**Attention: Scroll down for song choices. New choices have been added!
English 1301- Music Analysis Essay
Explication de texte: A method, which originated in the teaching of literature in France, involving painstaking analysis fo the meanings, relationships, and ambiguities of the words, images, and other small units that make up a literary work.
Explication goes beyond the assimilation required for paraphrase and thus provides you with the opportunity to show your understanding of a work. There is no need, however, to explain EVERY line in the poem; you must decide what is important. A general explication devotes attention to the meaning of individual parts in relationship to the whole. It is your "reading" of the poem. You will need to be selective and to consider only those details that are significant to your own thematic development.
Your general explication will demonstrate your ability to 1) follow the essential details of the poem (paraphrase), 2) understand the issues and meanings revealed by the poem, 3) explain some of the relationships of content to technique, and 4) note and discuss especially important or unique aspects of the poem.
"Responding to Literature"
"Using Strategies for Literary Analysis": "its purpose is to illuminate the meaning of the work, to help you and others understand it better." ANALYZE * INTERPRET * EVALUATE what you read. Paragraphs 1-4 will analyze and interpret; paragraph 5 will interpret and evaluate-- explain the VALUE of the interpretation and analysis.
Steps:
1. Read the work CLOSELY
2. Reread the work.
3. Mark key points in the text to comprehend its meaning.
4. Identify possible evidence to back up your claims as you analyze and evaluate.
Reading Checklist:
Comprehend
1. What is the literal meaning?
2. What are the facts of the situation (plot, setting, characters)?
3. What does the vocabulary mean?
Analyze
4. Elements: Character, language, style, symbol, THEME.
5. What does it mean? What does it IMPLY?
6. What does it suggest about the human condition? How does it expand your understanding? What insights can you apply to your own life or to society as a whole?
Evaluate
7. How do you assess the work's soundness and plausibility?
8. Are the words and tone appropriate for the purpose and audience?
9. Does the author achieve his or her purpose and why is it worthwhile?
More information on analysis can be found on page 448 of your textbook.
Directions: Write a 5 paragraph, 2 FULL pages, essay in MLA format that analyzes one of the poems or songs listed below. Include a header, a unique title, and a bibliography that cites ONLY the song itself; you are NOT using any outside sources for this essay.
A citation that is not in MLA format will result in a deduction in your grade. YOU must find out who wrote the song, on which album the song was first released, and all other citation information. You will also need to number the lines of the song in order for internal citation information to make sense. Again, you are looking for the “theme” of the song lyrics.
Song titles are written in " ", and album titles are italicized: Marilyn Manson's song "The Beautiful People" is from his album Antichrist Superstar.
General FORMULA
Introduction: Lead-In that introduces the "subject" of the song but doesn't refer to the song specifically. This may be more than one sentence. You then give a one sentence introduction of the song that provides the "gist" of the surface meaning. Next, you transition to the notion that there's more to the song. Your thesis statement contains the name of the song, the artist, and presents a synopsis of the overall analysis of the song, which you will then develop in the following paragraphs.
Body 1: Literal/Surface Meaning: Here you discuss exactly what the song is describing, or the “facts” of the song, like who is narrating, what is the subject, describe the situation being presented, etc. Do NOT go into any interpretation in this paragraph. Use quotes (at least 3). Include at least 3 correctly cited SHORT quotes-- the quotes must not be "interpreted"-- you are just stating the "surface" or "obvious" subject of the song.
Body 2: Symbolic/Underlying Meaning: Here you discuss the interpretive meaning of the song. You use quotes (at least 3) to show that there is another layer of meaning underneath the “facts” of what is being stated. This may be conveyed through the “symbolism” or specific “imagery”.
Present a specific aspect of the lyrics that helps to determine the symbolic/underlying meaning. Your next paragraph would do the same but with a different aspect (think of your literary terminology-- perspective, imagery, symbolism, alliteration, rhyme, tone/mood, etc...). Then, your conclusion would link it all into a solid interpretation-- defining the message of the song.
** Some songs have a DUAL meaning (in other words, there is the surface story, then there is a symbolic "under story". Other songs tell a story but use deep symbolism, metaphor, etc. to tell that story. Either way, par. 2 is going to cover the basic, general "plot", and par. 3 and 4 are going to reveal the deeper meaning and the techniques the artist uses to reveal the dual/underlying meaning or the techniques he/she uses in order to reveal the depths of the meaning).
Body 3: This paragraph ties in a specific aspect of the lyrics that is integral in formulating its underlying meaning. Use your literary vocabulary. Examples may be a use of irony, motif, repetition, a shift in tone/mood, etc. What you will choose to discuss is specific to each song. Make sure you have at least 3 quotes to prove your analysis, and make sure to CONNECT your analysis to the underlying meaning.
Conclusion: This paragraph states the poem’s overall message and its social commentary-- its relevance. This basically takes the message and shows how it can be applied to society today. It also should reveal the VALUE of the song as a piece of art.
All paragraphs must be a minimum of 5 sentences in length, and body paragraphs must contain a minimum of 3 short quotes. Do NOT miss the connection part of the paragraph; it isn’t good enough to simply state an idea or example. You must also clearly explain how that idea or example “proves” your thesis (or contributes to an understanding of the theme of the song lyrics).e format to cite a song as we do to cite a poem.
Here's a way of organizing your body paragraphs: Topic. Introduce quote (proof), state quote, cite, and explain. Then move onto another quote (example). Make sure you have 3 per body paragraph.
This is NOT a line by line song analysis; you should examine the overall “theme” of the song lyrics.
General Format Ideas to Contemplate:
Introduction should include: General information about the song and general thematic content. You may want to include a “lead-in” that discusses the “topic” at issue in the song and then bridge that to the specific subject at hand.
THINK: What message do the song lyrics send? What ideas are conveyed by the imagery? What about the song’s content makes it a valuable piece of art?
KEY WORD: TENSION-- you must find the "tension" in the song. The message is derived from the source of tension in the story.
Do not look up interpretations of these lyrics! I HAVE, and I WILL KNOW IF YOU DID TOO. Derive your OWN meaning from the lyrics.
The name of the song and artist must be mentioned in the first paragraph, but this information should not stand alone as a sentence in and of itself. Song titles are in “quotes”; album titles are underlined or italicized. Cite lines of songs; you must have 3-4 short quotes per body paragraph—no long quotes in short papers! THE RULE OF 3 is a good idea to employ here. Quote only pieces of the song at a time. Never leave quotes hanging; only choose quotes that fit your topic, and explain HOW they do so.
Sample of punctuating internal citations:
NOTE: Updated MLA format says that after the first time you write line, i.e. (line 26), in subsequent citations, you can eliminate the word "line", i.e. (28-30).
The girls’ “eyes painted red” (line 26) serve as a reference to the state of being high. Other references to her eyes include, “I see seven towers / But I only see one way out / You got to cry without weeping” (14-16), and “the storm blows up in her eyes” (32). Eyes become a metaphor for understanding in the song; one must get past the surface image of the disease before it clouds the vision to the point of causing a complete denial, or “blindness,” to this deadly addiction.
