Preview

Poem Analysis: To The Snake By Denise Levertov

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
326 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Poem Analysis: To The Snake By Denise Levertov
Poets use a variety of senses throughout their work to spark interest with the reader. Recognizing and understanding the different senses help the reader to interpret what the author is trying to portray in that specific poem. In the poem “To the Snake” by Denise Levertov, the reader can use meaning to help understand the point in the poem that is being depicted. Levertov uses tone and a living object to mold the actual meaning behind the written words. Levertov uses tone by emphasizing the “S” in the words throughout the poem. The poem uses sound effects of a hissing snake to help build character around the devious actions the snake actually represents. Levertov also uses tone in word pairs such as: “cold, pulsing,” “arrowy gold”, “smiling,

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Poem Analysis

    • 296 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Both swallowed in their job, the janitor in “Jorge the Church Janitor Finally Quits” by Martin Espada and the secretary in “The Secretary Chant” by Marge Piercy feel unappreciated and lost as employees. Jorge is “outside…of [Americans] understanding” and The Secretary is lost in her work and compares herself to objects such as her “hips are a desk.” The employees from these poems have become hidden behind their duties and are slowly sinking into the unknown.…

    • 296 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    These are the stories about 4 Cinderella’s story’s Ashenputtel, Yeh-shen, The Alogonun Cinderella, and Interview-poem. Ashenputtel is about a German Cinderella. Yeh-shen is about Chinese. The Alogonun is about a naive America Cinderella story.…

    • 190 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    On the both poems, D. H. Lawrence’s “snake” and Elizabeth bishop’s “Fish,” both author mentions about animals. Both writer treated animals as animals at first, but later on, they compare those animals with human. The explanation of visual, the time when two authors think those animals as human, and the ironic feeling that both author have demonstrate that both speakers state of mind change.…

    • 790 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    From Eden Poem Analysis

    • 1070 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Much like poetry, “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.” Music and poetry are two platforms in which artists from the beginning of time have chosen to circulate their ideas, feelings, and opinions. Although different in popularity, these mediums are alike in various ways. Nonetheless, not every song you hear on the radio can be properly analyzed using procedures that you would follow to evaluate poetry. A song has to contain certain literary elements essential to poetry, such as the song “From Eden” by Hozier, in order for it to be analyzed. Hozier is recognized for his sentimental lyrics and use of poetic elements to add musicality and rhythm to his music. Through symbolism, repetition, and…

    • 1070 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The snake is a common factor in a number of James Dickey’s poems. In many cultures, snakes are associated with death. In Egypt, snakes were used for sinister purposes such as murder and suicide. In Greek mythology, snakes were often associated with deadly presences. Medusa, the Gorgon, had snakes growing from her head instead of hair. In Christianity, the Serpent tempted Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. God cursed the Serpent “above all animals”…

    • 1782 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Diction In The Rattler

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages

    As the snake dies it “strikes passionately once more at the hoe” and “there is blood in his mouth and poison dripping from his fangs.” The imagery dramatizes the image of the snake’s power being drained. The reader can visualize the transition from a once fierce snake to a lifeless carcass. In response to the killing of the snake, the man feels regret for the necessity of the circumstance, as “it was all a nasty sight, pitiful…” and “he could see it as he might have let it go, sinuous and self respecting in departure over the twilit sands.” This is a reflection of what could have been, and reveals the man’s conflicting feelings on what was necessary. The pitiful scene of the snake’s death adds to the man’s regret. The imagery in the passage emphasizes the idea of “what could have been” and therefore the man’s internal…

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A tattoo is like poetry, because there is always more to the story than what meets the eye! The sonnet “First Poem for You” by Kim Addonizio is a riveting piece of poetry that uses symbolization to help guide the readers to understand the emotions and feelings the woman has towards her partner. Visual and tactile imagery used within this poem helps readers interpret the meaning of the poem. The theme is longevity and the true meaning of a relationship. In Addonizio “First Poem for You,” Addonizio utilizes literary elements to develop the story and detail a fictional character that is in love with a man that has permanent tattoos. Upon analyzing the symbols, visual imagery and theme throughout this poem the readers will better comprehend the poem to its entirety; these elements symbolize permanence, which is the meaning of the entire poem.…

