Title of Poem: ___”Incident”_______
itle
araphrase
onnotation
Author: _Countee Cullen
Record your analysis here.
The poem might be about a major event. An incident is an occurrence so
something significant might happen in the poem.
1. I was in Baltimore riding (train, carriage? ).
2. I was extremely happy.
3. I saw a local person.
4. He was staring back at me.
5. I was a little kid.
6. He was too.
7. I smiled at him.
8. He stuck out his tongue and used a racial slur.
9. I saw a lot of Baltimore.
10. I was there for 8 months.
11. Many things happened there.
12. That is the only one I remember.
Diction: formal/elevated language “glee, no whit bigger, the whole of Baltimore.”
The specific use of a racial slur is jarring. It is surprising when we read it. This
emulates the surprise the speaker felt upon hearing the “n” word.
Rhyme: every other line rhymes
Structure: There are three 4 line stanzas which is formal and precise. There is no
room for error. It also shows a higher level of education and knowledge of poetry.
Appeal to ethos: First person perspective-I was there; this happened to me.
The attitude of the poem is one of negative nostalgia.
ttitude
(tone)
hift
itle
heme
The shift word is “but” in line 7.
The tone/attitude shifts from joyous to solemn. The poet maintains the structure
and rhyme scheme as an ironic understatement of the gravity of the situation.
There was an incident of significance. This one tiny moment for a small child
changed his perspective on Baltimore and life.
The poem conveys the idea that small incidents-even as a child- can have an
indelible effect on our lives. These moments may change our attitude immediately
and that attitude can remain well into adulthood.
Words, especially degrading words, have a powerful effect on our experiences.
Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Example:
In Countee Cullen’s poem “Incident,” he uses strong language, formal structure, and
an appeal to ethos to reveal an attitude of negative nostalgia through recounting a
small event that made an infinite impact.