* Who Is the Speaker? What Do We Know About His/Her Character?
Poetry Questions
Here are several questions you may want to consider when trying to analyze a poem.
* Who is the speaker? What do we know about his/her character?
* Is the poem addressed to a particular individual? Why?
* What seems to be the basic setting or event?
* What seems to be the central theme? Is it stated directly or indirectly?
* What is the point of view?
* What is the time? past? present? future? combination?
* What is some of the figurative language: allegory, comparison, hyperbole, metaphor...
* What is the structure of the poem? Can it be broken into distinct movements?
* What can you observe about the sounds and meter of the poem?
* What is your gut response to a first reading? to a 2nd reading? Differences?
Vocabulaire Critique
Here is a list of helpful vocabulary items for expanding your ability to write about poetry and literature critically. You should also refer to the section on course-related items of interest.
QUALITES:
balanced - équilibré
evocative -évocateur
forceful - vigoureux, énergique
inspired - inspiré
lively, spirited - animé
lyrical - lyrique
pleasant - agréable
economical - sobre
stirring - prenant
striking - frappant
DEFAUTS
affected - précieux
bombastic - affecté
coarse - vulgaire
flat, colorless, insipid - plat, insipide
high-flown - ampoulé
inflated - boursouflé
involved - compliqué
overdone - chargé
ponderous - lourd
prosaic, pedestrian - prosaique
slipshod - négligé
tedious - ennuyeux
wordy, verbose - verbeux
EXPRESSIONS
above (as in "quoted above") - ci-dessus, déja cité
contrary to, unlike - à la différence de
figuratively - au sens figuré
in line -- au vers
in a literal sense, literally - au sens propre
throughout - tout au long de
provoke interest - susciter l'intérêt
to be based on - être fondé sur
be concerned with - s'intéresser à
to draw a distinction between - faire la distinction entre
make a comparison with - établir une comparaison entre
to make specific - préciser
to read into - mettre dans une phrase ce qui n'y est pas
to what degree - dans quelle mesure
with respect to - à l'égard de
NOUNS
achievement - accomplissement
antithesis - antithèse
character - caractère (personality)
character - personnage
climax - point culminant
content - fond
form and content - forme et fond
device - procédé
double-entendre
effect - effet
emphasis - accent, force
excerpt - extrait
flashback - retour en arrière
framework - cadre
handling of a subject - traîtement
incisiveness - netteté
insight - pénétration
meaning - signification, sens
mood - état d'âme
narrative - récit
outline - schéma, plan
plot - intrigue
process - processus
rhyme scheme - agencement; disposition des rimes
setting - décor, cadre
shade of meaning - nuance
VERBS
accentuate - mettre l'accent sur
achieve - réaliser (not achever)
consist of - se composer de
convey - communiquer
devote to - consacrer à
draw a conclusion - tirer une conclusion
emerge - se dégager de
highlight - mettre en relief
imply - faire supposer que
ADJECTIVES
ambiguous - équivoque, ambigu
basic - fondamental
biting - mordant
clumsy - gauche, maladroit
colorful - pittoresque
deep-seated - foncier
emotional - affectif (not émotionnel)
entertaining - divertissant, amusant
evocative - évocateur, - trice
exciting - passionnant, émouvant
far-fetched - tiré par les cheveux
gripping, thrilling - saisissant
humorous - humoristique
involved (style) - embrouillé, compliqué
irrelevant - sans rapport avec le sujet, hors de propos
lively - animé, mouvementé, vivant
meaningful - significatif
perfect - achevé
sloppy - négligé
trite - banal
witty - spirituel
Return to Main Menu