Project topic: Analysis of a theme from Beethoven by Shane

Koyczan’s
~By Mahi Warsi

Title:
How does Shane Koyczan’s “Beethoven” explore the
theme of resilience through music and suffering?

INTRODUCTION
Explanation of the question that has been
framed:P
The question focuses on how Shane Koyczan’s poem
Beethoven presents the theme of resilience,
particularly through the lenses of music and personal
suffering. It aims to explore how Koyczan uses the
historical figure of Ludwig van Beethoven—not only as
a composer but as a symbol of strength—to show that
even when everything is taken away, including one’s
ability to hear, the human spirit can continue to create,
to fight, and to inspire.
By examining how Beethoven faced relentless
emotional and physical suffering, and how he used
music as a way to express, cope, and survive, the
question invites a deeper look into how suffering does
not always destroy—it can also transform. Koyczan
does not present resilience as a smooth or easy
process, but as a fierce internal battle that leads to
meaningful creation. The question is therefore framed
to analyze the connection between struggle and
creativity, and how Beethoven’s story, retold through
poetry, becomes a universal message of hope and
human strength.

Reason for choosing the text:

I chose Shane Koyczan’s Beethoven because it is not
just a poem — it is a story of survival, of turning
suffering into something beautiful. The poem speaks to
everyone who has ever felt broken, defeated, or alone.
It uses the story of Ludwig van Beethoven, a world-
renowned composer who became deaf but still
continued to compose music, as a symbol of unyielding
human strength. What makes this poem especially
compelling is Koyczan’s modern spoken-word style,
which bridges historical content with contemporary
language, allowing Beethoven’s legacy to resonate
deeply with today’s generation.
In a world where so many people deal with anxiety,
depression, rejection, and failure, this poem becomes
more than a biography—it becomes a message of hope.
The rhythm and flow of Koyczan’s words, paired with
emotional storytelling, make it a captivating and
relevant piece worthy of deep literary analysis.
Brief explanation of how I intend to interpret the
chosen text and literary materials used in the
process:
I intend to interpret the poem by closely examining its
central theme of resilience and how it is presented
through the narrative of Beethoven’s life. I will analyze
literary devices such as imagery, repetition, tone, and
metaphor. I will also consider the poet’s unique use of
spoken-word poetry and how it adds emotional
intensity to the theme. By breaking down the structure
and mood of the poem, I will connect Beethoven’s
struggle to a broader understanding of human
perseverance and artistic triumph. The analysis will
also include personal reflections on the relevance of
this message in contemporary society.

MAIN BODY
1. Beethoven: A Symbol of Resilience
Shane Koyczan reimagines Beethoven’s story not as a
dry historical tale, but as a vivid emotional journey.
Beethoven is not merely portrayed as a genius; he is
depicted as someone deeply human, who faced
rejection, physical limitations, and emotional trauma.
Koyczan writes about how Beethoven was mocked for
his eccentricity, abused by his father, and eventually
lost the very thing most essential to his profession—his
hearing.
Yet, despite all this, he “still composed.” This refrain is
repeated multiple times throughout the poem, making
it the central spine of the message. Koyczan doesn’t
shy away from showing how hard life was for
Beethoven. Instead, he highlights how Beethoven’s
choice to continue, to create, to resist defeat, is where
his true genius lies.
2. Music as a Medium for Transformation
Music, in this poem, is more than just sound—it’s
survival. Koyczan suggests that Beethoven didn’t write
music because he wanted to. He wrote it because he
had to. It was the only way to silence the chaos within.
As Beethoven became deaf, the irony of being a
composer who couldn’t hear became a powerful image
of contradiction and determination.
The poem reflects on how Beethoven would lie on the
floor to feel the vibrations of his piano. This detail alone
emphasizes the physical and emotional lengths to
which he went to remain connected to his art. Koyczan
uses this to show that true passion defies logic and
limitation. Art, for Beethoven, was not just a product—it
was his protest, his therapy, and his identity.
3. Society and the Role of Rejection
Throughout the poem, Koyczan critiques how society
treats those who are different. Beethoven was mocked,
abused, and misunderstood. His talent was not always
appreciated, especially during his early years. Koyczan
uses lines like “He was ugly, he was awkward, he was
alone…” to portray a man isolated by those around
him, even as he created the music that would
eventually define classical composition for centuries.
There’s a strong sense that society fails to understand
greatness when it doesn’t fit expectations. Beethoven’s
resilience is thus not just personal—it is defiant. His
continued success in the face of rejection becomes an
act of rebellion. Koyczan gives voice to the voiceless—
those who are dismissed for being unconventional, and
yet possess immeasurable worth.
4. Literary Devices and Poetic Craftsmanship
Koyczan’s writing is rich with emotion, rhythm, and
literary depth. One of the most striking devices he uses
is repetition—specifically, the line “still composed.”
Each time it appears, it gains more meaning. Initially,
it’s a simple statement of fact. But as the poem
progresses, it becomes a declaration of resistance, of
triumph, of beauty born from suffering.
Imagery is another key element. Koyczan paints vivid
pictures: the image of a young Beethoven being beaten
for playing wrong notes, or lying on the floor to feel
music through vibrations. These scenes create
emotional impact and help the reader to empathize
deeply with the subject.
The tone of the poem shifts from sorrowful to
triumphant. The earlier stanzas are filled with pain and
helplessness, but by the end, the poem bursts with a
sense of victory—not of defeating the world, but of
defeating the part of oneself that wanted to give up.
Koyczan also uses direct address and spoken-word
intensity, which makes the audience feel like they’re
being spoken to directly. It’s not a passive reading
experience—it’s a conversation. It’s a call to action.
5. Relevance in Today’s World
Koyczan’s Beethoven is especially powerful for today’s
generation. In an age of increasing mental health
struggles, societal pressure, and self-doubt, this poem
speaks volumes. It tells us that it’s okay to be broken.
It’s okay to feel pain. What matters is what we do with
that pain.
The poem has been performed in schools, universities,
and spoken-word competitions precisely because it
touches something universal. Whether it’s a student
facing pressure, a young artist feeling unseen, or
anyone going through hardship, Beethoven offers a
kind of hope that doesn’t feel forced. It feels real.
It says: If Beethoven could keep going after losing
everything that mattered to him, maybe we can too.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Shane Koyczan’s Beethoven is a
masterclass in portraying the theme of resilience
through poetic storytelling. It transforms the historical
struggles of a classical music icon into a universal
message of human endurance. Through literary devices
like repetition, imagery, tone shifts, and spoken-word
energy, the poem becomes a powerful narrative of
triumph through art.
Koyczan doesn’t just recount Beethoven’s life—he
resurrects it with new meaning. He makes Beethoven a
symbol of every person who ever felt broken but chose
to create instead of crumble. The poem is a tribute to
resilience, to passion, to the fire that refuses to go out.
And in that, Beethoven becomes not just a historical
figure or a poem, but a voice of hope for anyone who
listens.