AP4
Poetry Out Loud—Tone Map
Jenny kiss’d me
Leigh Hunt. 1784–1859
JENNY kiss'd me when we met,
Jumping from the chair she sat in;
Time, you thief, who love to get
Sweets into your list, put that in!
Say I'm weary, say I'm sad,
Say that health and wealth have miss'd me,
Say I'm growing old, but add,
Jenny kiss'd me.
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AP4
Poetry Out Loud—Tone Map
Below is a tone map of “Jenny Kissed Me.” In the left column are lines from the poem,
divided into sections according to where the tone might shift. Note that tone shifts may
be the same as the poem’s lines, stanzas, or sentences, but shifts in tone may also take
place in shorter units, such as phrase by phrase. In the right column are names for the
tone of voice one might hear in the poem, and therefore try to convey in performance.
Are these the tones you heard in Kay Ryan’s reading? If not, how would you describe
what you heard? Do you think that parts of the poem should be read in a tone that is
different from both Ryan’s reaction and the tone map? What tone seems better in what
section and why?
Section
Tone
Jenny kissed me when we met,
Fond reminiscence
Jumping from the chair she sat in;
Amused, affectionate
Time, you thief, who love to get
Sweets into your list,
Still amused (now by Time, rather than by
Jenny), but growing a little wary, a little
scornful
Put that in!
Disdainful
Say I’m weary,
Shrugging
Say I’m sad,
Candid, a little sad
Say that health and wealth have missed me,
Lightly or playfully regretful
Say I’m growing old,
Real regret
But add,
Rallying, insistent
Jenny kissed me,
Marveling, contented
AP4
Poetry Out Loud—Tone Map
Fill-in the following template for your own poem. Remember that your entire poem
should be accounted for in the tone map. Feel free to add as many rows to the template
as necessary by hitting the tab button in the last cell of the table.
Section
Tone
Research the etymology of the key words from the poem, paying special attention to
the connection to other images and ideas in the poem. Make an effort to move your
thinking of the poem beyond the literal level.
Key Word Etymologies: