TPT Notes HOW TO EXPLICATE A POEM

TPT  No matter what you think of poetry… no matter how scary or strange a poem may seem… if you just read through it once, put it in your own words, and identify 2 things, you can understand any poem. YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ANY POEM!  TONE- The author’s attitude or feelings toward the subject.  PARAPHRASE- Put the poem in your own words, stanza- by-stanza.  THEME- Motif (in one word, what the poem’s about) + Lesson Learned

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night Dylan Thomas Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Paraphrase: Fight! Old people should fight against losing days (YOLO). Fight against the dark. Wise people know that everything ends, but even they fight against the dark. Good men, all of whom go, cry because the good they did could have done more. Fight!

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Paraphrase: Wild ones who lived the day fully, also learn of the darkness. People close to death see dark coming. The darkness opens their eyes. Talking to own father, poet asks for him to fight, curse, and cry.

 Theme:  Everyone dies, but people shouldn’t just give up without a fight.  (There are more themes, but this is just one example).  Tone:  Urgent, desperate, pleading