Diction, Imagery, Detail, and Syntax (DIDS) in Poetry—Worksheet

Instructions: Analyze the text you selected and fill out the following worksheet in detail. Provide specific examples from the text that support your analysis.

1. Write the title of the text you have analyzed here:

“When I was Fair and Young” By Elizabeth I

2. List at least three examples of diction in the text that add to the overall tone. Explain how each word contributes to the emotional power of the piece.
But I did scorn them all and answered them therefore

How many weeping eyes I made to pine in woe
How many sighing hearts I have not skill to show

These words make me think that they were sad. Especially since it says weeping eyes, which is like crying.



3. List at least three examples of imagery in the text that add to the overall tone. Explain how each description contributes to the emotional power of the piece.
You can see “night nor day” You can feel a sighing heart and you can also feel weeping eyes which both describe sadness.



4. List the examples of important details the author chose to include. Explain how these details contribute to the emotional power of the piece.
She gives very good details. She makes it very easy for you to visualize what she is saying and to me that is very important.

5. List the examples of important details the author chose to omit. Explain how these missing details contribute to the emotional power of the piece.
Some things I didn’t understand because there was not enough info. If there would’ve been more info then maybe I would’ve understood it better.

6. Analyze the author’s use of syntax in this text. Are the sentences long or short? Does the author use punctuation to slow down the pace, or short phrases to quicken it? Explain how the sentence structure contributes to the emotional power of the piece.
When she said Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more. You could tell that she was rushing you.

7. Select a tone (or multiple tones) from the list of Tone Words. Explain why this tone is the best way to describe this text.

I would say the tone of the text is anxious, because you could tell that she was rushing things and wanted things done.