“Rock-it” Poetry Assignment Jordan Thompson AP English Literature K. Saunders 16 February 2014

Wednesday February 12 th “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost

Diction  Robert Frost uses many descriptive words throughout his poem to convey two paths.  “Two roads,” “bent in the undergrowth.” “Both that morning equally lay,” “two roads diverged”  Frost uses diction to show that he is making a decision.

Images  Sight: “yellow wood,” “where it bent in the undergrowth,” “grassy and wanted wear,” “worn them really about the same,” “equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black,”  Robert Frost focuses on what both paths look like and how both have been worn down.

Details  Robert Frost includes details that convey to the reader that he has to make a decision. “Two roads” is referring to the choices he has to make in life. Frost includes details of looking ahead “looked down one path as far as I could” to show that he considers the impact that both will have on his life. In the end “the path less traveled by” is the path chosen.

Language  The language in this poem is formal. Frost does not use slang. Figurative and poetic language are both evident throughout this poem. The entire poem is a symbol for making decisions in life.

Sentence Structure  The structure of this poem is the process of making a decision. Frost first tells there are “two roads” then goes on to tell about the roads and “looking down” the roads to see how they will impact his life. Then the poem finishes with making the decision to take the road “less traveled by”

Thursday February 13 th Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

Diction  Robert Frost’s use of strong diction is evident in the first line of this poem by bringing up the world ending. Frost conveys strong diction while still keeping a light feel throughout. “Some say” “from what I’ve tasted of desire”

Images  Fire and ice are the main images. “Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice”  Frost appeals to touch and feel with fire and ice  Frost also appeals to sight “Perish twice” “destruction”

Details  Frost includes two ways the world could end (fire and ice)  Frost also includes experience when he says “from what I’ve tasted of desire” and “if it had to perish twice”  In the end Frost says that both fire and ice are sufficient ways for the world to end.

Language  Frost uses simple language to address a harsh subject (the world ending)  This poem is figurative and as a whole it is a comparison of “fire” and “ice” and the affect of both.

Sentence Structure  The structure of this poem is a comparison of “fire” and “ice”  It starts by recognizing the different opinions – “some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice”  Frost then offers his opinion “I hold with those who favor fire”  In the end Frost admits that both would work

Friday February 14 th Curiosity by Alastair Reid

Diction  The diction in this poem is simple. Reid is discussing the saying “curiosity killed the cat” in an informal way.  The author’s use of descriptive words help the reader to see exactly how curiosity impacts people. “unlucky” “curious to see what death was like” “interfere in dreams” “curiosity will not cause us to die”

Images  The image of animals mainly dogs and cats are seen throughout this poem. Rats are also seen.  “licking paws” “smell rats” “wagging of incurious heads and tails” “other side of the hill where living is an idyll” “chill all dinner tables”

Details  The author compares cats and dogs throughout this poem  The authors use of comparison shows that people are all curious because we get into the same boring routine and wish for something different. “dogs say that cats love too much…with tales of their nine lives”  The author is saying that we have to be curious about other but in the end we have to face it and accept facts.

Language  The language in this poem is informal and shows humor.  “Face it. Curiosity will not cause us to die”  “Only the curious have, if they live, a tale worth telling.”  “Dying is what the living do”

Sentence Structure  Poem begins with telling about curiosity in the saying “curiosity killed the cat”  The author goes on to tell that being curious won’t kill you and it is critical in life  The author says that we get in the same routine every day and it is important to be curious and exciting