Textual Analysis and

Poetry Essays
 What does Analysing a poem or text
entail?

When we analyse a poem/text, we do the following:

▪ A detailed examination of the following:
– Contents: What the poem/text is about? Who is the poem/text about? The narrative of
the text.
– Style: How the text is written? Does it follow a particular genre or type of writing?
– Language: Diction, Tone, Register, Grammar, overall syntax
– Punctuation – use or lack of its use
– Context: When was the poem/text written? Why was the poem/text written? Any bias?
– Images: What images are used? How are they introduced? How effective are these
images?
– Theme: What are the main ideas being addressed in the poem/text?
– What is the rhyme scheme? Is it easily understood?
 How is the analysis of poems/texts
done?

▪ The easiest way to analyse a poem/text is to do it in

a structured way, that is to focus on three main
elements of the poem/text and ask questions about
these elements.
▪ The elements are:
– Diction
– Tone
– Imagery
 Diction:

▪ This is when we look at the words that the poet chooses to use in the
poem.
▪ The words allow the reader to try and get an insight and an
understanding of what the poet is trying to “do” or “say” in the poem.
▪ Words allow the reader to judge how the poet feels about the subject,
how he/ she wants the reader to feel.
▪ The words allow the poet to “paint” the “pictures” that he/she feels the
reader should “see”.
▪ How words are used is the most important aspect in poetry.
 Diction:

We can also focus on the following aspects which can be

determined by the use of particular words:
 What type of language does the poet use?
 Is the register formal, conversational, informal?
 Does the way the writer uses language make the text easier
to understand?
– What are the connotations of the words the poet uses?
▪ Is he using “loaded” words that imply positive or negative
feelings towards the text?
▪ How does this help me understand the speaker’s bias and
feelings towards what is being discussed?
 Diction:

▪ Diction can also be determined by asking the following

questions:
– What words are highlighted?
▪ Why?
– What sound devices are being used?
▪ Why?
– What effect does it have on the reader?
– What effect does it have on the overall meaning of the
poem/text?
 Tone:

▪ In poetry, tone has a double meaning.

▪ The term “tone” implies:
– What does the poet “feel” about the subject in his/her poem?
– What is the message that is being conveyed in the poem?
– What does the poet want the reader to “feel” about the message of the poem?

▪ In many cases these aspects can be the same or similar, but do not be
surprised if they differ.
– Even though the poet can try and “guide” and “influence” the reader’s viewpoint
through emotional use of language and imagery, this may not always be the
case.
 Tone:

▪ A very important thing to remember is that tone is an

emotional response.
– Just to say the tone of the text is “emotional” is not a
sufficient answer.
– The emotion must be identified and justified by
referencing the text.
 Tone:

▪ When we look at the poem/text we look for the “feeling” words.

– Are these words making us feel positive or negative?
▪ From here, it is easier to identify the actual feeling such as melancholy
or ecstasy.
▪ This is why understanding the connotations connected to words is vital.
▪ Note that the tone can change in the course of the poem.
– That is why identifying the type of poem/text is important.
▪ If we have a sonnet, we automatically will look for the change from a
concerned/worried tone in the first part of the poem to the resolution/
accepting tone in the latter half of the poem.
▪ When this occurs we refer to it as a “volta”
 Imagery:
▪ Imagery is the “pictures” that are created by the text in the
poem. Most writers do this by:
– Describing the scene in a literal way. (Telling the facts of what
they are describing)
– Using figurative language (metaphors, similes and other
figurative devices)
– A mixture of the two.
▪ Imagery is reliant on the:
– Diction (choice of words) that is being used
– Tone (emotion) conveyed in particular choice of words
 Imagery:
▪ The poet uses particular words to create an image and to
guide the readers to a deeper understanding of the:
– Theme and/or
– Message of what is being discussed in the poem itself.
▪ Literal descriptions:
– What exactly is being described?
– Is it being described in a positive or negative light?
▪ How does this impact on my view of the poem’s
subject, message or theme?
 Imagery:

▪ Figurative descriptions:
▪ First identify the obvious figures of speech, metaphors and similes.
– When this is done, analyse them.
▪ What is being compared to what and how does this help in
understanding all the aspects of the poem?
– Are the figures of speech positive or negative in connotation?
▪ How does this impact on my view of the poem’s subject,
message or theme?
 Approach to Textual Analysis:
▪ This approach can be used with any text in any paper that will be
written:
– Comprehension.
– Cartoon.
– Advert.
– Poem. (seen and unseen)
– Literature Contextual
▪ It is important to identify the general characteristics of the text and
be guided by the questions.
 Poetry Essay:
The seen poetry question is generally set as indicated below:
▪ A statement which has a link to the poem is made first.
▪ This is followed by a question, also linked to the poem.
▪ Generally 3 of the following aspects are included in the question.
 Diction
 Tone
 Imagery
 Punctuation
 Mood & Atmosphere
 Stylistic devices
▪ There may be emphasis to a certain aspect of the poem:
– How does the form affect the above aspects?
– How do the above aspects affect the theme or message of the poem?
– Look at a literal or figurative reading of the poem using the above aspects.
 Poetry Essay:

▪ Remember the following:

– Poetry essays will be based on the poems that have been
studied/seen poems/prescribed poems. Thus all of the aspects
of the poem including diction, tone and imagery are already known.
– Ask some of the questions outlined in this discussion.
– Use the aspects of diction, tone, imagery, mood &
atmosphere, stylistic devices and punctuation to guide you in
the planning and writing of a poetry essay.
– Keep to the point and within the word limit.
– Always support whatever points you make with reference to
the poem set.