Savannah Hyndman
Jacobs
AP Lit
11/14/18
Sound and Sense Final Entries
*Chapter 3: Denotation and Connotation
Poem #28: “Cross”
Theme: People often refer their relationships with their parents when trying to figure out their place in the world.
Analysis: Denotation and connotation conveys a lot through very little words. The main connotations in “Cross” by Langston Hughes are the names that the speaker refers to his parents as. The speaker in the poem is trying to figure out his place in the world, specifically if he is going to die like either of his parents. The speaker refers to his father in the beginning as “a white old man,” illustrating his father’s race and relationship with the speaker. The words “old man” have a denotation of an aged male, but a connotation of a father. Contrastly, in the beginning, the speaker states that his “old mother’s black.” The words “old mother” have a denotation of an aged female who has a child, but no connotation that illustrates a connection to the speaker. At the end, however, the speaker continues to refer to his father as “old man,” but changes his reference towards his mother to “ma.” The word “ma” has a more loving and affectionate connotation than “old man,” illustrating the closer relationship the speaker has with his mother. At the end as well, the speaker questions whether he will die like his father in “a fine big house,” or like his mother in “a shack” since he is biracial and does not have a stereotypical place in society. The speaker looks back on not only the different races and economic statuses of his parents, but also his relationship with both of them. The connotation and denotations of the phrases the speaker uses conveys the type of relationship he had with each of his parents, illustrating his struggle with finding his place in society.
Chapter 4: Imagery
Poem #38: “Those Winter Sundays”
Theme: People do not realize the sacrifices, big or small, that parents make for their children until it is too late.
Analysis: Imagery is the language of sense experience and can be used for descriptions. The imagery in “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden, is used to convey the regret that the speaker has about not thanking his father for the things he did for him as a child and throughout his life. The imagery of the “blueblack cold” that the overworked father woke up early in to set a fire to warm the house illustrates the small sacrifices parents make to give their children comfort. The speaker regretfully recalls that “no one ever thanked [the father]” for all the things he did for his family. The speaker would not show his gratitude for the actions of his father even when he felt the “cold splintering, breaking” because of the fire the father woke up to set. The imagery conveys the feeling of painful regret that the speaker has and demonstrates that many people will not realize or acknowledge the sacrifices their parents made until much later in their lives.
Chapter 5: Figurative Language 1
Poem #42: “The Guitarist Tunes Up”
Theme: A kind and gentle action is more likely to generate action and compliance than a harsh commanding tone.
Analysis: Figurative language says one thing in a totally unordinary way. In Frances Cornford’s poem, “The Guitarist Tunes Up,” figurative language is used to demonstrate that asking in a kind way is more effective than commanding. The speaker describes the guitar subject is tuning as a woman and the subject does not command as “a lordly conqueror” would, but “as a man with a loved woman might, inquiring with delight.” The subject tunes the guitar using gentle actions rather than forcing the tuning, illustrating the effectiveness of this technique. The figurative language allows the speaker to convey the actions of the speaker. Because the subject treated the guitar kindly, that the guitar had “slight essential things… to say.” The figurative language of describing the guitar as a women has opened up even more and connected music and sound to words and conversations. The kind actions and tone of a person can help yield great results in compliance and kindness in return.
Chapter 6: Figurative Language 2
Poem #63: “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”
Theme: Time is fleeting and the youth should make the most out of their time while they can.
Analysis: Symbols can be used to say more than is actually the meaning of one word. In Robert Herrick’s poem, “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,” the speaker uses the symbol of flowers, specifically rosebuds to convey that the youth should not take their time for granted. The speaker addresses the youth and tells them to “gather ye rosebuds while ye may,” illustrating that young people should use their time wisely. The symbol of a rosebud, a flower that has not yet bloomed and fully grown, mirrors how young people are not matured and aged yet. The use of the symbol of the rosebud demonstrates the speaker’s message that time is short and that people in their youth should do everything that they can while they still have time. The symbol of the rosebud also relates to a word in the title, “virgin,” another word that is directly tied to youth and young people’s naivety and innocence. The figurative language helps convey the message of the speaker and provide more meaning to the poem.
