Poetry Analysis Template (Page 2 of 5) in pdf

Poetry A nalysis T emplate

***Sample***

Name: M r. W illiams

Group T heme: A ging

Introduction:

Name o f p oem:

Do N ot G o G entle I nto T hat G ood N ight

Name o f p oet:

Dylan T homas

Date o f

1951

publication:

Other r elevant

Dylan T homas w atched h is f ather g row o ld a nd w eak. T homas w rote t his

poem t o u rge h is f ather o n i n t he f ight a gainst s ickness a nd d eath.

background i nfo:

Ironically, T homas h imself l ived a h ard, r eckless l ife f ull o f e xcess d rinking.

Thomas d ied j ust t wo y ears a fter t his p oem w as w ritten, i n 1 953 a t t he a ge

of 3 9.

Form:

Form o f p oem:

Do N ot G o G entle I nto T hat G ood N ight i s a t ype o f p oem c alled a v illanelle.

Structure o f

As i n a ll v illanelles, t his p oem h as s ix s tanzas. E ach o f t he f irst f ive s tanzas

has t hree l ines, w hile t he f inal s tanza h as f our l ines.

poem:

In a ddition, t he f irst a nd t hird l ine o f t he f irst s tanza m ust b e r epeated i n

other s tanzas. L ine o ne o f t he f irst s tanza i s r epeated a s l ine t hree o f t he

second, f ourth a nd s ixth s tanzas. L ine t hree o f t he f irst s tanza i s r epeated

as l ine t hree o f t he t hird a nd f ifth s tanzas, a nd l ine f our o f t he s ixth s tanza.

This c ommon p attern i s w hat m akes a p oem a v illanelle.

Rhyme s cheme:

The r hyme s cheme i n e ach s tanza i s A BA e xcept f or t he f inal s tanza, w hich

is A BAA.

Meaning:

Overall M eaning:

The p oem b asically u rges p eople n ot t o g ive u p e asily. T hough d eath i s

inevitable, a nd p art o f t he n atural c ycle o f l ife, p eople n eed t o f ight, c law,

scrape a nd d o w hatever m ust b e d one t o s tay a live – e specially i n t he f ace

of i mpending d eath.

How t he p oem

The p oem s uggests t hat l ife i s a p recious g ift a nd o ne m ust w ring e very

drop o ut o f i t b efore d ying. N ot l iving l ife f ully m akes d eath a s ad e vent.

relates t o l ife i n

On t he o ther h and, l iving a f ull, m eaningful l ife a llows o ne t o f ind t hat

general, a nd/or

eventual “ good n ight” – a p eaceful a fterlife. T his m akes t he p oem a

my l ife

reminder t o e veryone t o l ive e very d ay t o i ts f ullest p otential.

The p oem r elates t o m y l ife b ecause i t i s a r eminder n ever t o g ive u p. I a m

not f acing d eath r ight n ow, n or i s a nyone c lose t o m e, b ut I s till h ave o ther

challenges t o f ace. T his p oem i s a r eminder t o “ rage” a gainst d efeat, a nd t o

never s top d oing m y b est.

Poetry Analysis Template Page 2

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