, raised in El Salvador, and educated in the United States. She has written many moving poems about the civil wars in Central America.. The title of her poem “I Am Mirror”makes a statement which is both a metaphor and a use of personification. In addition, since the idea of the speaker as a mirror runs throughout the poem, we can also call it a use of extended metaphor or controlling metaphor. These terms refer to a recurring use of a metaphor throughout all of a work.HyperboleHyperbole is a figure of speech which relies on exaggeration to achive its effects. In Robert Burn’s “Oh, My Love Is Like a Red, Red, Rose”. We encounter the following use of hyperbole.Synecdoche and MetonymyA less well-known figure of speech is the synecdoche. Linda Hogan’s poem “TheTruth Is”begins, “In my left pocket a Chickasaw hand/ rests on the bone of the pelvis./In my right pocket/ a white hand.” In this use of figurative language, the two hands represent the whole person and the speaker’s dual heritage. Thus synecdoche is a figure of speech in which the part represents the whole.Apostrophe and UnderstatementAnother interesting use of figurative language is the apostrophe, which is a speed addressed to an absent person, or to an idea, object animal, or other nonhuman element. Pablo Nerude’s “Sweetness, Always” slips into the device of apostrophe in the second half, when he address fellow poets from around the world:” Brother poets from here/ and there, from earth and sky,/ from Medellin, from Veracruz,/Abyssinia, Antofagasta,/ do you know the recipe for honeycombs?”RhymeIn addition to the other sound devices mentioned, Toomer’s poem above uses end rhyme: “store…hones,”“done…one,”“weeds…bleeds,” and “blade…shade.” The use of such a precise rhyme scheme enhances the rhythm in the poem at the same time it creates a pleasing sound. The poet’s scheme here comprises rhyming couplets, pairs of lines in which the last words rhyme with each other. All of the rhymes in this particular poem are examples of exact thyme because the ending sounds are precisely the same.When a poet uses endings that are almost the same, but not exactly, this is called near rhyme or slant rhyme.. In Theodore Roethke’s poem “My Papa’s Waltz”, foe instance, most of the end rhyme is exact, but the pairs of endings are example of near rhyme: “dizzy…easy”and “pans…countenance.”Traditional patterns of rhyme are discussed at greater length in Chapter 18, which explores fixed-form poetry.Etheridge Knight uses a less common type of rhyme scheme in “A Watts Mother Mourns While Boiling Beans.”Rhythm and Line BreaksLine breaks (the poet’s choice of where to break each line and begin a new line) can also influence a poem’s rhythm, establishing it or disrupting it, in ways that engage the reader’s attention, and often serving the theme.. In “My Heart Leaps Up,” there are both end-stopped lines and run-on lines. An example of an end-stopped line would be the third line:” So was it when my life began;” and the fourth and seventh lines are end-stopped as well. The first line of the poem, on the other hand, is a run-on line because it is an unfinished thought that leans forward, drawing the reader down into the next line: “My heart leaps up when I behold/ A rainbow in the sky:” The run-on line can also be referred to as enjambment, adapted from a French word meaning “tostraddle.”This is , in fact , a better way to think of the device, since the thought “straddles” two lines, In Wordsworth’s poem, the first and second lines, the fifth and sixth lines, and the eighth and ninth are all example of enjambment.In “My Heart Leaps Up,” it is evident that poet found it thematically useful to establish a metrical pattern of rhythm and then disrupt it. In Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz,”on the other hand, the poet does not choose to vary his rhythmic pattern but instead maintains it throughout the poem.。
