Analyzing Pivotal Words and Phrases Directions Carefully read the poem "Heart to Heart" by Rita Dove. Although the title of the
poem is "Heart to Heart," the word heart never appears in the poem itself. Instead, the speaker refers to hearts in many ways. Write an analysis of how the poet uses pivotal words and phrases to describe qualities of a heart and what a heart may represent. "HEART TO HEART" BY RITA DOVE It's neither red nor sweet. It doesn't melt or turn over, 5break or harden, so it can't feel pain, yearning, regret. 10It doesn't have a tip to spin on, it isn't even shapely— just a thick clutch 15of muscle, lopsided, mute. Still, I feel it inside its cage sounding 20a dull tattoo: I want, I want— but I can't open it: there's no key. I can't wear it 25on my sleeve, or tell you from the bottom of it how I feel. Here, it's all yours, now— 30but you'll have to take me, too.
The author uses Pivotal Words to reference ideas and metaphors about the heart. For example, the word "neither" (Alternative word) is used to describe it as not red nor sweet, two characteristics often related to a loving heart.
Explanation:
The reference to melting or breaking a heart appears as the cause of not being able to feel pain through the word "so" (Cause and effect word).
"Still" (Contrast and change words) is used to establish a contrast between the mute heart and its powerful beat. In the same way, the word "but" is used to set a contrast between what the heart wants and the impossibility of letting it free.
The last line uses "now", a time word, and "too", an Additive word to describe offering one´s heart.
A narrative essay is a prose-written story that's focused on the commentary of a central theme. Narrative essays are generally written in the first-person POV, and are usually about a topic that's personal to the writer.
