Poetry - How to Write the Essay - Focus on Larkin - Aoife's Notes

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Key Literary Terms Remember, this is not a comprehension exercise. You are analysing a poem, so must show an awareness of poetic techniques. Here is a list of basic literary terms with which you should be familiar: Alliteration – The repetition of initial consonant sounds, e.g. ''I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by <strong>the</strong> shore.'' - ''The Lake Isle of Innisfree'' by W.B. Yeats. Alliteration can help <strong>to</strong> create a mood; repeated ''s'' sounds, for example, can make a line sound calm and soothing. Allusion – A reference <strong>to</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r writer or <strong>to</strong> something else which is not really part of <strong>the</strong> main body of <strong>the</strong> poem. For example, in ''Dulce et Decorum est'' Wilfred Owen alludes <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> work of <strong>the</strong> poet Horace when he quotes <strong>the</strong> Latin words in <strong>the</strong> title and at <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> poem. Assonance – The repetition of vowel sounds. Couplet – Two successive lines of poetry which have <strong>the</strong> same rhythm and rhyme. These two lines often contain a complete thought. All of Shakespeare's sonnets end with a couplet. Here is an example from Shakespeare's ''Shall I Compare Thee'': ''So long as men can brea<strong>the</strong>, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>e.'' Enjambment - When a sentence continues in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> next line of <strong>the</strong> poem without any punctuation mark. Enjambment is often used <strong>to</strong> suggest fast action or movement. Aoife O’Driscoll 2011 Page 28
Enjambment is sometimes called a ''run-on line.'' An example of enjambment can be seen in <strong>the</strong> following lines from Philip Larkin's ''At Grass''. [...] <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> long cry Hanging unhushed till it subside To s<strong>to</strong>p-press columns on <strong>the</strong> street.'' Imagery – Words used which create a vivid picture in your mind. Metaphor – A comparison in which <strong>the</strong> words ''like'' or ''as'' are not used. ''My love is a red, red rose.'' Onoma<strong>to</strong>poeia – When a word sounds like its meaning. Examples of onoma<strong>to</strong>poeia would be: Squelch Thud Slap Cackle Repetition – Repeated words or phrases can emphasise <strong>the</strong> idea which is <strong>the</strong> poet is exploring. Repetition often occurs near <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> poem and can help <strong>to</strong> bring it <strong>to</strong> a pleasing close. An example of repetition used in this way can be seen in Shakespeare's ''Shall I Compare Thee'': Aoife O’Driscoll 2011 Page 29
Page 1 and 2: Prescribed Poetry
Page 3 and 4: 3. Robert Frost “Frost’s simple
Page 5 and 6: Don't be afraid to
Page 7 and 8: ''Larkin was a person who had profo
Page 9 and 10: A collection of his essays and revi
Page 11 and 12: Planning Your Essay</strong
Page 13 and 14: MCMXIV Death is near, the</
Page 15 and 16: clothes, and many
Page 17 and 18: I find Larkin's attitude to
Page 19 and 20: Addditional Reading: ¹September 24
Page 21 and 22: The eye can hardly pick the
Page 23 and 24: Bone-littered ground. And up <stron
Page 25 and 26: In games, in riddles, seemingly at
Page 27: can suggest closure and can tell us
Page 31 and 32: 2003 Leaving Certificate Unseen <st

Poetry - How to Write the Essay - Focus on Larkin - Aoife's Notes

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