Overview
This lecture presents a systematic six-step approach (called the "stiff approach") for analyzing unseen poems, covering context, themes, tone, imagery, form, and feelings.
Step 1: Subject & Context
- Identify the main subject and content of the poem.
- Note who wrote the poem, when, where, and possible influences.
- Determine the persona (speaker/narrator) and narrative voice (first, second, or third person).
- Identify the setting and main features or characters of the poem.
Step 2: Theme
- Identify recurring ideas or themes within the poem.
- Common themes include love, nature, identity, family, politics, memory, morality, life/death, age, war, and conflict.
Step 3: Tone
- Describe the poem’s mood using precise adjectives (e.g., solemn, melancholic, optimistic, ironic).
- Support your tone analysis with key phrases from the poem that show attitude.
Step 4: Imagery & Literary Devices
- Identify and analyze literary devices (e.g., similes, metaphors, personification, alliteration, symbolism, irony, enjambment).
- Comment on how these devices contribute to the poem’s meaning or effect.
Step 5: Form & Structure
- Analyze the poem’s structure, including stanza and line length, rhyme scheme, rhythm, and punctuation.
- Note any special forms (e.g., sonnet) and discuss their impact on meaning.
- Consider how form and structure influence the poem's tone and message.
Step 6: Feeling & Reception
- Discuss the emotions conveyed and any tone shifts throughout the poem.
- Consider the poet’s intentions, target audience, and the poem’s original reception.
- Reflect on your own emotional response to the poem.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Persona — the speaker or narrator of the poem.
- Theme — the central ideas or topics explored in the poem.
- Tone — the attitude or mood of the poem’s language.
- Imagery — descriptive language that appeals to the senses or creates vivid pictures.
- Form — the structure and layout of the poem, including stanza arrangement and rhyme.
- Enjambment — when a sentence runs onto the next line without a pause.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice analyzing an unseen poem using the six-step stiff approach.
- Familiarize yourself with common literary devices and forms.
- Explore additional resources like poetry essay apps or poetry.co.uk for further study aids.