Poetry Analysis: Sonnets, Movements, Language Techniques, and Wordsworth

Flashcards covering poetic structures, historical movements (Romanticism, Modernism, Industrial Revolution), literary and figurative devices, and an analysis of William Wordsworth's 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud'.

How many lines does a sonnet consist of, and what poetic meter does it commonly use?

A sonnet consists of 14 lines and commonly uses Iambic Pentameter (especially with Shakespeare).

What is the common Shakespearean sonnet rhyming sequence?

ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG.

What is a volta in a sonnet, and between which lines does it typically appear?

A volta is the turning point of a sonnet where the poem changes tone or opinion. It typically occurs between the 8th and 9th lines or between the 12th and 13th lines.

How does the volta function in line 13 of Shakespeare's 'My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun'?

It switches tone from insulting her to praising her: 'And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare / As any she belied with false compare.'

What is Iambic Pentameter?

A poetic meter where every second syllable is stressed, commonly used in Shakespeare sonnets.

What historical period coincided with the Romanticism poetry movement, and what did Romantic poems focus on?

Romanticism occurred during the Industrial Revolution. Its poems addressed the negatives of city life, noise, and crowded people, expressing a desire to escape to nature to be peaceful and alone.

What were the living and working conditions during the Industrial Revolution, and when did it take place?

Lasting from around 1760 to around 1840, it involved moving from the countryside to the city, noise, poor housing, overcrowding, and whole families (including children) working in factories where they developed severe health problems.

When did the Modernism poetry movement occur, and what statement drove it?

Modernism began after WWI and ended around WWII. It abandoned traditional rules and norms, revived free verse poetry, featured bold experimentation, and was driven by Ezra Proud's 'make it new!' statement.

What world context influenced the Modernist poetry movement?

After WWI, the world was depressed and out of place, with everyone just trying to get through another day.

What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor according to the notes?

A simile compares two things using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'He is like a lion'), whereas a metaphor compares by stating that one thing is something else (e.g., 'He is a lion').

How is personification defined in the notes, and what example is provided?

Personification is using human traits, emotions, and actions on non-living things (e.g., 'The sun smiles down on us').

What is onomatopoeia?

A figure of speech where the word resembles the sound it describes, such as 'boom, crack, splash'.

What is imagery, and what is olfactory imagery specifically?

Imagery is figurative or descriptive language that appeals to the human senses to create a mental picture for the reader. Olfactory imagery appeals specifically to smell (e.g., 'The aroma of fresh bread filled the bakery').

What is sibilance, and what effect does it have on a poem?

Sibilance is the repetition of lots of 'S' sounds within a word, line, or paragraph (e.g., 'She sells sea shells by the sea shore.'), which slows down the pace of the poem.

How do alliteration and rhyme differ?

Alliteration is the repetition of the same sounds at the beginning of words in a line or phrase (e.g., 'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers'), while rhyme is the repetition of similar or identical sounds at the end of words, most commonly at the end of each line (e.g., 'Cat, hat, mat…').

What is the ultimate purpose of language techniques in poetry?

They are used to create a scene, mood, or tone that improves audience understanding and enjoyment, providing evidence of the poet's intended mood.

How is the persona's initial attitude described in William Wordsworth's 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud'?

The persona's attitude is sad, lonely, and bored—living a dull life, just getting by, and just 'floating'.

Why is William Wordsworth's 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud' classified as a Romantic poem?

It depicts a sad, dull life from which the speaker seeks an escape, finding that escape and contagious joy in the freedom of nature through the dancing daffodils.

In 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud', how do the daffodils comfort the speaker when he is on his couch?

When he is in a 'vacant or in pensive mood', they flash upon his 'inward eye' (the bliss of solitude), and his heart fills with pleasure and dances with the daffodils.