poetry themes Flashcards
(12 cards)
The Black Snake
Death is unavoidable and can happen to us at any second, but the hope we have inside of us can get us through each day so that we don’t have to be living in fear everyday.
Meadow Mouse
We should care for and have respect for all things that are innocent, unlucky, and forsaken.
How Things Work
- Everyone is somehow connected to each other through everyday transactions
- Small purchases contribute to a larger system that supports the lives of others
The Peace of Wild Things
- Nature has the ability to refresh and restore the human mind.
- Live in the present instead of worrying all the time.
Haiku
- STRUCTURE: 5,7,5
- 17 syllables total
- typically talk about nature
The World Is Not a Pleasant Place to Be
- Human connection is important
- The idea of life without someone to share experiences and rely on for support can feel uninteresting and unfulfilling.
I Was a Skinny Tomboy Kid
- Explores self-identity, gender roles, and personal growth. Through the speaker’s reflections on their childhood, the poem delves into the contrast between societal expectations and their own sense of self.
- The “skinny tomboy” persona challenges traditional notions of femininity, showcasing a young girl who rejects stereotypical feminine roles, embracing physical activity and independence instead.
Emily Dickinson poems
- The central theme of this poem is hope. Dickinson personifies hope as a bird that “perches in the soul,” symbolizing its constant presence and resilience.
- Dickinson explores the theme of self-identity. The speaker rejects societal fame or recognition, instead finding comfort in anonymity. By saying, “I’m nobody,” she expresses a desire to be free from the expectations and pressures of being “somebody” in the public eye.
- Both poems delve into deeper reflections on human experiences
Remember
Importance of remembering one’s roots and heritage, recognizing the interconnectedness of all life, and drawing strength from the past to navigate the present and future.
The Road Not Taken
- Small decisions can have a profound impact on one’s life, shaping identity and future paths.
- Potential regret or wonder that follows them, and how decisions contribute to shaping the course of our lives, often in ways that are unclear until later.
The Secret
- “Secret” in the poem symbolizes the mysteries of life and hidden truths. It shows how we find joy in discovering the unknown.
- The secret isn’t tangible, or necessarily one defined thing, but something we all have different views on to what inspires or motivates us
A Noiseless, Patient Spider
Through the metaphor of a spider spinning its web, Whitman reflects on the human soul’s quest for meaning, understanding, and connection in a seemingly indifferent and expansive world.
