Question

Can anyone help me analyze a poem for an AP Literature class? It was a summer assignment, but I have no experience in analyzing poetry. The poem is "The Icelandic Language" by Bill Holm. Here is what I have so far https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fXR1npiRgy1-Hs0CI4jCl_NMUx7A1nFZpu1WgvLUb_k/edit?usp=sharing

Answer 1

I think most of the analysis is quite good. However, there was a grammatical error I noticed in the final paragraph, as well as the repetition of words. TBH, it felt like you wrote it rushed . Nonetheless, I made some suggestive rewrites that I hope you like.

Answer 2

It's only half done, and towards the end, I was starting to get frustrated

Answer 3

You'll get more points if you discuss the stylistic devices used and how they contributed towards the theme/main idea of the poem. Usually teachers look for that much more when it comes to poems.

Answer 4

yes, that's a part of the rough 'rubric' she gave us, but i'm having trouble figuring that part out. again, i've only done as much as i can so far; i'm not finished yet i just did what i could before going to sleep

Answer 5

Just looked at the poem. You didn't mention diction at all, and that would get you big points. Notice how tends to more informal language, especially when he uses "chit-chat".

There's personification everywhere i.e. "The door groans" "this language believes.."
The impact of personification is to add to the emotional appeal and gives greater significance to the purpose and the main parts of his poem.

Answer 6

Couple of more: he uses an anaphora, rule of 3, several metaphors (personification), etc.

For rhetorical modes: exemplification

primary appeals: definitely pathos and do talk about his diction and how it impacted the emotional appeal & tone

hope this helps.

Answer 7

he also uses a lot of asyndeton, though it took me a while to remember the word lmao. not sure what it adds to the poem though. it could just be used as a weird structural method to make the poem flow more smoothly

Answer 8

I have a paper I wrote comparing a poem and an essay that compares and contrasts the diction and literary methods of each. You can use it for an example

Answer 9

lemme find it and post it.

Answer 10

Good catch, there's a lot of asydeton

Answer 11

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LAnar9F4Tg9wDsulRs_TP7cqnGECuL3jca_3rTsDbos/edit?usp=sharing

Answer 12

see, i can identify the syntax and figurative structures, but what i'm having trouble with is finding a way to put them in my essay without it going all over the place, and with a good explanation for each. i suppose i just need to write everything down and find a good structure after i have?

thanks for the example btw gdeinward

Answer 13

It is a compare and contrast essay on “ The Calypso Borealis” by John Muir and William Wordsworth"s "I wandered lonely as a cloud"

Answer 14

Thats a good idea.

Answer 15

^ I did that exact assignment for my english 1 class..are you on FLVS?

Answer 16

which FLVS course was it for?

Answer 17

Indeed I am

Answer 18

The one he sent was for English 1

Answer 19

Specifically Lee Virtual School.

Answer 20

oh lmao i'm in the college equivalent of english IV (AP Literature)

Answer 21

Hey I got into the 90th percentile on my PSAT test for reading. I got an 1110 on my 8th grade year.

Answer 22

My mother taught me to write, who I must say has her bachelors.

Answer 23

well the PSAT reading test and poetry analyzation are two very different things

Answer 24

Reading comprehension is a valuable skill for both, which I have.

Answer 25

not to discredit your achievement; that's amazing! just saying

Answer 26

I understand fully.

Answer 27

However, that essay describes many poetic and literary elements and puts them into context.

Answer 28

But I get your pain. Writer's block I get all too often.

Answer 29

well, yes of course there's reading comprehension involved, but poetry is often a lot more complex and there's no multiple choice for the analyzation. i suppose my problem is mostly overthinking it which is why i'm having the trouble, so you're probably right

Answer 30

yeah i often overestimate the work involved and overly stress myself, which leads to me hitting pretty hard writers block

Answer 31

This is something you and I have in common. What did you think about my edits?

Answer 32

i found they were very helpful! although you misinterpreted one part (my fault, it was very confusing the way i wrote it at first so i reworked it. thanks for catching it!) and misused a word. other than that i appreciate the guidance <3

Answer 33

I think it's a great analyzation but for a class like AP Lit they usually look for some other things as well, like I mentioned primary appeals, rhetorical modes, and rhetorical devices. I think you should add it and it would be fine. But otherwise good job.

Answer 34

For future reference, what word did I misuse?

Answer 35

yeah this was a summer assignment so i think it's just to gauge what we already know before entering the class, so I shouldn't worry too much

Answer 36

i dismissed the comment so let me see if i can pull it up again

Answer 37

it was the word "insinuating" which has a negative connotation, given that it's usually used to describe malicious manipulating to gain favour for oneself, or hinting at something bad or unpleasant