Analyse the interplay of form and meaning in John Burnside’s poem: The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live.
Analyse the interplay of form and meaning in John Burnside’s poem:
The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live In. Sub-questions/topics:
– Consider the title carefully: What does it tell you about the poem’s subject, tone, and genre? What does it promise? – What is your initial impression of the poem’s subject? – Is the poem built on a comparison or analogy? If so, how is the comparison appropriate? – What are the form and genre of this poem? What should you expect from such a poem? How does the poet use the form? – Are there any consistent patterns of words? For example, are there several references to flowers, or water, or politics, or religion in the poem? Look for groups of similar words. – Does the poet use figurative language? Are there metaphors in the poem? Similes? Is there any personification? Consider the appropriateness of such comparisons. Try to see why the poet chose a particular metaphor as opposed to other possible ones. Is there a pattern of any sort to the metaphors? Is there any metonymy in the poem? Synechdoche? Hyperbole? Oxymoron? Paradox? A dictionary of literary terms may be helpful here. – Are there any allusions to other literary or historical figures or events? How do these add to the poem? How are they appropriate? – What do you know about this poet? About the age in which he or she wrote this poem? About other works by the same author? – Consider the sound and rhythm of the poem. Is there a metrical pattern? If so, how regular is it? Does the poet use rhyme? What do the meter and rhyme emphasize? Is there any alliteration? Assonance? Onomatopoeia? How do these relate to the poem’s meaning? What effect do they create in the poem? – Are there divisions within the poem? Marked by stanzas? By rhyme? By shifts in subject? By shifts in perspective? How do these parts relate to each other? How are they appropriate for this poem? – How are the ideas in the poem ordered? Is there a progression of some sort? From simple to complex? From outer to inner? From past to present? From one place to another? Is there a climax of any sort? – How does it make you feel? Criteria – Use of analytical concepts – Use of citations – Use of academic English (spelling, sentence structure, references). – Originality – Attention to the interplay between form and meaning – Use of secondary literature