Notes: I want you to first and foremost think about the symbolic meaning of the lyrics that you read. To be impactful, an essay like this must present a tension.... this is what the song seems to be saying, but if one looks deeper, this other meaning is revealed. It is your job to both summarize that surface meaning and analyze that deeper one. When you discuss symbols, it is important to explain them as well... connect the meaning to its symbol.
You will have to rely on some of your literary elements when writing this essay. What guiding element does the songwriter use to deliver his message? Is it tone/mood? Symbolism? Imagery? Rhyme? Is there a dual meaning for some of the guiding images in the song? Remember, you are looking for a dual meaning for this song-- so maybe some of the elements hint at that duality? Tone/Mood, Symbolism, Irony, and Imagery can all contain polarities-- dual aspects. Discover those first, then you can better analyze what they mean. There are reference boxes below that give you the types of words to include when describing the literary elements.
Key Words:
TENSION
POLARIZATION
JUXTAPOSITION
HIDDEN MEANING
UNDERLYING MEANING
DUAL MEANING
Fill this out for your song choice:
** Your essay must contain a Work Cited Page that cites the song in MLA format.\
Pre-Writing Worksheet! [First answer the Discovery Checklist on page 272 in your textbook.]
Title of Song: ___________________________ Artist:_________________________________
TONE/MOOD of song (descriptive adjectives): ___________________________________________________________
Plot (Summarize in 3 Steps): 1._______________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________________________________
Symbols: ______________________ is symbolic of ___________________________________ because _____________________________________
______________________ is symbolic of ___________________________________ because _____________________________________
______________________ is symbolic of ___________________________________ because _____________________________________
______________________ is symbolic of ___________________________________ because _____________________________________
What is ironic about the song? _________________________________________________________________________________________
What is the TENSION in the song, the 2 ideas, symbols, meanings, etc. that are pulling against each other?
______________________________________________ and _________________________________________________
What is the THEME, MESSAGE, or SOCIAL COMMENTARY of the song-- the overall "lesson" that can be "learned" from the "story" presented in these lyrics? Summarize this succinctly, and make sure you are presenting this as a complete idea, not just one word or a short phrase:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LITERARY TERMS
Literary Terms: http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/yorba/literary_elements.htm
Tone & Mood Interpretive fiction presents the reader with significant insights into life and into human nature. Such truths take a greater hold when they are conveyed through our feelings as well as through our intellect. * Identifying the tone or mood is often an important clue to help the reader discover literary themes.
* Considering how a writer creates a certain tone or mood helps the reader appreciate the author's style.
Tone = Style or Manner of expression in speech or writing .
The Dictionary of Literary Terms by Martin Gray (Longman/York Press,
1996, ISBN 0-582-08037-1) gives the following for tone:
"…Tone is thus a critical concept which implies that literature is like speech, requiring a speaker and a listener, tone being the attitude adopted by the speaker to the listener ---the author's attitude toward the work, events, characters, or the reader/audience -- , gathered and understood from the kind of syntax and vocabulary used. For the full understanding of a work it is essential to recognize its tone or range of tones, however difficult that may be, especially for non-native speakers of English.
Irony, for example, in which an author does not mean what he or she says, may pass unnoticed, if the tone of a passage is misunderstood."
Mood = Atmosphere , State of mind .
"The Dictionary of Literary Terms" gives for Mood:
Mood (OE 'mind, feeling' from ON 'anger') A term used synonymously with atmosphere to indicate in a literary work theprevailing feeling or frame of mind, especially at the start of a play, poem or novel, creating a sense of expectation about what is to follow.
Some Adjectives to Describe :
Ironic , Clear , Detailed , Imploring , Monotonous , Suspicious,
Pompous, Witty ( Full of humor ) , matter-of-fact tone ……….
IRONY: A mode of expression, through words (verbal irony) or events (irony of situation), conveying a reality different from and usually opposite to appearance or expectation. A writer may say the opposite of what he means, create a reversal between expectation and its fulfillment, or give the audience knowledge that a character lacks, making the character's words have meaning to the audience not perceived by the character. In verbal irony, the writer's meaning or even his attitude may be different from what he says: "Why, no one would dare argue that there could be anything more important in choosing a college than its proximity to the beach." An example of situational irony would occur if a professional pickpocket had his own pocket picked just as he was in the act of picking someone else's pocket. The irony is generated by the surprise recognition by the audience of a reality in contrast with expectation or appearance, while another audience, victim, or character puts confidence in the appearance as reality (in this case, the pickpocket doesn't expect his own pocket to be picked). The surprise recognition by the audience often produces a comic effect, making irony often funny.
An example of dramatic irony (where the audience has knowledge that gives additional meaning to a character's words) would be when King Oedipus, who has unknowingly killed his father, says that he will banish his father's killer when he finds him.
Irony is the most common and most efficient technique of the satirist, because it is an instrument of truth, provides wit and humor, and is usually at least obliquely critical, in that it deflates, scorns, or attacks.
The ability to detect irony is sometimes heralded as a test of intelligence and sophistication. When a text intended to be ironic is not seen as such, the effect can be disastrous. Some students have taken Swift's "Modest Proposal" literally. And Defoe's contemporaries took his "Shortest Way with the Dissenters" literally and jailed him for it. To be an effective piece of sustained irony, there must be some sort of audience tip-off, through style, tone, use of clear exaggeration, or other device.
Irony: the discrepancy between what is said and what is meant, what is said and what is done, what is expected or intended and what happens, what is meant or said and what others understand. Sometimes irony is classified into types: in situational irony, expectations aroused by a situation are reversed; in cosmic irony or the irony of fate, misfortune is the result of fate, chance, or God; in dramatic irony. the audience knows more than the characters in the play, so that words and action have additional meaning for the audience; Socractic irony is named after Socrates' teaching method, whereby he assumes ignorance and openness to opposing points of view which turn out to be (he shows them to be) foolish. Click here for examples of irony.
Irony is often confused with sarcasm and satire:
English 1301- Music Analysis Essay
Explication de texte: A method, which originated in the teaching of literature in France, involving painstaking analysis fo the meanings, relationships, and ambiguities of the words, images, and other small units that make up a literary work.
Explication goes beyond the assimilation required for paraphrase and thus provides you with the opportunity to show your understanding of a work. There is no need, however, to explain EVERY line in the poem; you must decide what is important. A general explication devotes attention to the meaning of individual parts in relationship to the whole. It is your "reading" of the poem. You will need to be selective and to consider only those details that are significant to your own thematic development.
Your general explication will demonstrate your ability to 1) follow the essential details of the poem (paraphrase), 2) understand the issues and meanings revealed by the poem, 3) explain some of the relationships of content to technique, and 4) note and discuss especially important or unique aspects of the poem.
"Responding to Literature"
"Using Strategies for Literary Analysis": "its purpose is to illuminate the meaning of the work, to help you and others understand it better." ANALYZE * INTERPRET * EVALUATE what you read. Paragraphs 1-4 will analyze and interpret; paragraph 5 will interpret and evaluate-- explain the VALUE of the interpretation and analysis.
Steps:
1. Read the work CLOSELY
2. Reread the work.
3. Mark key points in the text to comprehend its meaning.
4. Identify possible evidence to back up your claims as you analyze and evaluate.
Reading Checklist:
Comprehend
1. What is the literal meaning?
2. What are the facts of the situation (plot, setting, characters)?
3. What does the vocabulary mean?
Analyze
4. Elements: Character, language, style, symbol, THEME.
5. What does it mean? What does it IMPLY?
6. What does it suggest about the human condition? How does it expand your understanding? What insights can you apply to your own life or to society as a whole?
