1. Week 12 Poetry Analysis “Sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar (292)
“Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou (293)

2. Lined Paper and Textbook, page 292
ON YOUR DESK
Lined Paper and Textbook, page 292

3. Before Analysis: Read the poem:
Silently- To study figurative language
Out Loud- To hear sound/poetic devices
Annotate the text with first impressions and clarification of any unknown words

4. Read “Sympathy” (292) Author: Paul Laurence Dunbar
What is known about the author?
Where can you find this information?

5. Poetic Devices
Poetic devices are tools that a poet can use to create rhythm, enhance a poem's meaning, or intensify a mood or feeling

6. Rhyme Scheme
A regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem. The rhyme scheme of a poem is indicated by using different letters of the alphabet for each new rhyme.
Copy at least the underlined portion of the definition

7. Rhyme Scheme How is rhyme scheme marked?
What is the rhyme scheme of “Sympathy”?
Alphabetical listing
See next slide

8. Rhyme Scheme Stanza A A B C D E F G H I Stanza B Stanza C
Explain the alphabetical listing and how it connects to Dunbar’s poem.
*Explain why alphabetical listing can either emphasize or expose messages within poetry (heroic couplets, breaks in pattern)

9. Assonance
The repetition of vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds in two or more stressed syllables.
Copy the underlined section

10. “And the first bird sings and first bud opes”
Assonance
Read line 5:
“And the first bird sings and first bud opes”
Discuss how the “i” sounds vary between bird and sings.
Discuss the assonance of line 5.
Allow for any other examples of assonance to be discussed.

11. Consonance
Repeated consonant sounds within or at the ending of words placed near each other, usually on the same or adjacent lines. These should be in sounds that are accented, or stressed, rather than in vowel sounds that are unaccented.
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12. Consonance its chalice steals” Read Line 6:
“And the faint perfume from
its chalice steals”
Discuss how the “s” sounds exists even in the word “chalice”.
Discuss the assonance of line 6.
Allow for any other examples of consonance to be discussed.

13. Alliteration
The repetition of initial consonant sounds. Writers use alliteration to give emphasis to words, to imitate sounds, and to create musical effects
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14. Alliteration Read line 3: “ When the wind stirs soft
through the springing grass”
Discuss how the “w” sound and “s” sound work in this line.
Discuss the alliteration of line 3.
Allow for any other examples of alliteration to be discussed.

15. Symbol/Symbolism
Anything that stands for or represents something else. An object that serves as a symbol has its own meaning, but it also represents abstract ideas. Writers sometimes use conventional symbols in their work, but they may also create symbols of their own through emphasis or repetition.
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16. Symbol/Symbolism
For what abstract idea does the cage represent in the poem?
Consider the following line:
“I know why the caged bird beats his wing
Till its blood is red on the cruel bars”
The cage in the poem represents the idea of slavery.

17. Sustaining a comparison for several lines or for an entire poem
Extended Metaphor
Sustaining a comparison for several lines or for an entire poem
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18. What is the extended metaphor in the poem?
Who is continually compared to a “caged bird” throughout the poem?
The extended metaphor is the comparison between a caged bird and slaves.

19. Simile
A figure of speech in which like or as is used to make a comparison between two basically unlike ideas.
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20. Read the following line: “And the river flows like a stream of glass”
Simile
Read the following line:
“And the river flows like a stream of glass”
What two ideas are being compared? Why?
Within this quote, the comparison is “river” and “stream of glass.”

21. Read “Caged Bird” (293-294) Author: Maya Angelou
What is known about the author?
Where can you find this information?

22. Reading Directions:
Read “Caged Bird” quietly. After you read, indicate the following through citations:
Rhyme Scheme
Assonance
Consonance
Alliteration
Symbol/Symbolism
Extended Metaphor
Simile