“Rock It” Poetry

1. “Rock It” Poetry February 12-14, 2014 By: Lauren VonCannon

2. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Diction- The diction used portrays a feeling of optimism but also a little sadness. “Sorry”, “black”, “doubted”, and “sigh” gives the reader that little sense of sadness because without it the poem would be all happy-go-lucky. The use of words like “fair”, “another day”, and “made all the difference” portrays the optimism and satisfaction the speaker has found in his choices. Images- “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” and “grassy and wanted wear” paints the picture for the reader of what the speaker has come across and the choice that he is faced with.

3. Details- Frost describes the first road and then tells of how the second road is “just as fair” but “wanted wear” even though he later says they were worn about the same which is a pretty contradictory statement. The reader is left with having to wonder if the difference that was made in the speakers life was good or bad because it is never said only that he “shall be telling this with a sigh.” Language- “I kept the first for another day!” In this line the speaker has great optimism about returning and taking the other path but then he says “I doubted if I should ever come back” which completely takes away the enthusiasm he had for coming back which gives the poem a sad tone about it.

4. Sentence Structure- “and I—I took the one less traveled by” The pause in this line could be seen as uncertainty by the speaker as to what to say about those two roads that makes the reader question if this experience was good or bad or it could be seen as a proud moment where he is like, I, yes me, I took the high road “and that has made all the difference.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBumgq5yVrA (This poem reminded me of this song in a way because it is also about life choices that has made him see things differently.)

5. Fire and Ice by Robert Frost Diction- The diction used revolves around of course, “fire” and “ice” but also around the end of the world and perishing and wondering if the “destruction” will be with fire or ice. Images- “Some say the world will end in fire, some say ice.” This is the first line so right off the reader sees the juxtaposition of two polar opposites, fire and ice and is able to picture how the two relate to the destruction of the end of the world.

6. Details- “From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire.” The speaker lets the reader know that he has felt desire and feels that it would be best for the world to end in fire. The comparison to a feeling, fire to desire and ice to hate, shows that speaker knows these are terrible qualities but the end of the world will be terrible just like these emotions he has once felt. Language- In the poem fire is related to desire and ice is related to hate both of which are not pleasing qualities to have but with the comparisons the reader discovers that the speaker has dealt with both. “I think I know enough of hate to say that for destruction ice is also great” is pretty odd to consider destruction great but most likely doesn’t mean good but rather serves to fulfill a purpose.

7. Sentence Structure- The unequal line length makes the poem seem like thoughts but the rhyme scheme pulls them together to make them into one comprehendible “what is the best” type scenario. Ice = Hate Fire = Desire

8. Curiosity by Alastair Reid Diction- The diction shows the negativity towards both cats and dogs but to the speaker the way a cat lives curiously is good. “Nevertheless” and “face it” shows that the speaker is trying to make the reader see their side “that dying is what, to live, each has to do.” Images- “Fathering litter on litter of kittens” allows the reader to see just how wearisome a cat can become after having so many kittens and elaborates on the point that maybe cats are just “curious to see what death was like.”

9. Details- Reid compares the way cats and dogs both live but he adds more depth to the curious lives that cats lead to explain how people should live life on the edge like cats not like a dog that lives with everything all planned out. “Curiosity will not cause us to die– only lack of it will.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awf45u6zrP0 (something that this poem reminded me of) Language- The language used makes it seem as if the speaker is trying to prove a point. The language at the beginning that revolves around the lifestyle of cats is negative with words like “killed”, “unlucky”, “death”, and “hell” but at the end the speaker concludes that “they are lucky” and “contradictory” but that is good because “only the curious have, if they live, a tale worth telling all.”

10. Sentence Structure- The rhyme scheme adds to the flow of the poem and for me it made me enjoy it so much more. The title of the poem is to be read with the first line of the poem because it is completing “may have killed the cat” so right off the reader knows that the whole poem is exactly what the title says it is.