    • 575 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the poem Sympathy for the devil, the speaker uses many different historical allusions and understatements to gain the readers sympathy for him. The speaker of the poem is the Devil and he tries to make it sound as though he is forced to be around all of the death and despair so that the reader might feel bad for him. He uses the historical allusion of “I was around when Jesus Christ had his moment of doubt and pain” to show that he has been around for a very long time and he has seen some of the most sorrowful deaths in history. The speaker tries to make the reader feel sorry for him because he has seen so much death. Throughout the poem he makes it very clear that he himself did not murder or cause any of the deaths that he talks about by making the understatements “I was round when” and “I watched “. Those kind of understatements show that he was not the reason for the deaths even though he was there when they occurred and therefore he should not be to blame but in fact he wants remorse. The biggest understatement that the speaker use is the second to last stanza when he list the contradictions “Just as every cop is a criminal, And all the sinners saints, As heads is Tails”. In that stanza he tries to show that people should not be judged for what they see or are around because no one is perfect. The best way that he attempted to elicit sympathy for himself is by being polite by saying “Please allow” and “Let me please”. Him being polite was probably his best chance to gain any kind of sympathy from the reader because usually if you are nice to a person they are generally nice to…

    • 308 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “The Rattler”, the narrator came across a snake while “pleasantly” taking a stroll within the evening’s path. What began as a peaceful, “sweet”, and “pleasant” late afternoon transformed into a daunting “abrupt” scene. The author used excellent point of view, diction, organization, and syntax to express emotions of hostility between the snake and himself.…

    • 475 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Rattler Essay

    • 702 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The author¡¯s techniques in Rattler convey not only a feeling of sadness and remorse but also a sense of the man¡¯s acceptance of the snake¡¯s impending death. The reader can sense the purpose of the author¡¯s effective message through the usage of diction, imagery, and organization.…

    • 702 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the poem “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop one of the main themes is power. This is shown through simile, personification, and repetition. The author purpose is to show the reader that power can be restricted and that power maybe the sturdiest at their main years, but over time power will dwindle with time.…

    • 1108 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "The Rattler"

    • 899 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The author then depicts the snake as an innocent creature to continue to produce the effect of life being dear for the snake, also. When the author first introduces the snake to the reader the snake did not have his head "drawn back to strike." The detail to include the snake's "calm watchfulness" and demeanor of the snake creates an effect of a snake that is not mean or despicable, but of a snake that is…

    • 899 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Poetry: Poem Analysis

    • 1089 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The works we studied within Creative Writing were all helpful in creating my own works to submit to the class. Throughout all of the reading, many of the works inspired me in different ways, whether it was short story plot ideas or word usage in the poems. While crafting my work for the final portfolio, I reviewed many of the poems from our poetry packet in an effort to find inspiration and to create new interesting images. I took the most inspiration for my formal poem, which I found most difficult to write. One of the poems that was most useful to me was Jilly Dybka’s “Memphis, 1976.” Dybka’s poem follows the sestina form; I also wrote my last poem in this form, so it helped to follow the form by looking at her poem as an example. Dybka’s…

    • 1089 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Poem Analysis

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Life leads us to excessive wishes that often result in a man’s downfall. Sir Philip Sidney in “Thou Blind Man’s Mark” portrays his hypocrisy towards desire and shows how it influenced to their downfall and destruction. In his sonnet, Sidney uses metaphor, alliteration and repetition to convey his feelings for desire.…

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Rattler

    • 499 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The author's detail supplies the reader with a well defined picture of both the snake, and the man. For example, when the snake rattled his tail, he played his "little song of death". The phrase " little song of death " suggests power and aggression because it was like the snake threatining the man. The snake "shook and shook", while the man was trying to kill him. On the other hand, after killing the snake, the man described the scene as "pitiful". The man "did not cut off the snake's rattles" at all. He did not feel proud of killing a living creature. The author gives this story excellent visual potential which adds to the story.…

    • 499 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays