Which of these is the last step you should take when analyzing a poem?
<em>You haven't given options, so I'll give you the steps used in the USA to take when analyzing a poem.</em>
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Answer:
1. Read the poem aloud multiple times
- Reading a poem aloud is necessary for analysis. It’s important to read a poem multiple times before attempting to dig for deeper meanings. Pay close attention to the rhythm and punctuation of the poem, the stressed and unstressed syllables
2. Review the title
- The title often contains important clues for understanding the piece. After reading the poem, reflect on the title and determine how or if it relates to your understanding of the work.
3. Identify the speaker
- The speaker is a character, just like in a novel or play. The speaker will not always reveal a name, but using context clues, you can determine the persona, point of view, and the audience the speaker is addressing.
4. Consider the mood and tone
- Once you’ve identified the speaker, you’ll have more insight into the attitude or mood of the poem. Consider the speaker’s tone and delivery. For instance, does the speaker’s voice change throughout the piece? Is the voice active or passive? Are they speaking directly to the reader or to another character?
5. Highlight the use of poetic devices
- eg. metaphor, simile, assonance, onomatopoeia, personification etc.
6. Try paraphrasing
- Before writing your analysis, it may be helpful to rewrite the poem in your own words. Work through the lines of the poem one by one. Now that you’ve become familiar with the poet’s figurative language and use of poetic devices, you’ll be able to apply what you’ve learned to determine what’s at the heart of the piece.
7. Identify the theme
- After paraphrasing, you should now have a better idea of the ideas of the poem. From those ideas, you’ll be able to create a theme. Essentially, the theme of a poem is the message the poet is trying to convey. A theme will often relate to a bigger idea or a universal truth.
In Brueghel's painting, the fall of Icarus is happening in the back; no one is even noticing it. Brueghel's painting shows that how a tragedy may not even be noticed by those who are not directly affected by it.
Auden translates Brueghel's painting a little differently, however. To Auden, the fall of Icarus IS being noticed by the plowman and the sailor; Auden says that they are too busy to deal with the disaster and get on with their work. Auden says that Icarus falling is "not an important failure" to them.
Auden's interpretation of the painting is therefore much more negative than Brueghel's initial work.
Bittman's style tells me that he likes to cover every point and is very precise. He makes sure that everything is mentioned and also tells you the benefits and obstructions of the decisions the could be made.