Evaluate
7. How do you assess the work's soundness and plausibility?
8. Are the words and tone appropriate for the purpose and audience?
9. Does the author achieve his or her purpose and why is it worthwhile?
More information on analysis can be found on page 448 of your textbook.
Directions: Write a 5 paragraph, 2 FULL pages, essay in MLA format that analyzes one of the poems or songs listed below. Include a header, a unique title, and a bibliography that cites ONLY the song itself; you are NOT using any outside sources for this essay.
A citation that is not in MLA format will result in a deduction in your grade. YOU must find out who wrote the song, on which album the song was first released, and all other citation information. You will also need to number the lines of the song in order for internal citation information to make sense. Again, you are looking for the “theme” of the song lyrics.
Song titles are written in " ", and album titles are italicized: Marilyn Manson's song "The Beautiful People" is from his album Antichrist Superstar.
General FORMULA
Introduction: Lead-In that introduces the "subject" of the song but doesn't refer to the song specifically. This may be more than one sentence. You then give a one sentence introduction of the song that provides the "gist" of the surface meaning. Next, you transition to the notion that there's more to the song. Your thesis statement contains the name of the song, the artist, and presents a synopsis of the overall analysis of the song, which you will then develop in the following paragraphs.
Body 1: Literal/Surface Meaning: Here you discuss exactly what the song is describing, or the “facts” of the song, like who is narrating, what is the subject, describe the situation being presented, etc. Do NOT go into any interpretation in this paragraph. Use quotes (at least 3). Include at least 3 correctly cited SHORT quotes-- the quotes must not be "interpreted"-- you are just stating the "surface" or "obvious" subject of the song.
Body 2: Symbolic/Underlying Meaning: Here you discuss the interpretive meaning of the song. You use quotes (at least 3) to show that there is another layer of meaning underneath the “facts” of what is being stated. This may be conveyed through the “symbolism” or specific “imagery”.
Present a specific aspect of the lyrics that helps to determine the symbolic/underlying meaning. Your next paragraph would do the same but with a different aspect (think of your literary terminology-- perspective, imagery, symbolism, alliteration, rhyme, tone/mood, etc...). Then, your conclusion would link it all into a solid interpretation-- defining the message of the song.
** Some songs have a DUAL meaning (in other words, there is the surface story, then there is a symbolic "under story". Other songs tell a story but use deep symbolism, metaphor, etc. to tell that story. Either way, par. 2 is going to cover the basic, general "plot", and par. 3 and 4 are going to reveal the deeper meaning and the techniques the artist uses to reveal the dual/underlying meaning or the techniques he/she uses in order to reveal the depths of the meaning).
Body 3: This paragraph ties in a specific aspect of the lyrics that is integral in formulating its underlying meaning. Use your literary vocabulary. Examples may be a use of irony, motif, repetition, a shift in tone/mood, etc. What you will choose to discuss is specific to each song. Make sure you have at least 3 quotes to prove your analysis, and make sure to CONNECT your analysis to the underlying meaning.
Conclusion: This paragraph states the poem’s overall message and its social commentary-- its relevance. This basically takes the message and shows how it can be applied to society today. It also should reveal the VALUE of the song as a piece of art.
All paragraphs must be a minimum of 5 sentences in length, and body paragraphs must contain a minimum of 3 short quotes. Do NOT miss the connection part of the paragraph; it isn’t good enough to simply state an idea or example. You must also clearly explain how that idea or example “proves” your thesis (or contributes to an understanding of the theme of the song lyrics).e format to cite a song as we do to cite a poem.
Here's a way of organizing your body paragraphs: Topic. Introduce quote (proof), state quote, cite, and explain. Then move onto another quote (example). Make sure you have 3 per body paragraph.
This is NOT a line by line song analysis; you should examine the overall “theme” of the song lyrics.
General Format Ideas to Contemplate:
Introduction should include: General information about the song and general thematic content. You may want to include a “lead-in” that discusses the “topic” at issue in the song and then bridge that to the specific subject at hand.
THINK: What message do the song lyrics send? What ideas are conveyed by the imagery? What about the song’s content makes it a valuable piece of art?
KEY WORD: TENSION-- you must find the "tension" in the song. The message is derived from the source of tension in the story.
Do not look up interpretations of these lyrics! I HAVE, and I WILL KNOW IF YOU DID TOO. Derive your OWN meaning from the lyrics.
The name of the song and artist must be mentioned in the first paragraph, but this information should not stand alone as a sentence in and of itself. Song titles are in “quotes”; album titles are underlined or italicized. Cite lines of songs; you must have 3-4 short quotes per body paragraph—no long quotes in short papers! THE RULE OF 3 is a good idea to employ here. Quote only pieces of the song at a time. Never leave quotes hanging; only choose quotes that fit your topic, and explain HOW they do so.
Sample of punctuating internal citations:
NOTE: Updated MLA format says that after the first time you write line, i.e. (line 26), in subsequent citations, you can eliminate the word "line", i.e. (28-30).
The girls’ “eyes painted red” (line 26) serve as a reference to the state of being high. Other references to her eyes include, “I see seven towers / But I only see one way out / You got to cry without weeping” (14-16), and “the storm blows up in her eyes” (32). Eyes become a metaphor for understanding in the song; one must get past the surface image of the disease before it clouds the vision to the point of causing a complete denial, or “blindness,” to this deadly addiction.
Notes: I want you to first and foremost think about the symbolic meaning of the lyrics that you read. To be impactful, an essay like this must present a tension.... this is what the song seems to be saying, but if one looks deeper, this other meaning is revealed. It is your job to both summarize that surface meaning and analyze that deeper one. When you discuss symbols, it is important to explain them as well... connect the meaning to its symbol.
You will have to rely on some of your literary elements when writing this essay. What guiding element does the songwriter use to deliver his message? Is it tone/mood? Symbolism? Imagery? Rhyme? Is there a dual meaning for some of the guiding images in the song? Remember, you are looking for a dual meaning for this song-- so maybe some of the elements hint at that duality? Tone/Mood, Symbolism, Irony, and Imagery can all contain polarities-- dual aspects. Discover those first, then you can better analyze what they mean. There are reference boxes below that give you the types of words to include when describing the literary elements.
Key Words:
TENSION
POLARIZATION
JUXTAPOSITION
HIDDEN MEANING
UNDERLYING MEANING
DUAL MEANING
Fill this out for your song choice:
** Your essay must contain a Work Cited Page that cites the song in MLA format.\
Pre-Writing Worksheet! [First answer the Discovery Checklist on page 272 in your textbook.]
Title of Song: ___________________________ Artist:_________________________________
TONE/MOOD of song (descriptive adjectives): ___________________________________________________________
Plot (Summarize in 3 Steps): 1._______________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________________________________
Symbols: ______________________ is symbolic of ___________________________________ because _____________________________________
______________________ is symbolic of ___________________________________ because _____________________________________
______________________ is symbolic of ___________________________________ because _____________________________________
______________________ is symbolic of ___________________________________ because _____________________________________
What is ironic about the song? _________________________________________________________________________________________
What is the TENSION in the song, the 2 ideas, symbols, meanings, etc. that are pulling against each other?
