The Black Snake by Mary Oliver 1935.
Poetry Analysis Essay The purpose of any literature analysis essay is to focus on a particular purpose or meaning of the work and defend this by use of specific references to the text. Often the first step in a poetry analysis is to conduct a full explication of the text. An explication takes notice of every element of form (meter, stanzas, rhythm, etc.), sound (rhyme, alliteration, assonance, etc.), diction (irony, denotation, connotation, tone, etc.), figurative language (simile, metaphor, symbolism, etc.), and speaker. Since an explication does not necessarily provide a unified purpose or meaning to all these elements, an explication falls short of being a true analysis. The trick now is to decide which specific tools employed by the poet are most useful in determining the purpose or meaning. You will state this purpose or meaning as your thesis, and choose only select details to provide in your supporting, body paragraphs. The other big thing to keep in mind is that an analysis is also not just a paraphrasing of the poem. You will certainly want to try to “translate” the language of the poem into common language to find out what is really happening, but a line by line “interpretation” is not the same thing as an analysis. The best way to further explain this will be through looking at an example. Read the poem below and then look at the sample introduction and first body paragraph. Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers – by Adrienne Rich Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers prance across a screen, Bright topaz denizens of a world of green. They do not fear the men beneath the tree; They pace in sleek chivalric certainty. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool Find even the ivory needle hard to pull. The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand. When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by. The tigers in the panel that she made Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.