Writing a Poetry Analysis - PowerPoint Presentation

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Writing a Poetry AnalysisSlide2

Allegory

Definition

: A narrative or description that has a second meaning beneath the

surface

The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance, and characters are often personifications of abstract

ideas.

Allegory

vs. Symbolism: Allegory puts less emphasis on the images for their own sake and more on the ulterior meanings.Slide3

Fire and Ice

By Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.But if it had to perish twice,I think I know enough of hateTo say that for destruction iceIs also greatAnd would suffice.Free write for 5 minutes about this poem.Slide4

SYMBOLISM and ALLEGORY

On the surface, the poem questions which method of destruction would be more desirable to end the world

Allegorical meaning of fire and ice: Representative of the vices of humanity

Fire: could be greed or desire

Ice: could be bitterness or hatred

Metaphorical ending of he world is compared to deciding which vice is worstSlide5

Poetry analysis Paragraph

Should follow the two-chunk model:

TS Topic Sentence: A statement that expresses a theme or meaning of the poem and/or an evaluation of the author’s craft.

Example: In “Fire and Ice,” Robert Frost uses allegorical meanings of fire and ice to represent the vices of humanity.Slide6

Concrete Details and Commentary

CDs: Lines or phrases from the poem to support your topic sentence.

Example: For example, in line three he claims “from what I've tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire.”

CM #1: Your explanation of

how

that line supports your topic sentence.Example: Frost symbolizes the concept of human desire with the physical concept of fire. CM #2: Further analysis and explanation (dig deeper into your interpretation of the CD)Example: Like a wild fire, desire can spread into greed and a lust for wealth and power.Slide7

CD #2 and CM

CD #2: In line five, he contemplates an alternative apocalypse when he states, “I think I know enough of hate to say that for destruction ice is also great and would suffice.”

CM #1: Here, the poet symbolically connects ice with the “cold” feeling of hatred.

CM #2: He asserts that while ice would do a sufficient job of destruction, he “holds with fire,” as the more likely end of the world.Slide8

Concluding sentences (1-2_)

CS: Tie it all together and revisit your TS

Example: On the surface, he seems to be contemplating the end of the physical world, but upon a closer analysis of the poem’s symbols, an allegorical meaning emerges. The reader discovers that while the earth may indeed be destroyed by the physical forces of fire ice, the forces of

human

nature, specifically greed and hatred, will be the ultimate death to humanity. Slide9

In “Fire and Ice,” Robert Frost uses allegorical meanings of

fire and ice to represent the vices of humanity. For example,

in line three he claims “from what I've tasted of desire, I hold

with those who favor fire.” Frost symbolizes the concept of

human desire with the physical concept of fire. Like a wildfire,

desire can spread into greed and a lust for wealth and power.In line five, he contemplates an alternative apocalypse whenhe states, “I think I know enough of hate to say that fordestruction ice is also great and would suffice.” Here, the poetsymbolically connects ice with the “cold” feeling of hatred. He asserts that while ice would do a sufficient job of destruction,

he “holds with fire,” as the more likely end of the world. On the surface, he seems to be contemplating the end of thephysical world, but upon a closer analysis of the poem’s

symbols, an allegorical meaning emerges. The reader

discovers that while the earth may indeed be destroyed by the

physical forces of fire ice, the forces of

human

nature,

specifically greed and hatred, will be the ultimate death to

humanity. Slide10

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