Analysis Of The Poem Billy Collins - 1333 Words

Introduction to Poetry Billy Collins is known as one of the most popular, successful, and influential poets in American history. Collins is famously known for addressing his audience directly, mentally pulling them into the poem, and creating a temporary companionship with the reader. One of the prominent examples of this style of writing can be examined in his poem, Introduction to Poetry. In Billy Collins poem, Introduction to Poetry, he plays the role as a teacher, teaching the reader how to analyze poetry by letting your open mindedness lead you to the meaning of the poem. The title of the poem can be compared to a beginner English class, such as Poetry 101. Introduction to Poetry is about a teacher’s frustration towards the simple mistake that inexperienced readers make when poetry is first introduced. Unable to read the poem properly, they often do not capture a poem’s natural beauty or message. Often frustration to interpreting certain pieces of writing leads to the animosity of poetry. In the poem Collins is contrasting two ways of reading a poem. The first opinion, which is advocated in the first five stanzas, is of the poet or teacher who describes how he would like readers to read the poem. The second opinion, which is condemned in the last two stanzas, is of the readers and students who want to find out as quickly as possible what the poem means. Throughout the poem, there is heavy use of metaphor for â€Å"poem†. For example, in the first stanza, â€Å"I ask them toShow MoreRelatedBilly Collins, analysis of his poems. Shoveling snow with Buddha, Victorias secret, and I Chop Some Parsley While Listening To Art Blakeys Version Of Three Blind Mice3082 Words   |  13 PagesArguably the most popular poet in America, Billy Collins provides readers with two types of poetry that is nothing like typical poetry. One of his unique styles is writing as if the poem could be read like a novel. The other type brings humor and whimsy to his work, yet he hints at a seriousness that lies beneath the surface. Both styles of poetry are easy to read, but take a second look to realize what the Collins is intending the reader to understand. Billy Collins is an exceptionally talented poet whoseRead MorePoetry Analysis of Introduction to Poetry837 Words   |  4 PagesPoetry analysis of ‘Introduction to Poetry’ The Poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† is by Billy Collins, an English poet, and it is about how teachers often force students to over-analyze poetry and to try decipher every possible meaning portrayed throughout the poem rather than allowing the students to form their own interpretation of the poem based on their own experiences. Throughout the poem, a number of literary devices are used. For example: â€Å"or press an ear against its hive†. Using this metaphorRead MoreLiterary Diction In Billy Collinss Once More To The Lake943 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Once More to the Lake† and â€Å"Forgetfulness† Literary Analysis Sarah sat in the corner of her room extremely upset staring down at a piece of paper. She recently failed a math test, and without enough time to bring up her grade, reality sunk in that she would not be receiving honors this semester. Feeling as if her world was crumbling, Sarah suddenly realized that this is just one grade and that she would hardly remember why she was so upset in a few days. The two sources, â€Å"Once More to theRead MorePoetry Analysis. Protecting The Innocence Instilled In1563 Words   |  7 PagesPoetry Analysis Protecting the innocence instilled in children has been questioned throughout history. 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Upon further review of Sonnet, it becomes clear that this deliberate rule breaking is a s killed nod side-step to historic norms and a promotion of a new age ofRead MoreThe Poem By Billy Collins1652 Words   |  7 PagesThe poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† by Billy Collins, is about a teacher explaining to her students how to read and analyze poetry. Collins employs an abundance of figurative language, especially metaphors and images, to express the progressive steps taken to understand a poem for all that it encompasses. When beginning to read a poem, first we must look at the bigger picture, like we are working from the outside of the poem to the inside. Once we begin to understand the storyline, we must dive furtherRead More Reflective Essay on College Writing839 Words   |  4 Pagesthem to our writing. Most of the writing we did was simply based upon our own opinions. We hardly ever used secondary sources. I believe that deconstructionist theory was the most helpful theory I learned this year for analyzing literature. Breaking a poem up line by line or i mage by image or even a story into small sections made it a lot easier to grasp the main concepts of the work. Most of the time during this semester, however, I took a formalist point of view. Also, unlike high school, the readingRead MoreI Am An Efficient Editor1779 Words   |  8 Pagesexpress emotions and personal experiences in a distinct, original way. Over the past few years, I have written a lot of poems and lyrics as a means of sorting my thoughts and dealing with overwhelming emotions. Entering the course, I knew my struggles would not lie in writing poetry, but rather, through deciphering the meanings behind others’ poems. I questioned my ability to annotate poems and write about them in an academic format. In my self-assessment, I identified my greatest writing weakness as â€Å"myRead MoreMy Writing Style And Abilities994 Words   |  4 Pagesthemes that were being conveyed. More specifically, within the assignment of evaluation about love versus lust, I could have incorporated how the themes that were being expressed were associated with the events of the poems and affected the events of the plot. For example, one poem I focused on was AP, by John Updike. Within my essay, I explained the overall events and how they specifically realted to the feelings of the Sammy, a main character, and what literary evidence I believed led him to hisRead MorePoetry Essay Prompt2545 Words   |  11 PagesLiterature Poetry Essay Prompts (1970–2011) 1970 Poem: â€Å"Elegy for Jane† (Theodore Roethke) Prompt: Write an essay in which you describe the speakers attitude toward his former student, Jane. 1971 Poem: â€Å"The Unknown Citizen† (W.H. Auden) Prompt: In a brief essay, identify at least two of the implications implicit in the society reflected in the poem. Support your statements by specific references to the poem. 1972 NO POEM 1973 (exam not available) 1974 Poem: â€Å"I wonder whether one expects...† (No poet