______________________________________________ and _________________________________________________
What is the THEME, MESSAGE, or SOCIAL COMMENTARY of the song-- the overall "lesson" that can be "learned" from the "story" presented in these lyrics? Summarize this succinctly, and make sure you are presenting this as a complete idea, not just one word or a short phrase:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LITERARY TERMS
Literary Terms: http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/yorba/literary_elements.htm
Tone & Mood Interpretive fiction presents the reader with significant insights into life and into human nature. Such truths take a greater hold when they are conveyed through our feelings as well as through our intellect. * Identifying the tone or mood is often an important clue to help the reader discover literary themes.
* Considering how a writer creates a certain tone or mood helps the reader appreciate the author's style.
Tone = Style or Manner of expression in speech or writing .
The Dictionary of Literary Terms by Martin Gray (Longman/York Press,
1996, ISBN 0-582-08037-1) gives the following for tone:
"…Tone is thus a critical concept which implies that literature is like speech, requiring a speaker and a listener, tone being the attitude adopted by the speaker to the listener ---the author's attitude toward the work, events, characters, or the reader/audience -- , gathered and understood from the kind of syntax and vocabulary used. For the full understanding of a work it is essential to recognize its tone or range of tones, however difficult that may be, especially for non-native speakers of English.
Irony, for example, in which an author does not mean what he or she says, may pass unnoticed, if the tone of a passage is misunderstood."
Mood = Atmosphere , State of mind .
"The Dictionary of Literary Terms" gives for Mood:
Mood (OE 'mind, feeling' from ON 'anger') A term used synonymously with atmosphere to indicate in a literary work theprevailing feeling or frame of mind, especially at the start of a play, poem or novel, creating a sense of expectation about what is to follow.
Some Adjectives to Describe :
- Tone : Formal , Informal , Serious , Humorous , Amused , Angry ,
Ironic , Clear , Detailed , Imploring , Monotonous , Suspicious,
Pompous, Witty ( Full of humor ) , matter-of-fact tone ……….
- Mood : Fictional , Imaginary , Fanciful , Idealistic ,Romantic , Realistic,
IRONY: A mode of expression, through words (verbal irony) or events (irony of situation), conveying a reality different from and usually opposite to appearance or expectation. A writer may say the opposite of what he means, create a reversal between expectation and its fulfillment, or give the audience knowledge that a character lacks, making the character's words have meaning to the audience not perceived by the character. In verbal irony, the writer's meaning or even his attitude may be different from what he says: "Why, no one would dare argue that there could be anything more important in choosing a college than its proximity to the beach." An example of situational irony would occur if a professional pickpocket had his own pocket picked just as he was in the act of picking someone else's pocket. The irony is generated by the surprise recognition by the audience of a reality in contrast with expectation or appearance, while another audience, victim, or character puts confidence in the appearance as reality (in this case, the pickpocket doesn't expect his own pocket to be picked). The surprise recognition by the audience often produces a comic effect, making irony often funny.
An example of dramatic irony (where the audience has knowledge that gives additional meaning to a character's words) would be when King Oedipus, who has unknowingly killed his father, says that he will banish his father's killer when he finds him.
Irony is the most common and most efficient technique of the satirist, because it is an instrument of truth, provides wit and humor, and is usually at least obliquely critical, in that it deflates, scorns, or attacks.
The ability to detect irony is sometimes heralded as a test of intelligence and sophistication. When a text intended to be ironic is not seen as such, the effect can be disastrous. Some students have taken Swift's "Modest Proposal" literally. And Defoe's contemporaries took his "Shortest Way with the Dissenters" literally and jailed him for it. To be an effective piece of sustained irony, there must be some sort of audience tip-off, through style, tone, use of clear exaggeration, or other device.
Irony: the discrepancy between what is said and what is meant, what is said and what is done, what is expected or intended and what happens, what is meant or said and what others understand. Sometimes irony is classified into types: in situational irony, expectations aroused by a situation are reversed; in cosmic irony or the irony of fate, misfortune is the result of fate, chance, or God; in dramatic irony. the audience knows more than the characters in the play, so that words and action have additional meaning for the audience; Socractic irony is named after Socrates' teaching method, whereby he assumes ignorance and openness to opposing points of view which turn out to be (he shows them to be) foolish. Click here for examples of irony.
Irony is often confused with sarcasm and satire:
- Sarcasm is one kind of irony; it is praise which is really an insult; sarcasm generally invovles malice, the desire to put someone down, e.g., "This is my brilliant son, who failed out of college."
- Satire is the exposure of the vices or follies of an indiviudal, a group, an institution, an idea, a society, etc., usually with a view to correcting it. Satirists frequently use irony.
SAMPLE ESSAYS
"Hurt": In-Class Sample Hurt lyrics
I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
[Chorus:]
What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here
[Chorus:]
What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb4qyuR7_cc
NIN : "Hurt" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb4qyuR7_cc
When thinking about content for your introduction, think first of the THEME in general. You might start with a brief discussion introducing that general theme. For example, if your song is about drug addiction, perhaps you'd make some initial observations about addiction in general, then connect those general ideas to the specific content at hand. Or, start with a lead-in or frame. End by referencing that frame (or your title) and bringing the analysis back full circle.
For your body paragraphs, you are going to think about how the song portrays that theme. Essentially, the first body paragraph avoids analysis; it simply states the content of the song. The next 2 body paragraphs focus on elements of the song that lead you to an interpretive meaning. For this particular essay, i've chosen point of view and imagery as my literary elements of focus; Reznor sends his message through creative use of these vehicles.
Name
English 1301, Summer 2015
Essay #: Analysis (Music)
Exposing the Truth Underneath the Crown: An Analysis of Trent Reznor’s “Hurt”
Many people aspire to be famous; even more people experience moments of disappointment about who they are and wish to trade lives with someone in the spotlight. However, many times, underneath the spotlight and bright glow of stardom lurks depression and addiction. Trent Reznor’s song “Hurt” depicts the emotions of a drug addict and the consequences of fame. Through his lyrics, Reznor invites listeners to gain an understanding of a situation that is unfathomable to most. The song is an admission of the fragility of man, and while it recounts the consequences of a serious disease, it also conveys the image of a flawed human being. The song is also a blatantly honest expression of what it really means to be human. Trent Reznor's "Hurt" is a powerful display of the reality of the loneliness and despair that often lies behind the appearance of being on top of the world. ** If you get stuck in introductions, use your formula. Notice that I begin with a lead-in that does not specifically mention the song, only the SUBJECT of the song. Eventually I connect that general subject to the specific one-- this particular song. I then discuss the general themes of the song.
On the surface, “Hurt” refers to the emotional state of a drug addict, whose “focus [is] on the pain / the only thing that’s real” (lines 3-4). However, the reality of the pain of addiction becomes all too real, but when he attempts to “kill it all away” (7), he merely reverts backs to “the needle… the old familiar sting” (5-6). This cycle is a “catch-22” because the addict tries to ease the pain of addiction by taking more drugs, which perpetuates the pain. Sadly, despite resorting to this dangerous measure of escape through drug abuse, the addict admits with haunting honesty, “I remember everything” (8). The story Reznor tells seems immensely personal in nature. ** This paragraph just simply states what is going on in the song. No interpretation is needed in this paragraph, just summarize the "plot" of the story (that is, in this case, told through song).
