Strategies for Annotating and Analyzing Poetry

Introduction to Annotating Poetry

• Presented by Tim Frus from the Garden of English.

• Importance of thorough reading strategies for poetry, regardless of prompts.

• Focus on "Ozymandias" for practical examples.

• Goal: Develop skills to annotate poems for creating thesis statements and topic sentences.

Steps to Read and Annotate Poems

1. Identify Major Shifts

   • Look for shifts in various aspects:

     • Chronology (time shifts)

     • Images (changes in visual representation)

     • Line Length/Stanzas (variations that indicate a shift in thought or mood)

     • Punctuation (changes that affect pacing and emphasis)

     • Verb Tenses (shifts in time perspective)

     • Points of View (change in the speaker's perspective)

     • Literary Elements (like tone, symbolism, etc.)

     • Contrasts (juxtaposition of ideas or images)

     • Word Connotations (emotional resonance of specific words)

   • How to Mark Shifts: Draw a line whenever a shift is detected, even mid-sentence.

   • Example from "Ozymandias":

     • Line 2: Shift to a second speaker.

     • Line 6: Focus shifts to the sculptor’s skill.

     • Line 9: Focus on Ozymandias’s words.

     • Line 12: Realization of the desolation of his kingdom.

2. Mark Literary and Poetic Elements

   • Use the left side of the poem to label elements:

     • Definitions: Elements that authors present to convey meaning.

     • Common elements in poetry:

     • Sound devices (alliteration, rhyme)

     • Poetic forms (sonnet, free verse)

     • Enjambment (continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line).

     • Caesura: A noticeable pause or break within a line of poetry, often used to create emphasis or a specific rhythm.

   • Example Annotations for "He Looked Not Upon Her":

     • Line 1: First person point of view, setting.

     • Line 2: Frame narrative.

     • Lines 6-14: Various characterizations and imagery.

3. Annotate Understandings and Observations

   • Use the right side of the poem for insights based on marked literary elements:

     • Make abstract judgments and inferences.

   • Scaffolded Questions to Consider:

     • What can I infer about the speaker or characters?

     • How does this influence relationships, conflicts, or mood?

     • What does this reveal about universal ideas or themes?

   • Example Observations for "Ozymandias":

     • Line 1 establishes an archaic atmosphere.

     • The frame narrative emphasizes separation.

     • Lines describe the tension between lasting art and lost power.

4. Generate Universal Insights

   • After fully annotating, identify universal ideas (themes) within the poem:

     • Examples for "Ozymandias": art, power, desolation, destruction, time.

   • Create a thematic statement based on these ideas:

     • Example Insight Statement: "Shelley writes 'Ozymandias' in order to illustrate that only art has the power to overcome the inevitable destruction that comes at the hand of time."

   • This step solidifies understanding and prepares for thesis writing.

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Conclusion

• Combining the annotation process allows for easier thesis and topic sentence creation for poetry essays.

• Future videos will continue to build on how annotations lead to strong analytical writing.