English 115 (Introduction

to Literature)
Section 5
Summer, 2021

© Adila M. Jahan, 2021

 • A regular pattern of rhyme which remains
consistent throughout the poem is called
Rhyme Scheme. In High Middle Ages, Rhyme
entered the European poetry. Some specific
Rhyme Scheme: languages, cultures and periods have specific
Quick Review rhyming schemes. While some rhyming
schemes are used in all languages, cultures,
and periods. Letters are used to describe the
rhyming schemes.

© Adila M. Jahan, 2021

 The following short poem illustrates the
labeling of a rhyme scheme:
There once was a big brown cat a
That liked to eat a lot of mice. b
Rhyme Scheme: He got all round and fat a
Quick Review Because they tasted so nice. b
His eyes are emerald, green. c
He is graceful like a queen. C

© Adila M. Jahan, 2021

 Types of Stanzas
The word “stanza” in Italian means
room. Just like rooms in a house creates
organization and gives structure to a
house, stanza plays the same role in
poetry. Not only that, but it also reveals
the patterns, mood, and the
organization of the poem. The following
are some standard types of stanzas:
• Monostich. A one-line stanza. Monostich can also be an entire
poem.
• Couplet. A stanza with two lines that rhyme.
• Tercet. A stanza with three lines that either all rhyme or the first and
the third line rhyme—which is called an ABA rhyming pattern.
• Quatrain. A stanza with four lines with the second and fourth lines
rhyming.
• Quintain. A stanza with five lines.
• Sestet. A stanza with six lines.
• Septet. A stanza with seven lines. This is sometimes called a “rhyme
royal.”
• Octave. A stanza with eight lines written in iambic pentameter, or
ten ©
syllable beats per line.
Adila M. Jahan, 2021
 Reading Poetry
What is the point of analyzing
poetry?
Reading poetry is designed to
improve the analytical skills of
the readers. You will be able to
identify and discuss the poems
using the elements of poetry
learned in class.

© Adila M. Jahan, 2021

Read Out Loud

Poetry is best when it Each person will read a

is heard out loud. It is poem differently, so
an artform that is we are able to see a
easiest to understand bit of their personality
when you hear it. in the poem.

© Adila M. Jahan, 2021

 •To understand a poem, you need
to read it three times.
• 1st reading: read the poem loudly.
Steps of • 2nd reading: read the poem to analyze
the structure of the poem (look for
Analyzing rhyme schemes, figurative language,
meter etc).
Poetry • 3rd reading: read the poem to find the
meaning.

•Let us start with a simple poem

to analyze.
© Adila M. Jahan, 2021
© Adila M. Jahan, 2021

Music, when soft voices die,

Music when Soft Vibrates in the memory—
Voices Die (To --) Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
BY PERCY BYSSHE Live within the sense they quicken.
SHELLEY
Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heaped for the belovèd's bed;
And so thy thoughts, when thou art
gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.
Analysis
Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory—
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live within the sense they quicken.
• Reading 1:
Just read the poem and absorb
the language. Enjoy the imagery
and the rhythm of the words.

Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,

Are heaped for the belovèd's bed;
And so thy thoughts, when thou art
gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.

© Adila M. Jahan, 2021

Analysis
Music, when soft voices die, Reading 2:
Vibrates in the memory— • Now let us look at the form of the
Odours, when sweet violets sicken, poetry.
Live within the sense they quicken. ∙ What is the rhyme scheme? What
does the rhyme scheme of the
Rose leaves, when the rose is dead, poetry tell you?
Are heaped for the belovèd's bed; ∙ Are there any personification,
And so thy thoughts, when thou art metaphors or simile?
gone, ∙ Are there any words you do not
Love itself shall slumber on. know?
© Adila M. Jahan, 2021
Analysis
Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory—
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live within the sense they quicken.
Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heaped for the belovèd's bed;
And so thy thoughts, when thou art
gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.
© Adila M. Jahan, 2021
Reading 3:
•What kind of questions should you ask?
Remember, everything in poetry is done with a
purpose. So, you should be always asking,
what is happening? And why is it happening?
∙ You should be asking, why is the speaker
saying this?
∙ What is this supposed to mean?
∙ What does this represent?
∙ What is the overall point of this poem?
 Analysis
Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory—
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live within the sense they quicken.
Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heaped for the belovèd's bed;
And so thy thoughts, when thou art gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.
© Adila M. Jahan, 2021
Lines 1 & 2: when the song is over, still remember the sound.
Lines 3 & 4: when the smell is gone, you still remember the
scent.
Lines 5 & 6: when the rose dies, the petals can be used on the
bed or the coffin. (Remembering the love that the rose
represents).
Lines 7 & 8: when you (my love) die, and your thoughts are
gone. My love for you will live on and be a remembrance of you.
** A big part of analyzing poetry is realizing that there is no right
or wrong answers. It is about being able to g your opinions by
telling us why it is right using the poem in front of you. **
© Adila M. Jahan, 2021

Descriptive Language

One important thing For instance, picking a

to think about when particular adjective or
analyzing a poem is an adverb can make a
the descriptive huge difference in the
language. meaning of the poem.
© Adila M. Jahan, 2021

Things to remember:
- Poetry is subjective, meaning each person
brings their own thoughts, feelings, and their
experience to it.
- There is no wrong answer when analyzing a
Writing an Analysis poetry.
- You do have to explain your answers and
connect it to the poem itself. It cannot be
random things.
- To write about poetry, you will have to have a
reaction and talk about it.
© Adila M. Jahan, 2021

Example of a poetry analysis

In his poem “Music” the poet, Percy Bysshe Shelly connects the sound of music to the loss of a great
love. Throughout the poem he uses rhyming couplets to connect lines of ideas to finally come to his
conclusion that love, much like things felt by the other senses, is a part of our memory and as long
as we keep it a part of us, it cant fade away. He talks about how we remember the sound of beautiful
music, how we remember the scent of flowers, and how the same flowers can show us love and
death together. Finally, he concludes that just like the scent of the flower, the feelings of love he has
can never be lost as long as he remembers them vividly in his heart.

• Note that I did not say I think or I feel, I do not even have to say anything about the fact that it is
my opinion. My interpretation of what Shelly is saying shows my opinion. You just state your
interpretation as is. If you were to read this, without knowing I wrote it, you might think that this
was TRUE, but really it is just my educated analysis. Everyone is capable of doing the same thing,
with a little practice of course. Always mention the title and the author’s full name!