IB exam review: Prose/Poetry Commentary
Write a commentary of 900-1500 words.
Poetry
I.Analyze the structure
Scansion, Meter, Rhythm, Rhyme Scheme, Stanzas, Punctuation
II.Analyze the language
Figurative Language, Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Hyperbole, Understatement, Apostrophe
III.Analyze the sound
Alliteration, Assonance, Consonance, Onomatopoeia, Rhyme (internal/end), Repetition,
Cacophony, Euphony
Look for a major shift in the poem.
There might be more than one. It can be a shift in tone, mood, idea, etc.
McBroom’s Method
1)Read the poem aloud (whisper or silently play it in your head like on you’re hearing it through your earbuds).
*People might look at you oddly, but who cares. ;)
2)Write down a statement of meaning/purpose.
3)Work through the poem looking for Structure. How does the title or lack thereof reinforce the meaning/purpose of the poem? How does the poem look on the page? How many stanzas are in the poem? Are the stanzas orderly, or is the poem one long stanza? How many sentences make up the poem? Remember, each punctuation mark leads to meaning. Can it be scanned /does it need to be scanned? Even if the poem doesn’t have a strict meter, what is the Rhythm in the lines? What is the Rhyme Scheme? Does the rhyme alternate? Is the poet using couplets? Octaves? Sestets? Is it a sonnet?!?! (I love a sonnet.)What does the structure tell you about the meaning?
4)Read through the poem again for Language and Sound devices.
Remember that you can always write about diction and imagery. (The entire poem is made up of words (diction) and usually a poet uses considerable images in the work.) How do the Language and Sound devices help to develop/support meaning/ purpose?
Prose
I.Analyze the structure
Paragraphing, Punctuation, Dialogue, Narration
II.Analyze the language
Plot, Character, Setting, Theme, Diction, Figurative Language, Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Hyperbole, Understatement, Apostrophe
III.Analyze the sound
Diction, Alliteration, Assonance, Consonance, Onomatopoeia, Rhyme (internal/end), Repetition,Cacophony, Euphony
Look for a major shift in the passage.
There might be more than one. It can be a shift in tone, mood, idea, etc.
McBroom’s Method
1)Read the passage aloud (whisper or silently play it in your head like on you’re hearing it through your earbuds).
*People might look at you oddly, but who cares. ;)
2)Write down a statement of meaning/purpose.
3)Work through the passage looking for Structure. How does the title or lack thereof reinforce the meaning/purpose of the passage? How does the passage look on the page? How many paragraphs are in the passage? Are the paragraphs orderly, or is the passage broken with interruptions such as dialogue? How many sentences make up the passage? Does the author use conventional punctuation? Fragments?Run-ons?Remember, each punctuation mark leads to meaning. What does the structure tell you about the meaning?
4)Read through the poem again for Language and Sound devices.
Remember that you can always write about diction and imagery. (The entire passage is made up of words (diction) and usually an author uses considerable images in the work.) How do the Language and Sound devices help to develop/support meaning/ purpose?
Here are some more considerations when writing a commentary on the prose passage:
1.Explain the title. In what way is it suitable to the story?
2.What is the predominant element in the story – plot, theme, character, setting?
3.Who is the single main character about whom the story centers?
4.What sort of conflict confronts the leading character or characters?
a.external?b.internal?
5.How is the conflict resolved?
6.How does the author handle characterization?
a.by description?b.conversation of the characters?
c.actions of the characters?d.combination of these methods?
7.Who tells the story? What point of view is used?
a.first person?b.omniscient?
8.Where does the primary action take place?
9.What is the time setting for the action? Period of history?Season?Time of day?
10.How much time does the story cover?
a.a few minutes?b.a lifetime?c.how long?
11.How does the story (passage)get started? What is the initial incident?
12.Briefly describe the rising action of the story.
13.What is the high point, or climax, of the story?
14.Discuss the failing action or close of the story.
15.Does this story create any special mood?
16.Is this story realistic or true to life? Explain your answers by giving examples.
17.Are the events or incidents of the plot presented in flashback or in chronological order?
18.Was the selection written as a short story or is it a condensation or excerpt? Is it taken from a collection of stories?
19.What is the general theme of the story? What is the underlying theme? Can you name any other stories with a similar theme?
20.Did you identify with any of the characters?
21.Does this story contain any of the following elements?
a.symbolism? b.incongruity?c.suspense?
d.surprise ending?e.irony?f.satire?
22.Was there a villain in the story? A hero?A dynamic character?
23.Can you find any examples of figurative language?
a.simile?b.metaphor?c.personification?
24.Does the story contain a single effect or impression for the reader? If so, what?
25.Name one major personality trait of each leading character, and tell how the author makes the reader conscious of this trait.
26.Does the story have a moral? If not, what do you think the purpose of the author was?
THE EXCERPT COMMENTARY
Step 1. Read the passage carefully at least 2 times.
Step 2. Identify the whole and the part.
a. Try to identify the nature of the whole: what kind of work?
-Fiction? Non-fiction?Type, purpose, audience?
b. Try to assess the function of THIS part.
-What is this excerpt doing on its own? What about in the whole (if the whole is known)?
Step 3. Go through your CLOSE READING questions:
WHO is speaking? Narrator or character – description of either
TO WHOM?audience or character – description, treatment by the speaker
WHAT? WHY? Situation, purpose
WHERE? WHY? Setting, purpose
HOW? Tone, style, diction
PATTERNS?Structure, form, repetition
TENSION?Contrasts, conflicts, ironies
SO WHAT?Dominant effect of the above; the implications; the importance
CONSIDER THESE THESIS (statement of meaning/purpose) FORMATS:
Note how in each example, the thesis statement addresses 3 things: the specific literary techniques used, the dominant/direct effects of the techniques, and the larger implications/importance.
*[Author] uses literary techniques X, Y, and Z in this excerpt from [the work] in order to [fill in the blank]. The implications of this are…….
Or
*This excerpt from [the work] [implies… and contributes…. to the whole] through its use of [fill in the blank], which is created by the author’s use of literary techniques X, Y, and Z.
Or
*[Author] uses literary techniques X and Y to [fill in the blank] and literary technique Z to [fill in the blank], both of which inform/imply/contribute to [particular theme of the whole work].
Example from Kafka: (Though this thesis does not pertain necessarily to a specific excerpt from The Metamorphosis, but rather the whole, it should give you a sense of the format of the thesis.)
In The Metamorphosis, Kafka creates a dream-like atmosphere for both his protagonist and the reader through constant references to individual characters’ dreams, a distorted sense of time, progressively hazy imagery, and a use of symbolism reminiscent of Interpretation of Dreams. By creating this dream-like atmosphere Kafka is not only able to address the constant dream-like haze through which Gregor has been living his life, both pre-and post-transformation, but also, in true expressionistic form, he enables the reader to feel and experience the “dream” as well.