Elements of Poetry - continued

Shift in poetry - A change that is often intentional
point of view, scenery, mood,...

Initial reaction
Title of the Poem
• Is the title's meaning obvious? For example, does it mention a single setting and action, such as W. S. Merwin's "The Drunk in the Furnace" or James A. Wright's "Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio"?
• Does it imply multiple possibilities? For example, Jean Toomer's "Georgia Dusk," which refers to a time of day as well as to dark-skinned people.
• Does it strike a balance, as in Rita Dove's "Beulah and Thomas"?
• Is there an obvious antithesis, as with Robert Frost's "Fire and Ice"?
• Is there historical significance to the title? For example, Robert Lowell's "The Quaker Graveyard in Nantucket."

source (don’t go into shock): http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/American-Poets-of-the-20th-Century-How-to-Analyze-Poetry-Title-of-the-Poem.id-11,pageNum-4.html

Style of the Poem
Into what category does the poem fit — for example, Carl Sandburg's imagism in "Fog" or Gwendolyn Brooks' epic "The Anniad"? Readers should apply definitions of the many categories to determine which describes the poem's length and style:
• Is it an epic, a long poem about a great person or national hero?
• Is it a lyric, a short, musical verse?
• Is it a narrative, a poem that tells a story?
• Is it a haiku, an intense, lyrical three-line verse of seventeen syllables?
• Is it confessional? For example, does it examine personal memories and experiences?

source (don’t go into shock): Read more: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/literature/American-Poets-of-the-20th-Century-How-to-Analyze-Poetry-Style-of-the-Poem.id-11,pageNum-3.html#ixzz12zULqUUE

Tone

Paraphrase


Literal vs. Figurative Meaning

Paradox