English 405 SHIFTs: Punctuation, Rhythm, and Meter in Poetry When studying poetry, it is not only important to analyze

the images created in the language but also to notice the sounds and the rhythm established. Some poets do this with a specific rhyme scheme and meter. Others have neither rhyme nor a meter, but they still establish rhythm through how a poem is punctuated and the words they select. To understand how poets do this, you need a basic grasp of terms. RHYME SCHEME: The pattern of rhyme METER: The rhythm IAMBIC PENTAMETER: five da DUMs (five beats of unstressed and stressed) Now, lets look at a famous example of this. Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damask'd, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare. rhyme scheme A B A B C D C D E F E F G G

The most important thing to note about analyzing punctuation, rhythm, and meter in a poem is when these SHIFT when the punctuation, rhythm, and/or meter change, what is the poet trying to accomplish?

she being Brand by e.e. cummings she being Brand -new;and you know consequently a little stiff i was careful of her and(having thoroughly oiled the universal joint tested my gas felt of her radiator made sure her springs were O. K.)i went right to it flooded-the-carburetor cranked her up,slipped the clutch(and then somehow got into reverse she kicked what the hell)next minute i was back in neutral tried and again slo-wly;bare,ly nudg. ing(my lev-er Rightoh and her gears being in A 1 shape passed from low through second-in-to-high like greasedlightning)just as we turned the corner of Divinity avenue i touched the accelerator and give her the juice,good (it was the first ride and believe i we was happy to see how nice she acted right up to the last minute coming back down by the Public Gardens i slammed on the internalexpanding & externalcontracting brakes Bothatonce and brought allofher tremB -ling to a:dead. stand;Still)

Title: What questions does the title raise? Paraphrase: Translate the poem into your own words. Who is the speaker? What is the subject of the poem? Whom is the speaker addressing? What questions do you need answered to understand the deeper meaning? Connotation: Where are the emotional words in this poem? What are unusual phrasings, repeated lines, etc? Where is the figurative language?

What is the controlling image (metaphor) in this poem?

Attitude: What seems to be the attitude of the speaker in regards to the subject? Shifts: At what points do the emotions shift in the poem?

Paying careful attention to the syntax (sentence structure) of the poem, what rhythms is the author trying to establish? Where do you see changes in the rhythm? What purpose does that serve? Mark up the poem with your observations.
Tone: After examining C + A + S, what is the overall impression the author is trying to make about the poems subject matter? What is the takeaway feeling?

Thesis: What do you think this poem means? What deeper meaning seems to underlie the surface? What are the implications of the poem? Include the poets name, the title of the poem, the theme, and how the specific TP-CASTT elements contribute to the theme.

i have found what you are like, by e.e. cummings i have found what you are like the rain, (Who feathers frightened fields with the superior dust-of-sleep. wields easily the pale club of the wind and swirled justly souls of flower strike the air in utterable coolness deeds of green thrilling light with thinned newfragile yellows lurch and.press in the woods which stutter and sing And the coolness of your smile is stirringofbirds between my arms;but i should rather than anything have(almost when hugeness will shut quietly)almost, your kiss

Title: What questions does the title raise? Paraphrase: Translate the poem into your own words. Who is the speaker? What is the subject of the poem? Whom is the speaker addressing? What questions do you need answered to understand the deeper meaning? Connotation: Where are the emotional words in this poem? What are unusual phrasings, repeated lines, etc? Where is the figurative language?

What is the controlling image (metaphor) in this poem?

Attitude: What seems to be the attitude of the speaker in regards to the subject? Shifts: At what points do the emotions shift in the poem?

Paying careful attention to the syntax (sentence structure) of the poem, what rhythms is the author trying to establish? Where do you see changes in the rhythm? What purpose does that serve? Mark up the poem with your observations.
Tone: After examining C + A + S, what is the overall impression the author is trying to make about the poems subject matter? What is the takeaway feeling?