The use of perspective, the first person “I” and the second person “you,” humanizes the stereotypical face of addiction. The song, therefore, acts as an honest admission of human flaws. Not only is the addiction itself representative of human flaw, but so too are the actions of the addict. He admits, “I will let you down / I will make you hurt” (15-16). The addict knows that human perfection is impossible and wants to warn those close to him of his personal flaws. He leaves hints for the motivation for his actions, that “everyone [he] know[s] / Goes away in the end” (11-12), but the statement only begs the question, do they leave because of his addiction, or is the addiction caused by their leaving? However, this admission not only lends a personal feel to the song, but it also creates a sympathetic view toward this particular addict.** Notice the technique being used here: The topic is presented in the first sentence, and the impact that our key word has on the meaning of the song is revealed in the last sentence.
Citizens of modern America are often programmed to desire fame and fortune, but this song shows that fame and fortune do come with a price. In exchange for money and notoriety, they give up privacy and anonymity, which can often have serious emotional consequences, such as addiction. Interestingly, within the lyrics of the song, images of the despair of addiction are juxtaposed with images of royalty. The addict refers to his “empire of dirt” (14) and “crown of shit” (17). The parallel between these polar opposite images serves to solidify the idea that even those who appear to have it all can be one step away from having nothing. Even kings are just human beings underneath their crowns. In the end, the addict would choose to “keep [himself] / [he] would find a way” (lines 35-36); he would gladly trade his image for some semblance of a normal life. ** Placing your topic sentence somewhere besides sentence 1 is tricky; it is a technique that experienced writers can more comfortably use. If you are a more tentative or blossoming writer, stick to the formula of placing your topic statements first.
Trent Reznor's "Hurt" makes the emotions of addiction relatable to listeners. Imbedded deep within the pained and haunting lyrics of the song is something darkly beautiful. [Value Words] Sadly, there are no magic pills to make unwanted memories disappear. The addict laments that he is “full of broken thoughts / I cannot repair” (19-20). While “the stain of time” (21) can ease wounded feelings, the addict emerges “still right here,” (24) wondering, “what have I become?” (25). Hopefully his bold admission proves to be enough of a motivation for him to seek permanent help for his addiction. If not, we can remain thankful that some beauty can come from such despair. We can be thankful that someone would have enough guts to lift their crown and to expose, even for just a brief moment, the humanity underneath. ** This paragraph is devoted to the social commentary of the song-- what this story can teach society-- what we "get" from the lyrics, as well as the VALUE of the song.
Work Cited
Reznor, Trent. "Hurt". The Downward Spiral. Interscope, 1994. CD.
In regards to Johnny Cash's cover of his song, Reznor said: "I pop the video in, and wow… Tears welling, silence, goose-bumps… Wow. [I felt like] I just lost my girlfriend, because that song isn't mine anymore… It really made me think about how powerful music is as a medium and art form. I wrote some words and music in my bedroom as a way of staying sane, about a bleak and desperate place I was in, totally isolated and alone. [Somehow] that winds up reinterpreted by a music legend from a radically different era/genre and still retains sincerity and meaning — different, but every bit as pure."
Sample Analysis Essay:
Choosing a Path: An Analysis of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”
Our lives are a journey, and along the way, different paths are presented to us; while each path is a choice, within each path lays a series of other choices. In life, some choices are big, and others are small, but every choice a person makes can have a profound impact. While some decisions are clear, others are less so; the process of determining those less clear choices can be tense and confusing. In the poem “The Road Not Taken”, Robert Frost presents the complexities of choice using the metaphor of paths in the woods. Throughout the poem, the narrator reflects not only on the process of the decision, but on the outcome as well.
“The Road Not Taken” recounts a personal experience as told by a narrator using the first person. The first image of the poem, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (line 1) places the setting of the experience outdoors amongst the woods. It is here that the “traveler, long… stood” (line 3) trying to determine which road to follow. The narrator defines the choice as being between a road that had “bent in the undergrowth” (line 5), one that is “grassy and wanted wear” (line 8), and one that “In leaves no step had trodden black” (line 12); while each path was traveled in different amounts, he makes it clear that each was “just as fair” (line 7) as the other. In the end, he reveals the path he has chosen and admits that it “had made all the difference” (line 20), which leaves readers wondering about the specifics of that choice and its outcome.
The setting of the poem, literally amongst nature, has great significance in the poem. The description “yellow wood” (line 1) introduces the setting in a positive way as “yellow” is a vibrant color usually associated with the sun. While further description is more obscure, such as “bent in the undergrowth” (line 5) and descriptive words such as “grassy” (line 8), “worn” (line 10), and “trodden black” (line 12), the setting of the poem, like the decision-making process, is treated positively overall. The natural setting can be viewed as a parallel to the natural state the narrator finds himself in as he can “not travel both” (line 2) paths and must choose one. Decisions, in general, are a natural part of life; with this observation, it becomes clear that the man’s journey can be related to every person’s life journey.
While readers can relate to the narrator’s situation of having to make a choice, which is part of human nature, they may also relate to the outcome of the choice. People seem conditioned to travel the easier road; the narrator though finds the less predictable path where “no step had trodden black” (line 12) more appealing and saves “the first for another day!” (line 12). In other words, rather than follow in others’ footsteps, the narrator chooses his or her own path. The narrator clearly reveals, “I took the one less traveled by” (line 14), but the message comes with the admission, “And that has made all the difference” (line 20). Through the narrator’s reflection, readers are forced to contemplate the notion that choosing the seemingly harder path in life can lead to a more fulfilling future.
Like the narrator, readers may also look to a time past when they have made an important decision in life, as well as to a time future when “with a sigh” (line 16) they may find themselves telling of that choice “ages hence” (line 17). If the narrator had traveled the road more often taken, then the outcome may have been more predictable; however, it may not have been as rewarding. Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” reflects upon the process of decision making and probes readers to examine the possibility of choosing a less predictable path. Like the narrator, we too are impacted by our choices; in fact, our life is a collection of choices. Therefore, we should strive to uncover our own unique, individual path that leads to our own unique, personal destiny.
Work Cited
Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken”. Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing 7th Edition,
Ed. Kirszner and Mandell. Wadsworth: USA, 2009. 1024-1025.
"Blackbird" by The Beatles
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,oh
You were only waiting for this moment to arise, oh
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
INTRODUCTION * LITERAL/SURFACE MEANING * SPECIFIC ASPECT OF THE POEM THAT GUIDES ITS UNDERLYING MEANING * SYMBOLIC/UNDERLYING MEANING * [NOTE THAT PARAGRAPHS 2 & 3 can be interchanged] * CONCLUSION (SOCIAL COMMENTARY-- MESSAGE)
SAMPLE ESSAY:
“Take These Broken Wings and Learn to Fly”: The Inspiration of “Blackbird”
The 1960's were a tumultuous time in America; this was the height of The Civil Rights Movement, when the fight for social justice was at the forefront. The song “Blackbird” written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and performed by The Beatles, carefully and quietly addresses this atmosphere of healing the wounds of injustice and is both inspirational and poetic.One might observe that there was a lot of discord and "disconnect" in society at the time, and the song embraces the notion of "connectedness". In its lines, images of joy and pain are juxtaposed to create a message of hope. Througout the song poem, we can all come to identify with the blackbird. What first seems like a short lyric about a blackbird becomes a commentary on humanity.
