1. Analyzing Poetry William Butler Yeats’ “The Second Coming” and Rudyard Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden”

2. T itle P araphrase C onnotation A ttitude S hifts T itle T heme

3. Title First, you have to look at the title. Just look at it. Don't try to be all artistic and read into it, simply write down what your initial impression is. What immediately pops into your head? What does it make you feel? Any guesses as to what the poem's about? This step is important, as your initial impression of the title versus your final impression can reveal a lot about the poem itself.

4. Paraphrase This is pretty self-explanatory. However, don't try to interpret the poem-- not just yet. Simply "translate" the poem into simpler language. Make sure the phrasing of the poem makes complete sense to you before moving on to the next step. Identify the speaker: What is he/she going through? What is he/she experiencing?

5. Connotation Connotation: an idea or feeling that a word evokes in addition to its literal meaning. Look for words which – Cause an emotional or strong reaction in the reader (YOU!) – “Stand out” because of unusual usage – Appear to be related to the title or subject of the poem

6. Attitude Reflect on the connotation of the words. Let's say you're reading a poem about dogs. If words and phrases such as "wagging tail," "eager," "loyal," and "man's best friend" are used, you'd probably assume that the speaker has a positive attitude toward the subject. They like dogs. Imagine, however, that none of those words are in the poem-- instead, it contains "slobbering," "noisy," "smelly," and "obnoxious barking." In that case, it would be a better guess that the speaker is not so fond of dogs.

7. 1. accusatory-charging of wrong doing 2. apathetic-indifferent due to lack of energy or concern 3. awe-solemn wonder 4. bitter-exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief 5. cynical-questions the basic sincerity and goodness of people 6. condescension; condescending-a feeling of superiority 7. callous-unfeeling, insensitive to feelings of others 8. contemplative-studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue 9. critical-finding fault 10. choleric-hot-tempered, easily angered 11. contemptuous-showing or feeling that something is worthless or lacks respect 12. caustic-intense use of sarcasm; stinging, biting 13. conventional-lacking spontaneity, originality, and individuality 14. disdainful-scornful 15. didactic-author attempts to educate or instruct the reader 16. derisive-ridiculing, mocking 17. earnest-intense, a sincere state of mind 18. erudite-learned, polished, scholarly 19. fanciful-using the imagination 20. forthright-directly frank without hesitation 21. gloomy-darkness, sadness, rejection 22. haughty-proud and vain to the point of arrogance 23. indignant-marked by anger aroused by injustice 24. intimate-very familiar 25. judgmental-authoritative and often having critical opinions 26. jovial-happy 27. lyrical-expressing a poet’s inner feelings; emotional; full of images; song- like 28. matter-of-fact--accepting of conditions; not fanciful or emotional 29. mocking-treating with contempt or ridicule 30. morose-gloomy, sullen, surly, despondent 31. malicious-purposely hurtful 32. objective-an unbiased view-able to leave personal judgments aside 33. optimistic-hopeful, cheerful 34. obsequious-polite and obedient in order to gain something 35. patronizing-air of condescension 36. pessimistic-seeing the worst side of things; no hope 37. quizzical-odd, eccentric, amusing 38. ribald-offensive in speech or gesture 39. reverent-treating a subject with honor and respect 40. ridiculing-slightly contemptuous banter; making fun of 41. reflective-illustrating innermost thoughts and emotions 42. sarcastic-sneering, caustic 43. sardonic-scornfully and bitterly sarcastic 44. satiric-ridiculing to show weakness in order to make a point, teach 45. sincere-without deceit or pretense; genuine 46. solemn-deeply earnest, tending toward sad reflection 47. sanguineous -optimistic, cheerful 48. whimsical-odd, strange, fantastic; fun

8. Shifts Identifying the shifts in a poem can reveal multiple attitudes, themes or even speakers. A shift is characterized most often by a change in mood or tone, but here are some things to look for when searching for shifts: – -A new stanza – -Transition words (but, yet, however) – -Changes in diction – -Change in speaker – -Unusual punctuation

9. Title (Again) it's time to re-examine the title. Before, it was only a surface-level interpretation; now, you can apply all of your analysis of the poem to a new and more in-depth interpretation of the title. Think about the following: – Look over your original guess/interpretation and see if you still agree. If not, what are the differences in the surface meaning and deeper meaning? Is there use of an extended metaphor? – Does the title utilize any kind of poetic devices (ex. alliteration, allusion, metaphor) which add to the meaning of the poem? – In the context of the poem, does the title suggest a possible theme?

10. Theme A theme is best stated in sentence form-- "love" can be a theme but it is not specific at all. Instead, "love conquers all" would be a more detailed and acceptable theme. To identify the theme, look over all of your analysis and find the connecting threads: -What's the subject? -Who is the speaker, what situation are they in, and how do they feel about the subject? -Is there more than one speaker or attitude toward the subject? Why? -How does the poet's use of diction (word choice) and other poetic devices help the reader better understand the poem?

11. THE SECOND COMING Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. Surely some revelation is at hand; Surely the Second Coming is at hand. The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand; A shape with lion body and the head of a man, A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun, Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds. The darkness drops again but now I know That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

12. The Perception of Africans By writing Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe hoped to change the way people thought of Africans and African culture. Africans in tribal societies were seen as “childlike people living in a primitive society” and depicted as “violent savages with passionate instincts and simple minds.” He wrote as an insider, someone who had experienced and wanted to share the “richness and complexity of traditional African society.” (Norton Anthology of World Literature)

13. In case you can’t read the ad, it says: “The first step towards lightening the white man’s burden is through teaching the virtues of cleanliness. Pears’ Soap is a potent factor in heightening the dark corners of the earth as civilization advances, while amongst the cultured of all nations it holds the highest place—it is the ideal toilet soap.

14. Kipling1865/Bur1899DetJou320.gif