Thesis: What do you think this poem means? What deeper meaning seems to underlie the surface? What are the implications of the poem? Include the poets name, the title of the poem, the theme, and how the specific TP-CASTT elements contribute to the theme.

pity this busy monster, manunkind, by e.e. cummings pity this busy monster, manunkind, not. Progress is a comfortable disease: your victim (death and life safely beyond) plays with the bigness of his littleness --- electrons deify one razorblade into a mountainrange; lenses extend unwish through curving wherewhen till unwish returns on its unself. A world of made is not a world of born --- pity poor flesh and trees, poor stars and stones, but never this fine specimen of hypermagical ultraomnipotence. We doctors know a hopeless case if --- listen: there's a hell of a good universe next door; let's go

Title: What questions does the title raise? Paraphrase: Translate the poem into your own words. Who is the speaker? What is the subject of the poem? Whom is the speaker addressing? What questions do you need answered to understand the deeper meaning? Connotation: Where are the emotional words in this poem? What are unusual phrasings, repeated lines, etc? Where is the figurative language?

What is the controlling image (metaphor) in this poem?

Attitude: What seems to be the attitude of the speaker in regards to the subject? Shifts: At what points do the emotions shift in the poem?

Paying careful attention to the syntax (sentence structure) of the poem, what rhythms is the author trying to establish? Where do you see changes in the rhythm? What purpose does that serve? Mark up the poem with your observations.
Tone: After examining C + A + S, what is the overall impression the author is trying to make about the poems subject matter? What is the takeaway feeling?

Thesis: What do you think this poem means? What deeper meaning seems to underlie the surface? What are the implications of the poem? Include the poets name, the title of the poem, the theme, and how the specific TP-CASTT elements contribute to the theme.

your little voice, by e.e. cummings your little voice Over the wires came leaping and i felt suddenly dizzy With the jostling and shouting of merry flowers wee skipping high-heeled flames courtesied before my eyes or twinkling over to my side Looked up with impertinently exquisite faces floating hands were laid upon me I was whirled and tossed into delicious dancing up Up with the pale important stars and the Humorous moon dear girl How i was crazy how i cried when i heard over time and tide and death leaping Sweetly your voice

Title: What questions does the title raise? Paraphrase: Translate the poem into your own words. Who is the speaker? What is the subject of the poem? Whom is the speaker addressing? What questions do you need answered to understand the deeper meaning? Connotation: Where are the emotional words in this poem? What are unusual phrasings, repeated lines, etc? Where is the figurative language?

What is the controlling image (metaphor) in this poem?

Attitude: What seems to be the attitude of the speaker in regards to the subject? Shifts: At what points do the emotions shift in the poem?

Paying careful attention to the syntax (sentence structure) of the poem, what rhythms is the author trying to establish? Where do you see changes in the rhythm? What purpose does that serve? Mark up the poem with your observations.
Tone: After examining C + A + S, what is the overall impression the author is trying to make about the poems subject matter? What is the takeaway feeling?

Thesis: What do you think this poem means? What deeper meaning seems to underlie the surface? What are the implications of the poem? Include the poets name, the title of the poem, the theme, and how the specific TP-CASTT elements contribute to the theme.

Take for example this, by e.e. cummings Take for example this: if to the colour of midnight to a more than darkness(which is myself and Paris and all things)the bright rain occurs deeply,beautifully and i(being at a window in this midnight) for no reason feel deeply completely conscious of the rain or rather Somebody who uses roofs and streets skilfully to make a possible and beautiful sound: if a(perhaps)clock strikes,in the alive coolness,very faintly and finally through altogether delicate gestures of rain a colour comes,which is morning,O do not wonder that (just at the edge of day)i surely make a millionth poem which will not wholly miss you;or if i certainly create,lady, one of the thousand selves who are your smile.

Title: What questions does the title raise? Paraphrase: Translate the poem into your own words. Who is the speaker? What is the subject of the poem? Whom is the speaker addressing? What questions do you need answered to understand the deeper meaning? Connotation: Where are the emotional words in this poem? What are unusual phrasings, repeated lines, etc? Where is the figurative language?

What is the controlling image (metaphor) in this poem?

Attitude: What seems to be the attitude of the speaker in regards to the subject? Shifts: At what points do the emotions shift in the poem?

Paying careful attention to the syntax (sentence structure) of the poem, what rhythms is the author trying to establish? Where do you see changes in the rhythm? What purpose does that serve? Mark up the poem with your observations.
Tone: After examining C + A + S, what is the overall impression the author is trying to make about the poems subject matter? What is the takeaway feeling?

Thesis: What do you think this poem means? What deeper meaning seems to underlie the surface? What are the implications of the poem? Include the poets name, the title of the poem, the theme, and how the specific TP-CASTT elements contribute to the theme.