what is classified as a theme to analyze a poem? please help!?
139619
The theme is the main idea of the poem--you could almost say what the poem is about. A poem may talk about frozen birches, but the bigger message is how ice bends the branches, like life bends people sometimes. Here's a good source (below). I am answering this because I love poetry. Only in school does it matter what the theme seems to be. The truth is, a poem means what it means to you personally and that is the truth. Read some modern poets like Mary Oliver, Ted Koozer, Langston Hughes, Dorianne Laux before you give up on poetry.
402976
the mood is one of satisfaction. the writer is saying that when you have a fence dividing you, it does not "divide" but it prevents.the tone, i guess would be the same. Why exactly are you reading this poem? i had to for a school project.
974415
Despite about 25 minutes of searching I haven't been able to find this poem.  Could you call or e-mail someone you know who has to do the same assignment and possibly get the poem that way?  \n\nThese sites may be of some help to you.  My only other advice would be to get to a bookstore in your area if there is one and you might find it there.  Best of luck with it.
396872
it differs but wat type of poem is it? ballad, elegy, etc.?
1102560
I just think about the situation and relive it. Poems are meories,thoughts and fellings. If you relive it then you just write how you fell or felt. If it is an object look for small and obvious details it will help the sense what it looks like. Poetry is all about expresion and how you veiw things. Just tell them like it is. Just don't forget tone. That is a key to poetry. Also Have fun with it ,use new words, and try different styles to express it.\n\nHope it helps.\nKim
527430
Theme Analysis \n\n\nAlice Walker depicts Zora Neale Hurston's work as providing the \nAfrican-American literary community with its prime symbol of "racial health - a sense of black people as complete, complex, undiminished human beings" (190). Appropriately, Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, published in 1937, provides an enlightening look at the journey of one of these undiminished human beings, Janie Crawford. Janie's story - based on principles of self-exploration, self-empowerment, and self-liberation - details her loss and subsequent attainment of her innocence, as she constantly learns and grows from her difficult experiences with gender issues \nand racism in Their Eyes Were Watching God. \n\nAfter joyfully discovering an archetype for sensuality and love under the pear tree at age sixteen, Janie quickly comes to understand the reality of marriage when she marries Logan Killicks, then Joe Starks. Both men attempt to coerce Janie into submission to them by treating her like a possession: where Killicks works Janie like a mule, Joe objectifies her like a medal around his neck. In addition, Janie learns that passion and love are tied to violence, as Killicks threatens to kill her, and both Joe and Tea Cake beat her to assert their dominance. Yet Janie continually struggles to keep her inner Self intact and strong, remaining resilient in spite of her husbands' \nphysical, verbal, and mental abuse. Janie's resilience is rewarded when she finally meets and marries Tea Cake, who represents the closest semblance to her youthful idealism regarding love and marriage. \nAnother male figure playing prominently in Janie's life is the white man who raped her grandmother; her lineage determines, therefore, that Janie will look whiter than other black women. This fair complexion eventually attracts the ambitious Joe Starks, yet also contributes to Joe's objectification of Janie. Yet, outward appearances aside, Janie's identity takes shape in response to the white male tyranny that made her own birth possible. \n\nFor example, Janie's husband Jody paints his house "a gloaty, sparkly white," (44) humiliates the citizens of Eatonville in similar ways as the white man would, and forces Janie into the slavish servitude reflected by the identity-confining head rag he makes her wear (51). Yet, Janie fights Joe's tyranny by telling him off just before he dies in Chapter Eight, then reclaims her own identity by burning up "every one of her head rags" (85). Similarly, Janie encounters Mrs. Turner, Hurston's symbol of internalized racism, who doesn't "blame de white folks from hating [African-Americans] 'cause Ah can't stand 'em mahself" (135). Again, however, Janie remains true \nto herself as she continues to form her own identity by refusing to leave Tea Cake and class off as Mrs. Turner suggests. \n\nRather than self-destruct under the constant realities of racism and misogyny she receives throughout her life, Janie Crawford does the opposite at the close of Their Eyes Were Watching God. The novel's final image states what Janie does throughout the story - taking her difficult past in and growing stronger and wiser as a result of it. Author Zora Neale Hurston believed that freedom "was something internal….The man himself must make his own emancipation" (189). Likewise, in her defining moment of identity formation, Janie "pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. Pulled it from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulder. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see" (184). At the end of a novel focusing on self-revelation and self-formation, Janie survives with her soul - made resilient by continual struggle - intact.
