Sunday, September 15, 2013

How To Study Mormon Poems

By Helene Norris


A person may read a Mormon poem in order to pass a poetry exam or just for pleasure. Whatever is the case, below are some helpful tips to allow a reader get to grip of what a poet is trying to tell. For those puzzling over Mormon poems, following these tips will make them discuss the poetry with a lot of confidence.

Reading the poem up to the finish is one vital tip. It might be tempting to stop and puzzle over a tricky stanza or section, but reading it all the way should enable someone find out the overall idea being conveyed by the author. The poems subject matter is what it is literary all about, and a reader should put it into consideration in addition to any themes that emerge.

Readers should ask themselves what the mood of the poem is. They should think about what the author wants them to feel towards the end. The overall tone can be uplifting, or it may leave the reader feeling sad. Some Mormon poems have within them a deliberate mood change whereby a seemingly downbeat one finishes with a joyful scene, or vice versa. One should consider how it is structured. The author will have carefully planned its structure; hence the importance looking at how many verses or stanzas it is divided into. Every new stanza probably deals with a new mood or idea, or maybe it consists of a single short stanza to suggest a fast-moving brief event.

It is a good idea to listen to sounds of the words. Since poems are written to be read out loud, it should not be any embarrassing at all for someone to recite the poem by themselves. Doing so will not only help the reader to know if a regular rhythm or rhyme exists, but also assist in figuring out any words that the author selected due to the way they sound.

For instance, the author may use alliteration in order to draw the readers attention to a certain image or line, or even use assonance. Other aural techniques to watch out for are onomatopoeia, whereby words are used to echo the sound word itself, as well as sibilance.

The next tip involves considering any other techniques that the poet uses. For instance, the reader should examine how the author utilizes imagery. To put it simply, it is how language is used in helping the reader visualize a picture of the poems events. To achieve this, the author might use a metaphor or simile to help whoever reads the poem draw a comparison between the ideas.

A simile uses particular words to draw attention to a comparison aspect. On the other hand, metaphors use direct comparison, and can be more difficult since the reader is told a single thing is actually something else. Considering why a poet opted to use a particular comparison over the other is of great importance.

If all else does not work, the reader should not hesitate to seek help. After all, Mormon poems are written to be enjoyed, hence the more one reads, the less the need to refer to the above tips.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment