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Gcse - Analysing Poetry
A brief overview of how to identify and explain linguistic devices in poetry
Date : 01/07/2021
How to Analyse Language in Poetry
When you are writing about poetry, it`s important to maintain focus on the effects of language, structure and technique.
When we notice something in a poem, we can often support that observation with a quotation. For example:
Q: How does Keats present the love between the knight and the faery in La Belle Dame Sans Merci? A: The knight appears to dote on the faery. This is suggested by the phrase I made a garland for her head .
This is good, but it doesn t pay attention to how the language in the quotation works to create effect.
We can squeeze the lemon by zooming in and taking a closer look at specific word choices:
The knight appears to dote on the faery. This is suggested by the phrase he made a garland for her head . The word garland implies that the knight views the faery as a queen who should be presented with crowns and laurels.
This is good too, but we can go further and think about what the words suggest about the characters and their feelings:
The knight appears to dote on the faery. This is suggested by the phrase he made a garland for her head . The use of the word garland implies that the knight views the faery as a queen who should be presented with crowns and laurels. It almost seems as if the knight is subservient and worships the faery who appears to be superior to him.
This is great - now we just need to link it back to the key word in the question, love:
The knight appears to dote on the faery. This is suggested by the phrase he made a garland for her head . The use of the word garland implies that the knight views the faery as a queen who should be decorated with crowns and laurels. It almost seems as if the knight is subservient and worships the faery who appears to be superior to him. This indicates that their love is not equal. Rather, it is a love between a devoted knight and a dominant, monarchial faery.
When you are writing about poetry, it`s important to maintain focus on the effects of language, structure and technique.
When we notice something in a poem, we can often support that observation with a quotation. For example:
Q: How does Keats present the love between the knight and the faery in La Belle Dame Sans Merci? A: The knight appears to dote on the faery. This is suggested by the phrase I made a garland for her head .
This is good, but it doesn t pay attention to how the language in the quotation works to create effect.
We can squeeze the lemon by zooming in and taking a closer look at specific word choices:
The knight appears to dote on the faery. This is suggested by the phrase he made a garland for her head . The word garland implies that the knight views the faery as a queen who should be presented with crowns and laurels.
This is good too, but we can go further and think about what the words suggest about the characters and their feelings:
The knight appears to dote on the faery. This is suggested by the phrase he made a garland for her head . The use of the word garland implies that the knight views the faery as a queen who should be presented with crowns and laurels. It almost seems as if the knight is subservient and worships the faery who appears to be superior to him.
This is great - now we just need to link it back to the key word in the question, love:
The knight appears to dote on the faery. This is suggested by the phrase he made a garland for her head . The use of the word garland implies that the knight views the faery as a queen who should be decorated with crowns and laurels. It almost seems as if the knight is subservient and worships the faery who appears to be superior to him. This indicates that their love is not equal. Rather, it is a love between a devoted knight and a dominant, monarchial faery.
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