Pattern Masterpieces
“The Dance” - William Carlos Williams
How is repetition used to give the poem circularity? Examine lines and repetition of words, and rhyme. Where does rhyme occur and where does it not? Why is this structure significant?
What do the participial verb forms share and what role do they play- ie. “tipping”?
What happens to the cadence in lines 5,6,8 and why the change in beat?
What is the role of enjambment? What words are featured at the end of the lines and what id the effect of these particular words existing there? Where do the sentences actually end and why there?
Identify onomatopoeia and its role.
Identify alliteration and its role.
How does the structure parallel a canvas?
“Chicago”- Carl Sandburg
What about the pattern of this poem is reflective of a paean?
To whom is the speaker speaking? This technique is called what? How does the speaker feel about Chicago? How can you tell? So what is Sandburg’s tone?
Where is cataloguing used, and how does the form of the listing vary? What do the items in the lists have in common? Why the listing is organized the way it is, where it is?
Where do you see evidence of anaphora, and what is the contribution?
Where do you see evidence of imperatives and to whom is the speaker speaking? What is the speaker requesting, commanding, or demanding?
What participial is repeated, and what do you make of the development of this word as far as its position in the poem, as well as in the lines?
What is a vignette, and how is it used here?
Note exceptional use of punctuation marks and analyze how the marks contribute to the tone.
Draw a caricature of the Chicago portrayed in this poem reflecting your knowledge of Sanburg’s attitude about his city.