Close Reading Poetry to Understand Meaning and Tone Test:
Read “At Great Pond” by Mary Oliver. Please fill in the outline
below to help in aiding comprehension. Please write legibly
and in complete sentences. Be sure to provide line numbers in
MLA format ie. (Ryan, L7)
Language and Tone
Language
1. Literal definition of ‘important’ words- pick at least 5
words to focus on- write definitions for these
i. guilt- he can’t understand guilt because it doesn’t
make sense in hell.
ii. beloved body- means he loves her for her external
appearance
iii. constructed- he put a lot of work into the world he
made
iv. the new hell- the contradictory of the words new and
hell
v. your dead, nothing can hurt you- there can’t be
anything worse than death; things can only get better
2. Which words have positive or negative connotations?
Pick at least three words and explain.
i. sunlight- welcoming word: positive
ii. the new hell- negative connotation because pursued
as a terrible place. Usually new means improved. If it’s
the new hell then it’s basically the improved hell.
iii. the garden- It’s positive because it symbolizes the
garden of Eden.
3. What images do the words call to mind? Pick at least 5
words and explain
i.
no moon, no stars- Describes a dark place. Like a
dark room with no windows or doors.
ii. a replica of earth except there is love here- Describes
that Hades’ love is darkness. There is no one there to
judge or hate him.
ii. the shadows of fluttering leaves- The end of the
day when the trees have long shadows and make it
a little darker.
iv. beloved body- He just loves her for her external
appearance.
v. the garden- Makes you think of a green, happy,
luscious place as opposed to what the stereotypical hell
is thought of as.
4. What emotions do these words evoke? Pick at least 5
words and explain.
i.
Sad because there is no stars or moon.
ii. A feeling of hope because Hades views the world as
a place of hate for him but the place he is building
will have no one there to judge him.
iii. The background of the garden of Eden is seen as a
place with a perfect atmosphere.
iv.
v.
Happy with the beloved body. Self-confidence is
implied.
Happy because of the nature and the green and
there is nothing bad there.
Figurative Language
5. What comparisons are made in this poem? Find at least
5 and explain.
i. A Myth of Devotion- Doesn’t live up to devotion. It’s a
play on words.
ii. the fluttering shadow of leaves
iii. Doesn’t everyone want love
iv. I love you and nothing can hurt you
iv. The beloved body,compass, polestar
6. What forms do the comparisons take? Find at least 5
and explain.
i. metaphor
ii. image
iii. rhetorical question
iv. apostrophe
v. allusion
7. What is the effect of the comparisons? Find at least 5
and explain.
i. I feel dirty, gross and disgusted that this concept is
classified as devotion. Also disgust with self that I
understand that concept.
ii. She imagined the shadows as darker and more scary
things than they actually were.
iii. Of course everyone wants love but nobody wants
to love Hades. Like eww.
iv. Hades is sort of addressing the imaginary
Persephone. He’s sort of imagining what he could have
said that would’ve resulted in something better.
iv. Idea that we are magnetically drawn towards what
is right. Like fate or destiny.
Tone
8. Is the tone formal or informal? Explain with at least 5
pieces of evidence from the text.
i. gabby- warmth
ii. Ashleyiii. annika
iv. me
v. cooper- Darkness
9. What tone of voice feels appropriate when you read the
poem aloud? Find at least five examples explaining your
answer.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
10. Does the poem contain colloquial language or slang?
Find at least 2 examples.
i.
ii.
11. Write a 10-11 sentence paragraph proposing an
argument about the purpose or theme of the poem
Thesis:
Evidence 1
Paraphrase/explain what you think the evidence says
Link it to your thesis
Evidence 2
Paraphrase/ explain what you think the evidence says
Link it to your thesis
Evidence 3
Paraphrase/explain what you think the evidence says
Link it to your thesis