English Poetry Analysis Speech 
Stage 2 English Communications- Poetry Analysis Speech
By Josephine Donnan
Gary Turk’s poem, “Look Up”, Robert Frost’s “Stopping By The Woods On a Snowy Evening”, and Edgar Allen Poe’s “Alone” all contain the theme of isolation. Although the theme is the same, the poems display it in different ways, and express it through different writing styles, language devices and poetic structures.
“Look Up” is a spoken-word piece that talks about society’s current obsession with the Internet and social media, and how they prevent people from having “real” interactions with each other. The theme of isolation in “Look Up” comes from the social isolation present when people are using electronic devices constantly instead of physically communicating with others. The title of the poem is also its main message, to look up from your phone and computer, and live life to the fullest.
“Look Up” is written in rhyming couplets, in the form AABB. Despite being a simple poetic form, these rhyming couplets are very effective in Turk’s poem. They make for a steady rhythm, which along with the easily understood words allows the message to be the main focal point. The tone of “Look Up” is sad, and desperate, but hopeful as well, as it invokes a desire to change in the audience. The language is informal and uses colloquialism such as “till” and “bastard”. This helps the audience relate to the poem more, as it is less formidable, which makes them more likely to agree with it.
There are many language devices used in “Look Up” that contribute to its power. It is intended to convince, and uses persuasive language techniques. One of these is inclusive language such as “we” and “your”, as in this line, “Give people your love, don’t give them your “like””. Inclusive language makes the audience feel as if the poem is directed at them personally, which helps them to connect emotionally with the words. Repetition is used in “Look Up” to enforce a particular idea or message in the viewers’ minds.
By Josephine Donnan
Gary Turk’s poem, “Look Up”, Robert Frost’s “Stopping By The Woods On a Snowy Evening”, and Edgar Allen Poe’s “Alone” all contain the theme of isolation. Although the theme is the same, the poems display it in different ways, and express it through different writing styles, language devices and poetic structures.
“Look Up” is a spoken-word piece that talks about society’s current obsession with the Internet and social media, and how they prevent people from having “real” interactions with each other. The theme of isolation in “Look Up” comes from the social isolation present when people are using electronic devices constantly instead of physically communicating with others. The title of the poem is also its main message, to look up from your phone and computer, and live life to the fullest.
“Look Up” is written in rhyming couplets, in the form AABB. Despite being a simple poetic form, these rhyming couplets are very effective in Turk’s poem. They make for a steady rhythm, which along with the easily understood words allows the message to be the main focal point. The tone of “Look Up” is sad, and desperate, but hopeful as well, as it invokes a desire to change in the audience. The language is informal and uses colloquialism such as “till” and “bastard”. This helps the audience relate to the poem more, as it is less formidable, which makes them more likely to agree with it.
There are many language devices used in “Look Up” that contribute to its power. It is intended to convince, and uses persuasive language techniques. One of these is inclusive language such as “we” and “your”, as in this line, “Give people your love, don’t give them your “like””. Inclusive language makes the audience feel as if the poem is directed at them personally, which helps them to connect emotionally with the words. Repetition is used in “Look Up” to enforce a particular idea or message in the viewers’ minds.