946218
I know that this is not what you were looking for but maybe it could help you with your essay?\nhttp://www.finchpark.com/arts/poems/poems.htm
79568
I think your trying to say an idea for a poem. It could be about the War on terrorism, Bush's no child left behind act what, do u think about it? u should also go to the following website for a political poem u could make fun of Bush or Kerry, and there wives. It's a game site but you'll love the games there really funny i recommend; Dancing Blair, Dancing Bush, Dancing Hillary, Hip-Hop debate, freefaller- UK Election, Presidential Knockout, Bush Shootout, whitehouse joust, and War on Terrorism 1 and 2.
384622
I just done a research paper on this same story...\nA symbol of the story would be something that stands out to you throughout the story. \nTowards the beginning of the story, the narrator describes a painting of her father(?) drawn in crayon. It symbolizes her wanting to stay a child and for her father to continue to care for her.\nAt the end of the story, the townspeople find a single hair on the pillow next to her dead lover. She continued to lie beside him even after she had killed him. She found eternal love; which was something that wouldn't leaver her.\nTo actually start the paper, how many words, do you count all words but articles...\nI would start out the essay with a brief of the story. Give three symbols in which you could describe. I gave you two, so find one more...\nFor each of the three paragraphs, describe in detail of the symbol. Paragraph one, why do you think she wanted to stay a child? Paragraph two, whatever you find. Paragraph three, what was the meaning of the silver strand of hair.\nIn the last paragraph, sum up the paper. Tell what you felt about this story. Do not use the word you. Teachers will count against that. Make your story interesting.\nLast but not least, a works cited page. Make sure to cite all sources, there are plenty on this story. All your cites must be in alphabetical order.\nThat should be about it. If you have anymore questions feel free to write.
551434
Hello, Kaleb,\n\nI was and am an English teacher. \n\nYou can start with the poem's theme. If it is about love or nature or whatever, what does it say? How does it make you feel? Does the author choose words that are happy or depressing (mood)?\n\nYou can talk about word choices, length and, if you know something of the author, you can take that approach. \n\nHere's an example:\n\nMy Beard (Shel Silverstein)\n\nMy beard grows to my toes\nI never wears no clothes\nI wraps my beard around my bare\nand down the road I goes.\n\nWhat is Silverstein doing here? He gives you an image (a naked man with a long beard) and creates humor. His words are simple as if the man is not educated. The poem is short, cute and simple--ideal for kids or those of us who love to laugh! Silverstein wrote songs, poems and all kinds of things and was a very private man. Maybe the "beard" of the speaker is Silverstein seeking privacy.\n\nThis is a short example. I wish you luck.\n\nFor further assistance, you can try owlenglish@purdue.edu. Not sure if the url is right, but I hope you get your paper done.\n\nGambatte (good luck)from Japan!
360480
According to http://www.skoool.ie/skoool/examcentre_sc.asp?id=1252, themes are:\n\n"Themes\n\nThe theme of this poem is that a respectful distance between neighbours is the recipe for harmonious relationships:\n‘Good fences make good neighbors’.\n\nThe theme of this poem is a farmer’s pride in the wisdom passed down to him by his father:\n‘He will not go behind his father's saying’.\n \nThe poet portrays an unusual and dour country character:\n‘like an old-stone savage armed he moves in darkness’.\n\nThe theme of this poem is co-operation between neighbours:\n‘I let my neighbour know beyond the hill’.\n\nThe theme of this poem is that country people need their own space:\n‘We keep the wall between us as we go’.\n\nThe poet explores the futility of a country custom:\n‘Oh, just another kind of outdoor game’.\n\nThe poet suggests there are mysterious forces at work in nature:\n‘Something there is that doesn't love a wall,\nThat wants it down’.\n\nThe poet shows the different types of agriculture in his locality:\n‘He is all pine and I am apple orchard’.\n\nThe theme is the way some people keep to themselves, no matter what:\n‘He moves in darkness as it seems to me’.\n\nThe theme is the mental struggle between two neighbours who appear to co-operate on a physical task while they are very different in outlook:\n‘There were it is we do not need the wall’."
860190
I am not an 'expert' on poetry but then, who is? Poetry is a very personal thing. \nAs far as your poem goes, I think it is well formed and obviously well thought out. It seems to describe what a lot of people feel in this day and age, in that we can all take something from previous experiences and it is up to us whether that is positive or negative for us and the others involved. \nI am sure that someone else will see this poem completely differently from me but even if you get negative comments do not let that dissuade you from carrying on writing.
619096
I think the theme of the poem relates to the nature of the world and appreciating life.\n\n"Light takes the Tree" may refer to darkness when the sun sets (as fits with your interpretation "I am born to die"). The line about the worm climbing the stair refers to a struggle against great odds.\n\nI think the poet is saying to take your time in life and to learn how to live your life as you go.