Literally, “Blackbird” is about a bird that has recently healed from an injury. The narrator speaks to the bird and encourages it to once again fly. The narrator repeats several times to the bird, “you were only waiting for this moment to arise” (lines 4, 16-18), which indicates that the bird has anticipated this recovery. The poem captures the moment when the bird must finally “take these broken wings and learn to fly” (line 2). However, the message of inspiration to recovery in this particular situation resonates beyond the bird and into society as well.
What underlies the narrator’s expression to the bird is an extension of encouragement to all people who have been held down for any reason. It is a message intended to reach the depressed, abused, unconfident, uneducated, ill, and all others in society who are experiencing such situations. The message for those fighting these odds is to go out and live life, to “arise” and “fly”. The narrator says, "One must “take these sunken eyes and learn to see” (line 6); in essence, one must embrace their situation and overcome anything that stands in their way of living life to its fullest. Human beings can take comfort in knowing that sometimes hardship can breed a new appreciation for life, or in the bird's particular case, "freedom".
The “blackbird” becomes the vehicle for this humanistic idea of hope. The color of the bird, black, may represent the ills people in society face; whether a person is confused, misunderstood, shunned, or has some physical ailment, we are all linked together by pain and hope. There is always “light [in] the dark black night” (line 10); one can always find hope amidst the pain. Amongst the blackness of the poem is the sound of chirping birds; the down blackbird finds a way to “sing in the dead of night” (line 1). Just as the blackbird sings, so too does the artist; they are conveying a message of hope through song. The juxtaposition of dark and light images serves to solidify the idea of acceptance of the negative and a focus on the healing to come.
Everyone faces battles in their lifetime. The period in which the lyrics to "Blackbird" were among the most turbulent our nation has experienced, but from those ashes of the Civil Rights Movement, a new and more hopeful time has arisen. No battle is so extensive or complicated to be fought. One must face their fears, inner demons, and labels and focus on overcoming all obstacles. Like the blackbird, we must embrace our “moment to be free” (line 8) and release anything that would hold us back; we should "arise". The "you" in the song resonates beyond the bird to all of "us". Lennon and McCartney’s poetic words are words of inspiration and hope, even if in the darkest of times.
** Double-spacing is necessary in MLA format.
Song Choices: [Note that these are copied and pasted; you can look up the lyrics online as well.]
* These particular songs have been chosen for their depth of content, which can be analyzed using the methods explained to you in class.
** Do NOT choose a song simply based on which genre of music you prefer! Choose a song in which you can find an interpretive meaning.
Most semesters, I catch a plagiarist for this particular essay. Students will look up the song they choose and read others' analysis, then they interpret the song based on what they have read... or simply copy what they've found. DO NOT DO THIS. Make sure the interpretation is ALL YOUR OWN.
Choices for Analysis:
1. “Jeremy” by Pearl Jam (consider all the symbolism in the lyrics and how it reveals a very disturbing portrait of not only Jeremy, but of society as well)
At home
Drawing pictures
Of mountain tops
With him on top
Lemon yellow sun
Arms raised in a V
Dead lay in pools of maroon below
Daddy didn't give attention
To the fact that mommy didn't care
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Clearly I remember
Pickin' on the boy
Seemed a harmless little fuck
But we unleashed a lion
Gnashed his teeth
And bit the recessed lady's breast
How could i forget
He hit me with a surprise left
My jaw left hurtin
Dropped wide open
Just like the day
Like the day i heard
Daddy didn't give affection
And the boy was something mommy wouldn't wear
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Try to forget this...
Try to erase this...
From the blackboard.
2. "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" by Smashing Pumpkins [Consider the irony of the title and the symbolism]
The world is a vampire, sent to drain
Secret destroyers, hold you up to the flames
And what do I get, for my pain?
Betrayed desires, and a piece of the game
Even though I know - I suppose I'll show
All my cool and cold - like old Job
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Now I'm naked, nothing but an animal
But can you fake it, for just one more show?
And what do you want?
I want to change
And what have you got, when you feel the same?
Even though I know - I suppose I'll show
All my cool and cold - like old job
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Tell me I'm the only one
Tell me there's no other one
Jesus was the only son, yeah.
Tell me I'm the chosen one
Jesus was the only son for you
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
And someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a-
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a-
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Tell me I'm the only one
Tell me there's no other one
Jesus was the only son for you
[4x]
And I still believe that I cannot be saved
3. "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead [Consider the imagery, symbolism, and message about this person and society in turn...]
Her green plastic watering can
For her fake Chinese rubber plant
In the fake plastic earth
That she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber plans
To get rid of itself
It wears her out, it wears her out
It wears her out, it wears her out
She lives with a broken man
A cracked polystyrene man
Who just crumbles and burns
He used to do surgery
For girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins
It wears him out, it wears him out
It wears him out, it wears him out
She looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love
But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run
It wears me out, it wears me out
It wears me out, it wears me out
If I could be who you wanted
If I could be who you wanted all the time
All the time...
All the time...
4. "Royals" By Lorde [Consider the juxtaposition of imagery in the song that is used to reveal its meaning]
[Verse 1]
I've never seen a diamond in the flesh
I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
And I'm not proud of my address,
In a torn-up town, no postcode envy
But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room,
We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams.
But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece.
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash.
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair.
And we'll never be royals (royals).
It don't run in our blood,
That kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz.
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me queen Bee
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.
[Verse 2]
My friends and I—we've cracked the code.
We count our dollars on the train to the party.
And everyone who knows us knows that we're fine with this,
We didn't come from money.
But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom.
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room,
We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams.
But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece.
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair
And we'll never be royals (royals).
It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz.
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me queen Bee
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.
Ooh ooh oh
We're bigger than we ever dreamed,
And I'm in love with being queen.
Ooh ooh oh
Life is great without a care
We aren't caught up in your love affair.
And we'll never be royals (royals).
It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me queen Bee
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.
5. "Chandelier" by Sia [Consider the symbolism of the title and how it relates to the meaning; consider the tension of imagery]
Party girls don't get hurt
Can't feel anything, when will I learn
I push it down, push it down
I'm the one "for a good time call"
Phone's blowin' up, ringin' my doorbell
I feel the love, feel the love
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
Throw 'em back, till I lose count
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
Like it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
Sun is up, I'm a mess
Gotta get out now, gotta run from this
Here comes the shame, here comes the shame
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
Throw 'em back till I lose count
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
Like it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
On for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Oh, I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
On for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Oh, I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
On for tonight
6. "When Doves Cry" by Prince [Consider all of the symbolism and the dual story]
Dig if you will a picture
Of you and I engaged in a kiss
The sweat of your body covers me
Can you my darling
Can you picture this?
Dream if you can a courtyard
An ocean of violets in bloom
Animals strike curious poses
They feel the heat
The heat between me and you
How can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world that's so cold (So cold)
Maybe I'm just too demanding
Maybe I'm just like my father too bold
Maybe you're just like my mother
She's never satisfied (She's never satisfied)
Why do we scream at each other?
