Literature Poetry Analysis JC

Literature Poetry Analysis Questions / ​ Parallels ​ / ​ Main Ideas Notes Assessment Criteria What are the 4 Assessment Criteria for Literature? Assessment Criteria 1. Literary Terminology 2. Sensitivity: Personal & Insightful 3. Imagination 4. Systematic Thinking Answering Technique Recite the Poetry Mnemonic and the Elements of Poetry ● What relations should you be looking out for within these elements? ● What are the 3 steps of Literary Analysis? ● //Systematic Thinking Step 1: Understand the Logical Structure and Flow of Argument of the Poem ● What is each Stanza saying? ○ How are the stanzas separated? ■ E.g. Idea about x in each stanza ● What is the Overall Thesis? ○ What themes are raised? ● Are there overarching techniques (e.g. motifs)? ● Who is speaking? To whom? ○ In what tone? How does the tone relate to the main idea? Step 2: Identify the Elements of Poetry: Subject-Matter, Themes, Imagery, Diction, Form (Versification, Rhythm, Rhyme), Mood, Tension, Value Judgements ● Screaming Through Ice Deep Freezes My Throaty Voice ● Understand the general mood, tone and atmosphere of the poem ● What do the elements reveal in ​ Contrast and Synergy ​ ? ○ Note Contradictions and Relations within Poem ○ Good to use Multiple elements

● Pay Close Attention to Genre-Specific Techniques ○ Poetry: Emphasis on Sound ■ Rhyme scheme, Masculine/Feminine Ends ■ Do not miss out on the ending!! Step 3: Express Points that answer the Question with Clarity ● What? → How? → Why? ● Technique > Effect > Significance ○ Bring out Action of the Author ○ E.g. The author uses visual imagery in the simile “men die as cattle” to suggest that the men considered less than human in how they are systematically, indiscriminately and frequently sacrificed for war, so as to condemn the act of war as senseless ○ Effect: “die as cattle” has multiple connotations: soldiers die in large numbers, have no personal identity, are less than human and are slaughtered ○ Significance: enemies are butchers and the battlefield is an abattoir where senseless killings occur ● Technique: Memorise poetic Devices ○ Interpret lines in context: Draw links between quotes throughout the poem ○ If possible: Choose quotes based on the technique ● Effect: The line of ​ reasoning ​ that draws on the ​ mood, tone, atmosphere or audience response ​ evoked by the technique to make clear logical ​ justifications ​ of the point/significance ○ Questions to Consider ■ What is this ​ associated ​ with? ■ How does this relate to the ​ context of the poem ​ and as a ​ general statement ​ ? ■ Why did the author ​ choose ​ to add this when the sentence would have been fine without it/other things could have been used ​ ? ■ What does the author want to ​ achieve (thematically/emotionally) ​ ? Does this support/oppose it? ■ Are there other interpretations of this? How do the interpretations contrast/synergise? ○ Show evidence of personal response to the poem with adjectives ● Depth: Explain ​ Shifts ​ in attitude, ​ Reconcile Binaries ​ tensions and Contradictions, Resolve ​ Ambiguities ​ of Meaning: Insist on finding clarity in tackling the unexpected

● Significance/Authorial Intention: Consider what the author is trying to express through designing the work as you have observed ○ Commentary on the human/social condition?[ ○ Signpost by stating the Author’s Name Define Compare and Contrast Explain how to do an Introduction for a Compare and Contrast Essay Explain what is unique about Points in Compare and Contrast Essays State the 3 ways to Conclude a Compare and Contrast Essay State 4 Key Themes of SGean Poetry Compare and Contrast General Conventions ● “Compare”: Similarities ○ Literary Techniques ○ Theme, Subject Matter ● “Contrast”: Differences ○ Literary Techniques: Form, Tone, Authorial Comment/Attitude, Value-Judgements ○ Effects & Significance ■ Nature ■ Meaning/Value ■ Construction ■ Validity ■ Society ■ Suggested: Process, Outcome, Role/Function, Nature ● Choose 1 pair of poems/four ○ At least one will be Singaporean ○ Usually Similar in: Theme, Subject-Matter ● Can use “poem A” and “poem B” ○ Mention Titles with “” when analysing nomenclature ● Use Present Tense Introduction ● Overview: Broad Similarities and Differences as Links to be Justified in Body ○ Subject-Matter, Theme, Tone, Attitude, Perspectives

○ Comparison: “While both poems are similar in...they are different in…” ● Have a Personal Voice: Evaluation + Emotion ○ E.g. Poignancy of a Mother’s Love > Portrays a mother’s Love ● Breadth > Depth: Specify with adjectives in the topic sentence later ○ May even bring up points that you won’t Body ● PEEL ○ P: Comparative statement: “While both poems are similar in...they are different in…”; State Techniques ○ E: 2 - 3 Quotes ○ E: Explain the effect of the quote with a Personal Voice ○ L: Link back to Point ● Have at least 3 (JC 1) ● Choose the most important Points ● Alternate between both poems Conclusion ● Are the two poems ​ more similar than different ​ ? ● What is the ​ ultimate difference ​ between the 2 poems/how the poems dealt with the theme? ● No Time: Compare closing areas SG Poetry Themes ● Urbanisation: Loss of ​ Heritage ​ , ​ Utilitarian ​ (Focus on Practical and Material), ​ Rigidity/Sterility ​ , Difficulty in ​ Change ● Language: Bilingualism ● Multiculturalism ● Kiasu Culture Define Subject-Matter Define Value Judgement Start off with... Subject-Matter: What is ​ Literally ​ Talked about ● Use Title ○ If Title ≠ Subject-Matter: Misnomer Value Judgements: What the author ​ Supports/Condemns

Main medium to bring out... Define Theme, how is it Different from subject-matter? Define Mood Theme: Ideas that are Brought out ● ≠Subject-Matter: ​ Concepts ​ as Opposed to Objects ● Should be clear and insightful when stated in your essay ○ More than 3 Words Mood: Emotions brought out in Poem Use the above 4 Elements as Links to show Significance of Techniques Imagery Name the 6 types of Imagery Types of Imagery

Define: ● Similes ● Metaphors ● Symbols ● Personification ● Transferred Epithet Identify the technique used: ● The train sighed and chugged off ● The sad city ● He is like school in June; no class ● He is the pickles of a cheeseburger ● The Merlion Name A reference to... Visual Sight ● Colours ● Size ● Shape Auditory Sound ● Onomatopoeia Tactile Touch ● Temperature ● Texture Gustatory Taste Olfactory Smell Kinesthetic Motion: e.g. the Fly Flies Applications of Imagery ● Similes: ​ Direct ​ Comparison with “like” / “as” ● Metaphors: ​ Indirect ​ Comparison without “like” / “as” ○ More Subtlety ● Symbols: The representation of something ​ abstract ​ with... ○ Concrete Objects ○ Colours ○ Characters: Heroes/Villains, Archetypes etc. ● Personification: Assigning ​ Human ​ ​ qualities ​ to a non-human ​ Object ○ The wheels screamed ○ Creates sense of Empathy ● Transferred Epithet: Assigning ​ adjectives ​ meant for a human to an inanimate object ○ E.g: Sad city, bewildering pause ○ ≠Personification: Must be ​ transferred ​ from a Human rather than a mere description with human qualities ○ Heightens adjective to become inherent and wide-ranging quality Application ● Effect: Immersion ● Compare the Image in your Head to what is being Signified

Diction State 3 types of Diction5 What must be stressed in a Diction-based topic sentence? Types of Diction (Choice of Words): Answering Technique ● Always comment on the kind of Diction in yo