English 30-1

Isherwood

Poetry Analysis Project

Name: _________________

Due Date: ________

_________________________________________________________________________________
A poet's work is to name the unnamable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the
world, and stop it going to sleep.
-Salman Rushdie
_________________________________________________________________________________
Instructions:
Read Break, Break, Break By Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/houghtonmodern/files/2009/06/tennyson_portrait.gif

Part 1: Analysis
Complete an analysis of the poem by answering the following questions in the order listed. Be
sure to number each of the sections.
You may work alone, or with a partner.
Remember to adhere to the conventions of formal English; complete sentences and proper
spelling, punctuation, etc. are important.
Your completed piece should be double-spaced and typed in Times New Roman 12 point font.
Please put a title and your name(s) at the top. Attach #14 to the back of your typed assignment.

As always, if you need assistance, please ask!

English 30-1

Isherwood

1) Date the poem was written and the date it was published (2)
2) Context: why did the author write this poem? What was he trying to express as the main theme? (3)
3) Three detailed facts about the author (3)
4) Physical Analysis of the Poem: # of words, # of lines, # of stanzas, etc. (3)
5) Define lyric poetry. Why is this an example of a lyric poem? (2)
6) Describe the poems setting. (2)
7) Is this an open or closed poem? Why? (2)
8) Define alliteration. Provide two examples of alliteration from the poem. Please cite the lines and the
line numbers. (5)
9) In literature, apostrophe is a figure of speech sometimes represened by the exclamation O. A
writer, using an apostrophe, detaches himself fro reality and addresses an imaginery character in his
speech. What part of the setting does the author address in this way at the beginning and conclusion of
the poem? How do you know this is true? (2)
10) In line 2, the author describes the sea pounding againt the cold gray stones on the shore.
Considering the subject matter of the poem, what might the cold gray stones symbolize? (2)
11) In lines 9-10, the author describes stately ships going to their haven under a hill. Considering the
subject matter of the poem, what might the ships, and their movement under the hill, symbolize?
Explain. (2)
12) Part of the authors heartbreak in the poem stems from the fact that the world around him carries on
normally, as if nothing has happened. In stanza 1, he begs the sea to stop and recognize his loss. In
stanzas 2 and 3, what two everyday activities occur around him to further isolate him in his grief?
Explain. (4)
13) Make a text-to-text connection between this poem and another text you have read/viewed; be sure
to explain thoroughly. Consider the bulleted points to inform your thinking. (2)
What does this remind me of in another
book Ive read?
How is this text similar to other things
Ive read?

How is this different from other books

Ive read?
Have I read about something like this
before?

14) Select 1-2 lines from the poem that were especially appealing to you and illustrate these lines. Push
yourself to go beyond content, and focus on the intent of the poet; what did he want you to feel? (See
the exemplar for more information) (Thought & Understanding: ___/10, Creativity: ___/5,
Presentation: ___/5). (20)

Total: ____/54

Percentage: ____%

Source: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174585