This is what it sounds like
When doves cry
Touch if you will my stomach
Feel how it trembles inside
You've got the butterflies all tied up
Don't make me chase you
Even doves have pride
How can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world so cold (World so cold)
Maybe I'm just too demanding
Maybe I'm just like my father too bold
Maybe you're just like my mother
She's never satisfied (She's never satisfied)
Why do we scream at each other?
This is what it sounds like
When doves cry
How can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world that's so cold (A world that's so cold)
Maybe I'm just too demanding (Maybe, maybe I'm like my father)
Maybe I'm just like my father too bold (Ya, know he's to bold)
Maybe you're just like my mother (Maybe you're just like my
Mother)
She's never satisfied (She's never, never satisfied)
Why do we scream at each other (Why do we scream, why?)
This is what it sounds like
When doves cry
When doves cry (Doves cry, doves cry)
When doves cry (Doves cry, doves cry)
Don't Cry (Don't Cry)
When doves cry
When doves cry
When doves cry
When Doves cry (Doves cry, doves cry, doves cry
Don't cry
Darling don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
7. "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles [Consider the juxtaposition of the two 'characters' and the symbolic commentary on "loneliness]
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near
Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
What does he care?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved
All the lonely people (Ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people (Ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all belong?
8. "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver [Consider the symbolism, particularly of the title]
Come on skinny love just last the year
Pour a little salt we were never here
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer
I tell my love to wreck it all
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Right in the moment this order's tall
I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
In the morning I'll be with you
But it will be a different "kind"
I'll be holding all the tickets
And you'll be owning all the fines
Come on skinny love what happened here
Suckle on the hope in light brassiere
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Sullen load is full; so slow on the split
I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
Now all your love is wasted?
Then who the hell was I?
Now I'm breaking at the britches
And at the end of all your lines
Who will love you?
Who will fight?
Who will fall far behind?
Ooh, ooh
9. Shoots and Ladders by KORN [Consider the symbolic nature of the nursery rhymes, spelling of the title, and the message being conveyed]
Ring around the rosies
Pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
Ring around the rosies
Pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
Nursery rhymes are said, verses in my head
Into my childhood they're spoon fed
Hidden violence revealed, darkness that seems real
Look at the pages that cause all this evil
One, two, buckle my shoe
Three, four, shut the door
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight
London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down
London bridge is falling down, my fair lady
Nursery rhymes are said, verses in my head
Into my childhood they're spoon fed
Hidden violence revealed, darkness that seems real
Look at the pages that cause all this evil
Nick-nack paddywack, give a dog a bone, this old man came rolling home
Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow
Baa baa black sheep have you any wool?
Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full
Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow
Mary had a little lamb!
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full (white trash crone)
Ring around the rosies
Pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
Ring around the rosies
Pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
Nursery rhymes are said, verses in my head
Into my childhood they're spoon fed
Hidden violence revealed, darkness that seems real
Look at the pages that cause all this evil
10. "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie
Love of mine, some day you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark
No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the No's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me,
"Son, fear is the heart of love."
So I never went back
If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the No's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
It's nothing to cry about
'Cause we'll hold each other soon
In the blackest of rooms
If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the No's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark
11. "Till The Sun Turns Black" by Ray LaMontagne [Consider the dual meaning of
the title]
Can you see the young and pretty
Confident as cops
Blooming, laughing in the shops
Till the sun turns black
Can you see the old and lonely
Walking through the park
Pushing grocery carts
Till the sun turns black
Can you see the corporate man
He's winning on the telephone
His possessions are his throne
Till the sun turns black
Can you see him in his lounger
Watching TV in the dark
Waiting for a spark
Till the sun turns black
Oh oh oh oh oh
Who are we
Oh oh oh oh oh
Who are we
Who are we
Can you see the working classes
Trudging through their days
Time goes slowly when you're only waiting
Till the sun turns black
Can you see the wise man simply
Living, loving quietly
Every breath he takes eternity
Till the sun turns black
12. "The A Team" by Ed Sheeran
White lips, pale face
Breathing in snowflakes
Burnt lungs, sour taste
Light's gone, day's end
Struggling to pay rent
Long nights, strange men
And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since eighteen
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
'Cause we're just under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple grams
And she don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland
Or sells love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
Angels to fly
Ripped gloves, raincoat
Tried to swim and stay afloat
Dry house, wet clothes
Loose change, bank notes
Weary-eyed, dry throat
Call girl, no phone
And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since eighteen
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
'Cause we're just under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple grams
And she don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland
Or sells love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
An angel will die
Covered in white
Closed eye
And hoping for a better life
This time, we'll fade out tonight
Straight down the line
And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since eighteen
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
They scream
The worst things in life come free to us
And we're all under the upper hand
Go mad for a couple grams
And we don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe we fly to the Motherland
Or sell love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
Angels to fly
To fly, fly
For angels to fly, to fly, to fly
For angels to die
13. "The Dance" by Garth Brooks
Looking back
On the memory of
The dance we shared
'Neath the stars above
For a moment
All the world was right
How could I have known
That you'd ever say goodbye
And now
I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go
Our lives
Are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss
The dance
Holding you
I held everything
For a moment
Wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known
How the king would fall
Hey who's to say
You know I might have changed it all
And now
I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go
Our lives
Are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss
The dance
Yes my life
It's better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss
The dance
* These particular songs have been chosen for their depth of content, which can be analyzed using the methods explained to you in class.
** Do NOT choose a song simply based on which genre of music you prefer! Choose a song in which you can find an interpretive meaning.
Most semesters, I catch a plagiarist for this particular essay. Students will look up the song they choose and read others' analysis, then they interpret the song based on what they have read... or simply copy what they've found. DO NOT DO THIS. Make sure the interpretation is ALL YOUR OWN.
Choices for Analysis:
1. “Jeremy” by Pearl Jam (consider all the symbolism in the lyrics and how it reveals a very disturbing portrait of not only Jeremy, but of society as well)
At home
Drawing pictures
Of mountain tops
With him on top
Lemon yellow sun
Arms raised in a V
Dead lay in pools of maroon below
Daddy didn't give attention
To the fact that mommy didn't care
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Clearly I remember
Pickin' on the boy
Seemed a harmless little fuck
But we unleashed a lion
Gnashed his teeth
And bit the recessed lady's breast
How could i forget
He hit me with a surprise left
My jaw left hurtin
Dropped wide open
Just like the day
Like the day i heard
Daddy didn't give affection
And the boy was something mommy wouldn't wear
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Try to forget this...
Try to erase this...
From the blackboard.
2. "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" by Smashing Pumpkins [Consider the irony of the title and the symbolism]
The world is a vampire, sent to drain
Secret destroyers, hold you up to the flames
And what do I get, for my pain?
Betrayed desires, and a piece of the game
Even though I know - I suppose I'll show
All my cool and cold - like old Job
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Now I'm naked, nothing but an animal
But can you fake it, for just one more show?
And what do you want?
I want to change
And what have you got, when you feel the same?
Even though I know - I suppose I'll show
All my cool and cold - like old job
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Tell me I'm the only one
Tell me there's no other one
Jesus was the only son, yeah.
