1. Analyzing poetry:
Different types of figurative language (also called poetic devices) are used throughout literature and poetry. Let’s see if you can use various types of figurative language to interpret a poem.
What does it mean to interpret something?
Interpret:
To explain or tell the meaning of something

2. So let’s interpret a poem.

3. Woman (by Nikki Giovanni)
she wanted to be a blade
of grass amid the fields
but he wouldn’t agree
to be the dandelion
she tried to be a book
but he wouldn’t read
she turned herself into a bulb
but he wouldn’t let her grow
she wanted to be a robin singing
through the leaves
but he refused to be
her tree
she decided to become
a woman
and though he still refused
to be a man
she decided it was all
right
she spun herself into a web
and looking for a place to rest
turned to him
but he stood straight
declining to be her corner

4. First, we’re looking for nouns.
What’s a noun?
First, we’re looking for nouns.
thing
person
place

5. Woman (by Nikki Giovanni)
she wanted to be a blade
of grass amid the fields
but he wouldn’t agree
to be the dandelion
she tried to be a book
but he wouldn’t read
she turned herself into a bulb
but he wouldn’t let her grow
she wanted to be a robin singing
through the leaves
but he refused to be
her tree
she decided to become
a woman
and though he still refused
to be a man
she decided it was all
right
she spun herself into a web
and looking for a place to rest
turned to him
but he stood straight
declining to be her corner

6. Next, we’re looking for emotions.
What are emotion words?
Next, we’re looking for emotions.
angry
sad
excited

7. Woman (by Nikki Giovanni)
she wanted to be a blade
of grass amid the fields
but he wouldn’t agree
to be the dandelion
she tried to be a book
but he wouldn’t read
she turned herself into a bulb
but he wouldn’t let her grow
she wanted to be a robin singing
through the leaves
but he refused to be
her tree
she decided to become
a woman
and though he still refused
to be a man
she decided it was all
right
she spun herself into a web
and looking for a place to rest
turned to him
but he stood straight
declining to be her corner

8. Next, we’re looking for images.
What are images?
Next, we’re looking for images.

9. Woman (by Nikki Giovanni)
she wanted to be a blade
of grass amid the fields
but he wouldn’t agree
to be the dandelion
she tried to be a book
but he wouldn’t read
she turned herself into a bulb
but he wouldn’t let her grow
she wanted to be a robin singing
through the leaves
but he refused to be
her tree
she decided to become
a woman
and though he still refused
to be a man
she decided it was all
right
she spun herself into a web
and looking for a place to rest
turned to him
but he stood straight
declining to be her corner

10. Next, we’re looking for symbols.
What are symbols?
Next, we’re looking for symbols.

11. Woman (by Nikki Giovanni)
she wanted to be a blade
of grass amid the fields
but he wouldn’t agree
to be the dandelion
she tried to be a book
but he wouldn’t read
she turned herself into a bulb
but he wouldn’t let her grow
she wanted to be a robin singing
through the leaves
but he refused to be
her tree
she decided to become
a woman
and though he still refused
to be a man
she decided it was all
right
she spun herself into a web
and looking for a place to rest
turned to him
but he stood straight
declining to be her corner

12. Woman (by Nikki Giovanni)
she wanted to be a blade
of grass amid the fields
but he wouldn’t agree
to be the dandelion
she tried to be a book
but he wouldn’t read
she turned herself into a bulb
but he wouldn’t let her grow
she wanted to be a robin singing
through the leaves
but he refused to be
her tree
she decided to become
a woman
and though he still refused
to be a man
she decided it was all
right
she spun herself into a web
and looking for a place to rest
turned to him
but he stood straight
declining to be her corner

13. Keep in mind all we’ve learned about this poem’s figurative language.
Well, we’ve used all we know about figurative language. But do we know what this poem means? What is the message of this poem?
On your own piece of paper, tell me what you think this poem is talking about (in 50 words or more). What is the author trying to say?
Keep in mind all we’ve learned about this poem’s figurative language.