579306
I had to go back and reread the poem to remember it in particular from my high school Lit Class (5 years...  sheesh!).  Anyway, its main theme is basically as everyone has said- a warning that even mankind's greatest works shall eventually crumble to dust.\n\nWithin Temptation does a song on their Mother Earth CD entitled "Never-ending Story" that sums up the main point of Ozymandias nicely with the lyrics, "We'll all be forgotten  |  There's no endless fame".\n\nHowever, we can go into a bit more depth about the secondary themes of hope and rebirth.  In lines 10 through 14, Ozymandias reads as such:\n"'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:\nLook on my works, ye mighty, and despair!'   \nNothing beside remains: round the decay   \nOf that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,   \nThe lone and level sands stretch far away."\n\nThese lines serve to anchor the somewhat depressing mood, but give infinite hope as well.  Even though King Ozymandias is telling us to despair, for all we do will eventually disappear, he is also telling us to look upon his works as they are in the here and now.\n\nThe boundless sea of sand that was once his great kingdom may seem like it has been destroyed, but in fact Ozymandias has *created* it as his buildings and monuments have crumbled.  Essentially, the poem is commenting that nothing mankind can build will last- but as those things are annihilated they create the soil, and in turn the plants and stone, that generations down the road will use to build their own monuments.  Even though we may die and rot in the present, we are immortal as part of the life cycle that is always recycling into the next incarnation of life.  Who knows, when we eventually croak, we might all come back as daisies!
328486
You luuuuuv poetry thats for sure, to think of so much stuff is great. I like it however I find myself confused about the meaning. Are you making fun of passion or beeing coy? I think you are holding back! Don't be shy, there is alot of "passion" in your poetry. Don't hold back!
376945
I dont know the poem.  But I think its beautiful.  Seems like an interesting topic, poem.
398905
You really can't have anyone else do it for you, since the whole point of TPCASTT is to relate your thoughts and interpretations regarding the poem. The way I interpret a poet's words verses the way you do so could be very different based on our background/beliefs/life experiences.  I had many an arguement with my English teachers on this subject.  I believe that each person brings a unique perspective on an author's work, so for a teacher to say that author K meant N,M, and O points and only those things is a load of bull. \n\nTo help you with the process of TPCASTT though, here's a step by step explaination of each of the analysis procedures.  It should help you move through this process a bit easier:\n\nT-title:  Before reading the poem, read the title and put into your own words what it means to you.  For example, if I gave you the title "Altered reflections"  how would you interpret it?  Would you think that I meant a broken mirror? A change of thought? Or maybe the effect a stone has when thrown into a still pond?  There is no right or wrong answer to your description, since it's uniquely what you take from the title.\n\n\nP-paraphrase:  Put the poem, line by line, in your own words.  DO NOT READ INTO THE POEM.  Only read on surface level.  For a simplistic example, take the nursery rhyme "Jack and Jill".   A paraphrase of this rhyme would be: a boy and girl traveled up an incline to a well in order to obtain some water within a container they carried.  On the way to their destination, the boy had a serious fall resulting in a concussion.  In the process of trying to aid her companion, the girl also fell and injured herself. \n\n \nC-connotation: looking for deeper meaning. This is essentially disection of the poem looking for specific construction items.  For example:\nDiction and symbolism \nImagery \nMetaphors and similes \nRhyme scheme \nEnd rhymes and internal rhymes \nEnd stop \nEnjambment \nAlliteration \nAssonance \nConsonance \nMood \nAllusions \nPunctuation \nPersonification \n  \n\nA-attitude: Looking for the author’s tone.  How is the writer speaking? Is his/her tone one of; anger, awe, indifference, contemplation, puzzlement?\n\n\nS-shifts: Looking for shifts in tone, action, and rhythm.  Don’t just write the number.  Discuss how the shift(s) affects the poem and how it makes the reader (you) feel.  For example, as you read the poem does the poet's tone shift from anger to resignation?  How did it make you feel and think?  Look for alterations in the following which may denote "shifts":\n\n1. Key words (but, yet, however, although) \n2. Punctuation (dashes, periods, colons, ellipsis) \n3. Stanza division \n4. Changes in line or stanza length or both \n5. Irony (sometimes irony hides shifts) \n6. Effect of structure on meaning \n7. Changes in sound (rhyme) may indicate changes in meaning \n8. Changes in diction (slang to formal language) \n\n\nT-title: Now after reading the poem, reevaluate the title and put it into your own words.  Likely this will be very different from your first interpretation in step 1.  \n\n\nT-theme: What does the poem mean to you? What do you think the author is saying?  How does it relate to life?\n\n\nHope this is of help.