Chapter 7: Figurative Language 3
Poem #74: “Much madness is divinest sense”
Theme: People are often considered mad if they have too much good sense, or think against the status quo for that time.
Analysis: In Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Much madness is divinest sense,” to convey that people are often considered mad if they have too much good sense, or think against the status quo for that time, Dickinson uses paradoxes. The main and first paradox used is in the first lines of the poem. The speaker states, “much madness is divinest sense to a discerning eye, much sense, the starkest madness”. The paradox used of the implication that insanity is sense and sense is insane conveys the societal thinkings during the time of the poem. The speaker illustrates that thinking within the limitations of the society was applauded, but think too much and push the boundaries of the societies comforts, the new thinker will be labelled as mad. This message is repeated when the speaker continues that “assent, and you are sane; demur, you’re straightway dangerous and handled with a chain,” further illustrating that societies will not accept new ideas easily. The paradox and the elaboration demonstrates that thinking outside of the status quo is dangerous when a person is in a time or society where people with good sense and new ideas are labelled as mad.
*Chapter 8: Allusion
Poem #97: “Leda and the Swan”
Theme: There are many different consequences that comes from one action, whether the action was intended or wanted, or not.
Analysis: In William Butler Yeats’ poem “Leda and the Swan,” he uses allusions to convey his message that there are many different consequences that comes from one action, whether the action was intended or wanted, or not. The allusion of the poem is in the title of “Leda and the Swan.” Yeats alludes to the Greek mythology of the story of Leda and how she was raped by Zeus. In both the Greek myth and in the poem, Zeus “engenders” new life inside Leda, getting her pregnant. The Greek myth goes on to tell how Leda’s child is Helen of Troy who causes the Battle of Troy, which the poem references when “Agamemnon” is mentioned. The message of the poem is really conveyed, however, when Yeats uses a rhetorical question to ask if Leda got some of Zeus’ “knowledge,” conveying the questioning if Leda knew or was aware that she was a cause of the Battle of Troy. Even though Leda was raped and had no choice of being pregnant and birthing Helen of Troy, she was forced to become an indirect cause of the Battle of Troy, illustrating that there are consequences to every action, whether wanted or not.
Chapter 10: Tone
Poem #127: “Church Going”
Theme: People will always seek refuge in churches, even if they are not true believers.
Analysis: In Philip Larkin’s poem, “Church Going,” he uses tone to convey his message that people will always seek refuge in churches, even if they are not true believers. The tone in the beginning of the poem is almost disrespectful as the speaker lets the “door thud shut” in the church he supposedly randomly entered. The beginning tone of disrespect for a place of worship makes it seem as thought the speaker does not care for religion at all. However, as the poem continues, there is a tonal shift to a slight admiration for religion and churches in general which contradicts what the speaker seemed to think in the beginning. The tonal shift occurs when it is revealed that the speaker “often” stopped at the church. The tone at the end of continued admiration and wonderment for the “serious house” conveys the message that, even though the speaker was not a regular church going person, he still returned to a place of worship as a place of peace and shelter. The tonal shifts illustrates the message that people will always seek refuge in churches, even if they are not true believers.
Chapter 11: Musical Devices
Poem #133: “That night when joy began”
Theme: Many people, especially in new relationships, expect the past to be repeated instead of looking towards the future.
Analysis: In W.H. Auden’ poem, “That night when joy began,” he uses end and approximate rhyming to convey his message that many people, especially in new relationships, expect the past to be repeated instead of looking towards the future. In the first stanza, the speaker and subject meet for the first time and the beginning of their relationship starts. Auden uses approximate rhyming with “flush” and “flash” to emphasize the new beginning of the couple. In the second stanza, “relief” and “peace” are used to demonstrate the couple’s relationship growing, illustrating that although they are still nervous about the relationship, they are looking to the future to further their love. In the third and last stanza, “seen” and “reach” emphasize the goal of the couple to reach out into the future and seen their relationship. At the end of the poem, Auden reveals that as time passes by and nothing horrendous happens, love pushes away any doubt of the couple’s relationship.