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An Introduction to Analysing Poetry

An Introduction to Analysing Poetry. Aims – to identify key poetic techniques to show what effect the techniques create to read poems for theme and understanding COPY ANYTHING IN BLUE. Poetic Techniques.

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An Introduction to Analysing Poetry

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  1. An Introduction to Analysing Poetry Aims – to identify key poetic techniques to show what effect the techniques create to read poems for theme and understanding COPY ANYTHING IN BLUE

  2. Poetic Techniques In order to create character, setting, mood and tone, various poetic techniques are used: Imagery Sounds Word choice Structure At this level in English, not only do you need to be able to identify these techniques, you must be able to state what effect is created and how effective it is.

  3. Imagery Imagery is any descriptive technique that allows the reader to imagine what something looks, smells, feels, sounds or tastes like… • Simile • Metaphor • Personification

  4. Simile A comparison of two nouns using “like” or “as”. “hair like damp straw” or “hair as damp as straw”

  5. Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation To show U., A. and E. for similes – • to identify the simile (Understanding), quote the two nouns being compared and state it is a simile e.g. “The poet uses the simile “his hair like damp straw” to...” • to Analysethe simile, state what image this creates for the reader e.g. “make the reader imagine the character’s hair to be blonde, matted and smelly like damp straw giving the effect that the character is not an attractive one.” • to show how effective the simile is (Evaluation), state whether the simile helps to create an image • e.g. “This image emphasises that the character is unattractive to the heroine because of his appearance and one of the reasons why she will not be his lover.”

  6. Task 1. Simile Analyse the following similes. • "He looked about as inconspicuous as a tarantula on a slice of angel cake."(Raymond Chandler) • "My face looks like a wedding-cake left out in the rain."(W.H. Auden • “I look like an exploding tomato and shout like a jet engine and every time I see it [the video] makes me cringe."(John Sweeney) - see below http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxqR5NPhtLI

  7. Metaphor A comparison that omits the ‘like’ or ‘as’ or the description is not literal. “Her piercing stare.” “The sun was a beacon in the sky.”

  8. Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation To show U., A. and E. for metaphors – • to identify the metaphor (Understanding), quote the two nouns being compared and state it is a metaphor e.g. “The poet uses the metaphor “his damp straw hair ” to...” • to Analyse the metaphor, state what image this creates for the reader e.g. “make the reader imagine the character’s hair to be blonde, matted and smelly like damp straw giving the effect that the character is not an attractive one.” • to show how effective the metaphor is (Evaluation), state whether the metaphor helps to create an image e.g. “This image emphasises that the character is unattractive to the heroine because of his appearance one of the reasons why she will not be his lover.”

  9. Task 2. Metaphor • Analyse the following metaphors. • "The streets were a furnace, the sun an executioner."(Cynthia Ozick, "Rosa") • "The rain came down in long knitting needles."(Enid Bagnold, National Velvet) • “The sky is a snotty handkerchief."(Marge Piercy, "The Butt of Winter")

  10. Personification A type of metaphor where an inanimate object (not alive) or animal is given a human quality. “The wind leapt up and howled.”

  11. Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation To show U., A. and E. for personification – • to identify the personification (Understanding), quote the object or animal given a human quality and state it is personification e.g. “The poet uses personification “the wind leapt up and howled” to...” • to Analysethe personification, state what image this creates for the reader e.g. “make the reader imagine the wind to suddenly grow stronger in force and the sound to be like an animal’s howl.” • to show how effective the personification is (Evaluation), state whether the personification helps to create an image e.g. “This image emphasises that the setting has changed and a darker tone is occurring at this point in the novel.”

  12. Task 3. Personification Analyse the following examples of personification. • The surgeon’s knife lay exhausted on the table. • After stepping on a pin, her foot screamed in agony. • The sun smiled down on those on the beach.

  13. Sounds • In order to create the sounds that a character in a poem may hear or create specific sound patterns in a poem, various techniques can be used by a poet – • Onomatopoeia • Alliteration

  14. Onomatopoeia A word that sounds like the sound it describes. “The booming thunder was overhead” “The child let out a whimper of pain.”

  15. Onomatopoeia To show U., A. and E. for onomatopoeia– • to identify the onomatopoeia(Understanding), quote the sound e.g. “The poet uses onomatopoeia “screeched” to...” • to Analyse the onomatopoeia, state what image this creates for the reader e.g. “make the reader imagine the sound of the wind suddenly growing stronger in force and the sound to be like an animal’s howl. This in turn creates a negative image and it is expected that something sinister will happen.” • to show how effective the onomatopoeiais (Evaluation), state whether the onomatopoeia adds to the tone, character etc. e.g. “This image emphasises that the setting has changed and a darker tone is occurring at this point in the novel.”

  16. Task 4. Onomatopoeia • Match up the onomatopoeic word with the analysis. 1. The waves crashed on the shore. 2. The gate creaked behind them. 3.The guns boomed in the distance. A. The sound creates an ominous tone and indicates that sinister events will unfold. B. The sound is incredibly loud as it is still heard from far off. C. The sound shows that the setting is changing in tone and the sound of the sea is growing louder.

  17. Alliteration • The repetition of any particular sound at the beginning of words placed close together in a sentence to create style or be memorable. • “I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet” (Robert Frost)

  18. U., A. and E - Alliteration To show U., A. and E. for Alliteration – • to identify the alliteration (Understanding), quote the words starting with the same sound in the form of a sentence e.g. “The poet uses alliteration “the river ran rapidly” to...” • to Analyse the alliteration, state what sound is repeated and the effect it creates on the sentence e.g. “make the reader imagine the speed of the river as it flows quickly down to the sea.” • to show how effective the alliteration is (Evaluation), state whether the alliteration adds to the tone, character etc. e.g. “The repetition of the “r” sound gives the sentence a quick rhythm and emphasises the words to show how much power and force the river has.”

  19. Task 5 - Alliteration • What atmosphere is created by the following examples of alliteration – is the repeated sound ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ or does it make the sentence memorable or emphasise the words? • “The sighing sea, slowly lapped the shingle sands.” • “The crow kawed from the ramparts of the castle.” • “Shutters swayed gently in the summer breeze.” • “The river rushed past the wrecks of boats.”

  20. Word Choice • A word that has significance to the reader as it will give added meaning or be stylistic or create tone. • The boy strode onward without looking back. • The boy staggered onward without looking back.

  21. U., A. and E – Word Choice • To show U., A. and E. for Word Choice – • identify the word choice(Understanding) and quote the word e.g. The word choice of “strode” is used to… • to Analyse the word choice, state what the word connotes and the effect it creates e.g. “show that the boy is walking quickly and purposefully. It connotes that the boy is confident and will let nothing stand in his way.” • to show how effective the word choice is (Evaluation), state whether the word choice adds to the tone, character etc. e.g. “The word emphasises that the boy will stop at anything in order to avenge the death of his father.”

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