ANALYSING FREE VERSE

BY: Dian Fadhilawati, M.Pd.

Islamic University of Balitar

(UNISBA)Blitar: East Java:

Indonesia

Intro to Literature Material (Semester 4)

What is Free Verse?

It is a modern form of poetry. It doesn’t have rhyme or regular rhythm. It doesn’t have a set number of lines of

syllables per line.(stanza)

Free verse poets often use the following poetic elements: Alliteration Assonance Consonance Imagery Voices Similes Metaphors Symbols Onomatopoeia Parallel Structures Etc.

Common Elements of Free Verse

ALLITERATIONS

Alliteration is the repetition of 2 or more consonant sounds in the beginning of words in a poem

Example:

Fast Rabbits

Rabbits running so very fastIn the field of green, green grass.Sniffing for scents of snack time treats,Hip pity Hopping on their happy bunny feet.When carrots and other foods are foundThe rabbits prance and pounce

ALLITERATIONS

OAssonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in successive words.

ASSONANCE

Consonance

Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in successive words. (

Voice

O The speaker of the poem is not always the poet.

O The speaker of the poem is referred to as the “voice” of the poem.

O Read carefully to see what attributes the voice has, what kind of person is represented by the voice.

Imagery

Example of Imagery

Example of Imagery

Theme

Theme is the central topic, subject, or concept of the poem.

In finding theme of the poem you can do it by answering the question, “what’s the poem about”?

SYMBOLSA symbol is something that represents more than

itselfFor example, a poem might use newly fallen snow as a symbol for a pure, pristine, untouched world.

similesSimile is figure of speech that compare two things that are alike in some way (use like/as)Example: cute as kitten(comparing the way someone looks the way the kitten looks)As busy as a bee(comparing someone’s level of energy to fast flying bee)

Metaphors VS Similes Metaphor is comparison between two things

that replaced the word or name for one object with that of another (www.yourdictionary.com)

Metaphor doesn’t use like /as Example: Juliet is the sun Similes uses like/as to compare Example: you shine like the sun

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia Onomatopoeia is the use of words whose sounds echo their meaning.

parallel structure

Parallel Structures is the repetition of the same or similar words, phrases, clauses, or sentences

Parallel Structures

Parallel Structures’ example

10 steps in Analyzing Free Verse

1. Read the poem to identify unfamiliar words. Then look them up.

2. Read the poem again. This time pay attention to what happens in the poem. What is being described?

3. Focus on the voice. Is the speaker of the poem the poet or someone/something else who has a specific slant on reality?

4. Focus on the images. How strong are they for you?

5. Focus on similes and metaphors. How do they help you understand the poem?

6. Focus on symbols. Do they give you additional meanings? 7. Reread the poem loudly. Try to Focus on its sound. Do you

notice alliteration, assonance, or consonance,? Although they don’t contribute to the poem’s meaning, but they contribute to the poem’s beauty.

8. Focus on the theme. What is this poem about? Try to use as few words as possible. You can write the theme down to one or two words for example: life, death, motherhood, love, change, etc.

9. Focus on the poet’s approach to the theme. What stand did the poet take? What was the poet’s “take” on the theme. Try to describe the poet’s approach in just one sentence or two.

10. Reflect on the poem. Why did the poet take this approach to the theme? Did it work? Do you agree? What makes you think that? Gather evidence to support your interpretation. You will use your evidence for your analysis of the poem

Whitman’s Free Verse

from “I Hear America Singing”I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands . . .

Example of Free Verse

Sandburg’s Free VerseGrass

Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo.Shovel them under and let me work—I am the grass; I cover all.And pile them high at GettysburgAnd pile them high at Ypres and Verdun.Shovel them under and let me work.Two years, ten years, and passengers ask the conductor:What place is this?Where are we now?I am the grass.Let me work.

Homework!

1.Choose I of free verse poems in www.teenink.com 2. Analyze the poem based on the steps that you have learnt3. Collect your work on our next meeting4. Power Point format is Required5. Do by yourself Cheating and Plagiarism is not tolerated

Thank u

Dian Fadhilawati, M.Pd. ( Lecturer)