Ah, poetry. As soon as an English teacher mentions it, you can almost always expect the nauseated faces, collective moans n' groans, and, here and there, the smile of someone who actually likes poetry. As for myself, I've always fallen somewhere in between the extremes of total disgust and passionate adoration. When it comes to writing, I tend to prefer prose, especially fiction. Even so, I'm a good enough writer that, if necessary, I can write and analyze poetry. However, I confess, I too once feared poetry; I hardly knew how to critique or write it, despite that I could create decent poems. When composing poetry, I was rather clueless as to what I was doing. My thought process would be something like: "Hm, this sounds like an interesting idea...Let me just write a few lines...throw in some line divisions that sound nice...some semi-deep imagery...OK, done!"
So, given that the majority of people don't seem to either enjoy or understand poetry (or both), I thought I would write a sort of "for dummies" guide on how to analyze poetry. Specifically, I'd like to address the infamous question: What does this poem mean? Since I'm an AP English Lit student, for more than a month, my class has been fixated on poetry. In fact, for several weeks, we had to write 2 papers per week and each paper addressed this question. I'm pleased to say that I've got my analytic technique down to a formula. Now I'm not saying you should treat every poetry assignment this way and I mean no disrespect; this is simply my method of choice when I'm pressed for time (like an exam) and need something quick and effective.
And now, the moment we've all been waiting for:
A Guide on the Art of Bullshi--Err, Poetry Analysis
Welcome, annoyed student! So, your teacher wants you to analyze some poetry, eh? I know you're terrified but here: take a barf bag and listen carefully to these simple steps.
1) i) If you've been given a list of poems to choose from, pick the one that annoys you the least. Seriously, make this as painless for yourself as possible. However, obviously make sure you actually understand what the poem is saying. Feel free to take notes and mark up your copy with anything you notice right away.
ii) If you've been assigned the poem, it's the same process, except you're not strategically picking your poem from a list. Oh, and if you have absolutely no idea what the poem is saying, your teacher probably hates you. But don't worry; just read, take notes and never, ever underestimate the power of bullshit.
2) Take a step back for a moment and answer this question: what is the poem doing? In other words, what is the speaker's goal? To make an argument? Describe a memory? It doesn't have to be a deep answer and exactly what literary critics think the poem is about. So keep it simple and sweet. When in doubt, as we say in lit class, go with your gut.
3) Next important question to ask yourself: how does the speaker accomplish this goal? Well, the reason your gut understands the underlying goal of this poem is because either you've read the analysis on Sparknotes or the poem has effectively used something called "devices." Writing, like any other work, requires tools. Here are some common ones that, odds are, your poet used:
- Structure - rhyme, rhythm, line or stanza-division
- "Music" - alliteration, consonance, assonance
- Metaphor - symbol, simile, personification, allegory
- Imagery - remember your five senses!
- Word choice / diction
That's just to name the big devices. Pick 3 devices your speaker uses. I recommend including structure on that list, but that's just what I find works best. Once you've chosen your devices, you're ready to write that essay. So enough with the prewriting already! Onwards to victory!
4) Your introduction should be fairly straightforward. Just make sure you cover the basics of all you want to say. Your first sentence, for instance, should be nothing more than: "In [poet]'s [poem title], the speaker seeks to [do something]." Then, with a quick transition, dedicate at least a sentence to each device and how it adds to accomplishing this goal. For example, you might say that imagery engages the senses, allowing the reader to understand the central message more fully. Does that sound vague to you? Remember what I told you before: never underestimate the power of bullshit! Anyway, once you're done explaining your three devices, your thesis should serve as your final sentence. Again, do it like Thoreau: "simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!" Your thesis should be something along the lines of: "Overall, the speaker uses the devices of [this], [that] and [something else] to [accomplish the big, super-important goal that tells us what the poem means]."
5) Like the essay overall, each body paragraph has a simple, easy to follow structure. The topic sentence should both relate back to thesis (as holds true for any essay) and describe how the device serves the speaker. Then, the paragraph becomes a combination of two components: textual examples and analysis. Pick pieces of the poem that illustrate how the device works to reinforce the central idea and analyze them until your fingers fall off. Then glue your fingers back on and give a concluding sentence that summarizes how the device contributes to accomplishing the goal. Repeat this for each device. It's really not all that hard, just a major pain the butt. Unless, of course, you enjoy analyzing poetry and explaining its deep philosophical meaning. In which case, this will be like a party for you.
6) The concluding paragraph is, frankly, nothing more than rewording your introductory paragraph. All you need to do is summarize and repeat everything you've said. I try to leave the reader with an interesting line at the end, something to ponder, but it's not a necessary component of your essay. Hey look, you're done! Now print that essay and go to bed.
7) Optional steps include...giving your document humorous names to reflect your irritation with this task (such as "poempoop" or "stupidpoetrycrap") and blogging about your experiences.
8) Also, if you are an English teacher, poetry enthusiast or anyone else that takes poetry analysis very seriously, please resist the urge to gather your torches and pitchforks, and read the hidden label on this post: "Warning: May contain sarcasm...and nuts"
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