Music As Poetry Assignment

Music as Poetry Assignment Example

Note that for each example, there is a quote, identification where applicable, and analysis/explanation, but the setup is very informal (NOT AN ESSAY). It’s actually a lot like the notes we’ve been doing since we started this unit.

Music as Poetry Assignment

Step One:

Choose a song that you like. Make sure that the lyrics have enough depth so that you have something to analyze. Your song may have a swear or two, but keep it school appropriate (nothing graphically sexually for example). If your song is not appropriate, you will receive a zero on this assignment (if in doubt, run the lyrics by me first). You will have to play the song on the day of your presentation, so you must either bring in an mp3 player with the song on it or a cd with the song on it.

Step Two:

Analyze the song you chose. You MUST analyze: THREE examples of figurative language (simile, metaphor, symbol, repetition, etc.), subject, tone, and theme. Analyze doesn’t mean identify, so it is not enough to simply state. You must use quotes from the song and analyze what they mean. For example:

“You come on just like special K” This is a simile. It compares his love for his significant other to being on a drug. This shows that he is conflicted about his relationship because while it makes him feel good for a time (like being high on drug) he fears that his relationship is unhealthy (like being addicted to a drug).

The example cites a quote from the song, identifies the figurative language exemplified in the quote, and then analyzes what that means/how it adds to the meaning of the poem. Therefore, telling me that the tone is “sad” is really not enough. First, find a better word. Second, find some quotes to back up your theory and explain them to show how. A couple of quotes will be fine. For example:

The tone of “Special K” is ambivalent. “You come on just like special K.” He compares his love to an unhealthy drug will make the user feel both good and bad. “Can this savior be for real, or are you just my seventh seal.” Here the speaker first hopes that his love will really be good for him and make his life better (savior), but then worries that his love will actually be the end of his world, clearly ambivalent.

You must hand in a written copy of your analysis of the required components (figurative language, subject, tone, and theme), but they do not have to be in essay form. You can just label each part and write your examples in (see back).

Step Three:

You will have to present your song analysis to the class. You will have to play your song for the class, hand out a copy of the lyrics to all students (you can make copies for free in the library), and then explain your analysis of each part. This will count as a separate grade from your written analysis. If you do not do your presentation, you will end up failing the project as a whole, which is not a smart idea in term four of your senior year (especially if your grades in previous terms have been low).

Analysis of “Special K” by Placebo

Figurative Language:

“You come on just like special K.” This is a simile. It compares his love for his significant other to being on a drug. This shows that he is conflicted about his relationship because while it makes him feel good for a time (like being high on drug) he fears that his relationship is unhealthy (like being addicted to a drug).

“Coming up beyond belief on this coronary thief.” This is an example of imagery. While most love songs talking about the heart refer to the shape of a Valentine’s Day box of chocolates, the speaker here refers to the actual heart muscle, creating the image of his love has ripping his heart from his chest leaving a bloody and gaping wound. This is implying that love is a deadly wound, clearly showing his negative feelings about love.

“You’re my new Achilles heel.” This is an allusion. The speaker is referring to the legendary figure Achilles who was completely invulnerable except for his heel, which ends up being the cause of his death. This shows once again that the speaker is dubious about love, fearing that it will lead to his end rather than a happily ever after will his beloved.

Subject:

This song is about an unhealthy relationship. “Coronary thief” shows that this song is about a person who has “stolen his heart,” another way to refer to falling in love. The negativity of the imagery in this example shows that the relationship is unhealthy, as does the fact that he compares his love for her to “special K,” a drug that poses serious health risks.

Tone:

Theme:

The theme of this song is that even if we know a relationship may not be good for us, we cannot help but fall in love anyway. The speaker says over and over “no escaping gravity.” He’s comparing love, healthy or unhealthy, to an inescapable force that holds us down regardless of how hard we struggle.