Rhyme and its phonostylistic features contents

Step 4: What is the significance?

The significance of a technique refers to the meaning it gives to the reader.
This means that you need to have a strong understanding of what the poem is about. Based on your findings from the previous step, answer the following questions:
Does it emphasise a particular subject/theme? If so, how?
What it is the poet’s intention?
Now, collate these findings with your findings from Step 3 to analyse rhyme. Take a look at our example in the next section to see how to do this.
Let’s apply our knowledge about how to analyse rhyme with an example from Sylvia Plath: Daddy.

If you want to determine which rhyme scheme a poem follows, look to the last sound in the line. Label every new ending sound with a new letter. Then when the same sound occurs in the next lines, use the same letter. 

For example: 

All things bright and beautiful – A 

All creatures great and small – B
All things wise and wonderful – A
The Lord God made them all. – B

In this poem by Cecil Alexander, the first line ends with the word “beautiful.” Label this A. Then the next line ends with the word “small,” which does not rhyme with beautiful, so label this line B. 

Then, the third line ends with the word “wonderful,” which rhymes with the last word of the first line, “beautiful.” As such, use the same letter, A, for this line. 
The fourth line ends with the word “all,” which rhymes with the word “small” in the second line. So you need to use the same letter as in the second line, B. 
This gives us the rhyme scheme ABAB. 
What if we have more than two pairs of rhyming words? We would follow the same principle: use a new letter for every new sound, and use the same letter for rhyming words. 
Here’s an example by William Blake:
Piping down the valleys wild, – A
Piping songs of pleasant glee, – B
On a cloud I saw a child, – A 
And he laughing said to me: – B
‘Pipe a song about a Lamb!’ – C
So I piped with merry cheer. – D
‘Piper, pipe that song again.’ – E
So I piped: he wept to hear. – D
‘Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe; – F
Sing thy songs of happy cheer!’ – D
In this example, the first four lines follow the rhyme scheme ABAB. But the next few lines are CDEDFD. (The only rhymes are in the lines labeled D.) 
Let’s look at how to analyze a poem in 7 steps:

1. Read the poem aloud multiple times

Reading a poem aloud is necessary for analysis. It’s important to read a poem multiple times before attempting to dig for deeper meanings. Pay close attention to the rhythm and punctuation of the poem, the stressed and unstressed syllables, for these are intentional decisions made by the poet. Make note of anything that stands out from your readings of the poem, such as word choice, characters in the poem, and the rhyme scheme.

2. Review the title

The title often contains important clues for understanding the piece. After reading the poem, reflect on the title and determine how or if it relates to your understanding of the work. Does it tell you anything about the poem’s subject, tone, or form? Does it illustrate a specific time, place, or action?

3. Identify the speaker

It’s important not to confuse the poet with the “speaker” of the poem. More often than not, the speaker is a character, just like in a novel or play. The speaker will not always reveal a name, but using context clues, you can determine the persona, point of view, and the audience the speaker is addressing.

4. Consider the mood and tone

Once you’ve identified the speaker, you’ll have more insight into the attitude or mood of the poem. Consider the speaker’s tone and delivery. For instance, does the speaker’s voice change throughout the piece? Is the voice active or passive? Are they speaking directly to the reader or to another character?

5. Highlight the use of poetic devices

There are hundreds of poetic devices or techniques writers employ to enhance the effects of their works. Poetic devices are tools that can create rhythm, enhance a poem’s meaning, or intensify a mood or feeling. While you do not need to include every device in your analysis, it’s a good idea to include the significant techniques that contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.
Some poetic devices to highlight include:

Metaphor – a comparison between two different things

Simile – a direct comparison between two things using the words “like” or “as”

Onomatopoeia – the use of a word that imitates the sounds of what the word mean

Assonance – the repetition of vowel sounds

Alliteration – the repetition of consonant sounds

Personification – giving human traits to non-living/non-human things

Imagery – words that evoke the senses, creating images, sounds, and sensations in the mind of the reader

6. Try paraphrasing

Before writing your analysis, it may be helpful to rewrite the poem in your own words. This does not mean condensing the poem, but working through the lines of the poem one by one. Now that you’ve become familiar with the poet’s figurative language and use of poetic devices, you’ll be able to apply what you’ve learned to determine what’s at the heart of the piece. But remember, avoid the notion that there is “one true meaning.”

7. Identify the theme

After paraphrasing, you should now have a better idea of the ideas of the poem. From those ideas, you’ll be able to create a theme. Essentially, the theme of a poem is the message the poet is trying to convey. A theme will often relate to a bigger idea or a universal truth.

At this point, you’re ready to begin writing your analysis. You’ve read the poem multiple times and dissected all the pertinent aspects that embellish the poem with meaning. Remember, don’t expect a definitive reading. There can be many different interpretations other than your own. But as long as you are thorough and justify your analysis with evidence, your interpretation is as valid as any other!For a more in-depth review on to how to analyze a poem, visit eNotes’ How-To Series