Identify and discuss this poem

Question

In a paragraph, with a topic and concluding sentence, discuss what the poem means. Identify and discuss how one sound effect, one figure of speech, and one example of imagery each contributes to the meaning.

May by Sara Teasdale

The wind is tossing the lilacs,

The new leaves laugh in the sun,

And the petals fall on the orchard wall,

But for me the spring is done.

Beneath the apple blossoms

I go a wintry way,

For the love that smiled in April

Is false to me in May.

Answer 1

Hi Chloe,

Analyzing poems can be a daunting task. It helps to read the poem, then read the question it wants you to identify, and then read the poem again with those things in mind.

They want you to give the meaning of the poem and in the process, identify:

1.) Sound Effect--this is something that identifies a sound or gives the reader a sense of what is being heard in the scene that is being played out in the poem. Is there anything you read that made you imagine a specific sound?

2.) Figure of Speech--this is a word or phrase that is used in ways other than it's literal definition. There are different types of these. A few examples include: "It's raining cats and dogs"--it is not actually raining animals; it's used to describe a hard rain shower. "The sunset painted the sky"--the sunset is not actually painting the sky; it's used to describe how colorful the sky gets as the sun goes down. Do you see anything like this in the poem?

3.) Imagery--very descriptive language used to describe a scene and allow the reader to be able to imagine it vividly. For example: The flowers bloomed with vibrant colors as loose petals floated and swirled in the wind." Do you read any really descriptive language in the poem?

I'm happy to help you further! Feel free to message me directly.