Poetic
Analysis 1:
Expository Writing
What Is Poetic Analysis?
Poetic analysis is a detailed discussion of how the
language of a poem contributes to its meaning.
How do I analysis poetry?
Poetic analysis can be done by following three easy
thinking steps and three easy writing steps!
Poetic Analysis:
Three easy thinking steps
Read the poem. A lot!
1.
1.
The more you read (and the more carefully you
read), the better!
Decide what you think the poem is about.
2.
1.
If you have no idea, paraphrase the poem by line or
stanza to help you figure it out.
Identify the poetic devices you see in the poem.
3.
1.
Why are they being used? How do they bring out
the message of the poem?
Once you figure out what the poem
means and why devices are used,
all you have to do is…
P.E.E !!
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Poetic Analysis:
Three easy writing steps
P.E.E. stands for:
Point
Evidence
Explanation
Let’s look at them
one at a time…
Step 1- Point
 The
first sentence you write should be your
topic sentence.
 This
topic sentence tells your reader what that
paragraph will be about.
Step 2- Evidence
 After
your topic sentence (point), you must
give evidence from the text to support your
point.
Step 3- Explanation
 The
final part of your paragraph is your
explanation. Your explanation explains how
your evidence relates to or illustrates your
point.
 This
is what YOU think! What YOU understand of
the poem!
Let’s do an example together:
First, follow the thinking steps
1.
Thinking Steps:
Read (x3!)
Still I Rise
By Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the
slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
First, follow the thinking steps
1.
2.
3.
Thinking Steps:
Read (x3!)
Decide what the poet
is telling you
Identify where, and
why the poet uses
poetic devices to
show their meaning.
Poets message:
 No matter what you try
and do to her to keep
her down, she is strong
and will rise up no
matter what.
Still I Rise
By Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
 Repetition
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Scheme
 Simile
 Symbolism
 Imagery
 Hyperbole
 Metaphor
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
Did you want to see me broken? I rise
Bowed head and lowered eyes? Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
Weakened by my soulful cries.
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
Does my haughtiness offend you? I rise
I rise
Don't you take it awful hard
I rise.
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.
 Rhyme
 Rhyme
Which one makes the
most sense to me?
Still I Rise
By Maya Angelou – Similes
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the
slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
First, follow the thinking steps
1.
2.
3.
Thinking Steps:
Read (x3!)
Decide what the poet
is telling us
Identify how and
where the poet using
poetic devices to
show their meaning.
Poets message:
 No matter what you try
and do to her to keep
her down, she is strong
and will rise up no matter
what.
 She uses similes to show
us just how much she will
persevere.
Next, follow the writing steps
Writing Steps: POINT EVIDENCE EXPLANATION
In the poem, “Still I Rise,” Maya Angelou uses similes to
show her reader that no matter what anyone tries to do to her,
nothing will ever keep her down. For example, the simile in line 4,
“But still, like dust, I’ll rise” shows how Ms. Angelou can be
stamped upon but will still rise up. She also uses similes in lines 7
and 8“’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells / Pumping in my living
room” and 19 and 20 when she says, “’Cause I laugh like I’ve got
gold mines / Diggin’ in my own backyard” to show how people
may see her one way, but she knows she’s still happy with her
life. By using such strong similes, Ms. Angelou shows just how
strong and resilient she actually is. Just as wealth springs for those
who own gold and oil, Ms. Angelou shows her inner spirit makes
her just as rich. Finally, the humor and sense of joy that Ms.
Angelou uses in her writing elicits the same feelings of humor and
joy in her readers. It is as if anyone could be motivated to have
the same sense of strength she does!
Questions?
 Your
turn!
 At your tables, work either independently or with a
buddy to analyze either “Still I Rise” by Maya
Angelou or “The Great Figure” by William Carlos
Williams.
 Don’t forget the steps of both thinking and writing!
1.
2.
3.
Thinking Steps:
Read (x3!)
Decide what the poet is
telling you
Identify how and where
the poet uses poetic
devices to show their
meaning.
1.
Writing Steps:
Point
1.
2.
Evidence
1.
3.
Topic Sentence
Quotes to support your
point
Explanation
1.
What it all means to you