“If it takes longer to explain than to read, then it’s poetry”
Poetry must be taken into special consideration when being analyzed. There are additional contributing factors that are not present in simple prose writing.
RHYME
There are several different types of rhyme, such as end-rhyme, near-rhyme, eye-rhyme, internal rhyme, which contribute to the sound of the poem. The sound of the poem affects the tone and the effect on the reader. This is important in creating the meaning of the poem.
RYTHYM
Similarly, meter contributes to the sound of the poem. Iambic pentameter, tetrameter, and blank verse all result in a very different sound to the poem. The sound affects the tone and the effect, contributing to meaning.
FORM
The way the poem looks is also important. Is it traditional? If so, does it follow or break conventions? These things are done deliberately by the author to contribute to meaning.
The way the poem looks is also important. Is it traditional? If so, does it follow or break conventions? These things are done deliberately by the author to contribute to meaning.
SYNTAX
This includes analysis of things like enjambment (run-on lines) or end-stop, the length of the poem, and caesura (pauses in the poem).
ITALIAN/ PETRARCHAN SONNET
· 14 lines
· Iambic pentameter
· Octave (8 lines) and sestet (6 lines)
· Octave is written in abba abba
· Volta occurs at the beginning of the sestet (a shift of some sort in the poem)
ENGLISH/SHAKESPEAREAN SONNET
· 14 lines
· Iambic pentameter
· 3 quatrains (abab, cdcd, efef), ending with a heroic couplet (2 rhyming lines)
· Volta (shift, new idea) at line 9, or at the couplet
This is the first I think you've left anything out of a post. Yay for me, something to correct! Free verse (no rhyme or meter scheme) and Blank Verse (non-rhyming Iambic pentameter). In addition, I think that imagery, conceits, and allusions are relevant poetry analysis. They are often the reason poetry takes so long to figure out, if you miss one, you'll be really confused.
ReplyDeleteLike Emily mentioned, I think you left a couple types of poetry out of this post. That being said, the rest of the blog post is very well organized and what you did mention has a sufficient amount of information. The quote at the beginning is also a great way to introduce the reader to what the rest of the post is going to be about. Great job.
DeleteAlso, I would add SSTIFS, our mnemonic for the quick analysis of poetry.
ReplyDelete