Tell me I'm the chosen one
Jesus was the only son for you
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
And someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a-
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a-
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Tell me I'm the only one
Tell me there's no other one
Jesus was the only son for you
[4x]
And I still believe that I cannot be saved
3. "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead [Consider the imagery, symbolism, and message about this person and society in turn...]
Her green plastic watering can
For her fake Chinese rubber plant
In the fake plastic earth
That she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber plans
To get rid of itself
It wears her out, it wears her out
It wears her out, it wears her out
She lives with a broken man
A cracked polystyrene man
Who just crumbles and burns
He used to do surgery
For girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins
It wears him out, it wears him out
It wears him out, it wears him out
She looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love
But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run
It wears me out, it wears me out
It wears me out, it wears me out
If I could be who you wanted
If I could be who you wanted all the time
All the time...
All the time...
4. "Royals" By Lorde [Consider the juxtaposition of imagery in the song that is used to reveal its meaning]
[Verse 1]
I've never seen a diamond in the flesh
I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
And I'm not proud of my address,
In a torn-up town, no postcode envy
But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room,
We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams.
But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece.
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash.
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair.
And we'll never be royals (royals).
It don't run in our blood,
That kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz.
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me queen Bee
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.
[Verse 2]
My friends and I—we've cracked the code.
We count our dollars on the train to the party.
And everyone who knows us knows that we're fine with this,
We didn't come from money.
But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom.
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room,
We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams.
But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece.
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair
And we'll never be royals (royals).
It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz.
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me queen Bee
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.
Ooh ooh oh
We're bigger than we ever dreamed,
And I'm in love with being queen.
Ooh ooh oh
Life is great without a care
We aren't caught up in your love affair.
And we'll never be royals (royals).
It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me queen Bee
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.
5. "Chandelier" by Sia [Consider the symbolism of the title and how it relates to the meaning; consider the tension of imagery]
Party girls don't get hurt
Can't feel anything, when will I learn
I push it down, push it down
I'm the one "for a good time call"
Phone's blowin' up, ringin' my doorbell
I feel the love, feel the love
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
Throw 'em back, till I lose count
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
Like it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
Sun is up, I'm a mess
Gotta get out now, gotta run from this
Here comes the shame, here comes the shame
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
Throw 'em back till I lose count
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
Like it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
On for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Oh, I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
On for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Oh, I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
On for tonight
6. "When Doves Cry" by Prince [Consider all of the symbolism and the dual story]
Dig if you will a picture
Of you and I engaged in a kiss
The sweat of your body covers me
Can you my darling
Can you picture this?
Dream if you can a courtyard
An ocean of violets in bloom
Animals strike curious poses
They feel the heat
The heat between me and you
How can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world that's so cold (So cold)
Maybe I'm just too demanding
Maybe I'm just like my father too bold
Maybe you're just like my mother
She's never satisfied (She's never satisfied)
Why do we scream at each other?
This is what it sounds like
When doves cry
Touch if you will my stomach
Feel how it trembles inside
You've got the butterflies all tied up
Don't make me chase you
Even doves have pride
How can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world so cold (World so cold)
Maybe I'm just too demanding
Maybe I'm just like my father too bold
Maybe you're just like my mother
She's never satisfied (She's never satisfied)
Why do we scream at each other?
This is what it sounds like
When doves cry
How can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world that's so cold (A world that's so cold)
Maybe I'm just too demanding (Maybe, maybe I'm like my father)
Maybe I'm just like my father too bold (Ya, know he's to bold)
Maybe you're just like my mother (Maybe you're just like my
Mother)
She's never satisfied (She's never, never satisfied)
Why do we scream at each other (Why do we scream, why?)
This is what it sounds like
When doves cry
When doves cry (Doves cry, doves cry)
When doves cry (Doves cry, doves cry)
Don't Cry (Don't Cry)
When doves cry
When doves cry
When doves cry
When Doves cry (Doves cry, doves cry, doves cry
Don't cry
Darling don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
7. "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles [Consider the juxtaposition of the two 'characters' and the symbolic commentary on "loneliness]
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near
Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
What does he care?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved
All the lonely people (Ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people (Ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all belong?
8. "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver [Consider the symbolism, particularly of the title]
Come on skinny love just last the year
Pour a little salt we were never here
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer
I tell my love to wreck it all
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Right in the moment this order's tall
I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
In the morning I'll be with you
But it will be a different "kind"
I'll be holding all the tickets
And you'll be owning all the fines
Come on skinny love what happened here
Suckle on the hope in light brassiere
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Sullen load is full; so slow on the split
I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
Now all your love is wasted?
Then who the hell was I?
Now I'm breaking at the britches
And at the end of all your lines
Who will love you?
Who will fight?
Who will fall far behind?
Ooh, ooh
9. Shoots and Ladders by KORN [Consider the symbolic nature of the nursery rhymes, spelling of the title, and the message being conveyed]
Ring around the rosies
Pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
Ring around the rosies
Pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
Nursery rhymes are said, verses in my head
Into my childhood they're spoon fed
Hidden violence revealed, darkness that seems real
Look at the pages that cause all this evil
One, two, buckle my shoe
Three, four, shut the door
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight
London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down
London bridge is falling down, my fair lady
Nursery rhymes are said, verses in my head
Into my childhood they're spoon fed
Hidden violence revealed, darkness that seems real
Look at the pages that cause all this evil
Nick-nack paddywack, give a dog a bone, this old man came rolling home
Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow
Baa baa black sheep have you any wool?
Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full
Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow
Mary had a little lamb!
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full (white trash crone)
Ring around the rosies
Pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
Ring around the rosies
Pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
Nursery rhymes are said, verses in my head
Into my childhood they're spoon fed
Hidden violence revealed, darkness that seems real
Look at the pages that cause all this evil
10. "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie
Love of mine, some day you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark
No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the No's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me,
"Son, fear is the heart of love."
So I never went back
If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the No's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
It's nothing to cry about
'Cause we'll hold each other soon
In the blackest of rooms
If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the No's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark
11. "Till The Sun Turns Black" by Ray LaMontagne [Consider the dual meaning of
the title]
Can you see the young and pretty
Confident as cops
Blooming, laughing in the shops
Till the sun turns black
Can you see the old and lonely
Walking through the park
Pushing grocery carts
Till the sun turns black
Can you see the corporate man
He's winning on the telephone
His possessions are his throne
Till the sun turns black
Can you see him in his lounger
Watching TV in the dark
Waiting for a spark
Till the sun turns black
Oh oh oh oh oh
Who are we
Oh oh oh oh oh
Who are we
Who are we
Can you see the working classes
Trudging through their days
Time goes slowly when you're only waiting
Till the sun turns black
Can you see the wise man simply
Living, loving quietly
Every breath he takes eternity
Till the sun turns black
12. "The A Team" by Ed Sheeran
White lips, pale face
Breathing in snowflakes
Burnt lungs, sour taste
Light's gone, day's end
Struggling to pay rent
Long nights, strange men
And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since eighteen
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
'Cause we're just under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple grams
And she don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland
Or sells love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
Angels to fly
Ripped gloves, raincoat
Tried to swim and stay afloat
Dry house, wet clothes
Loose change, bank notes
Weary-eyed, dry throat
Call girl, no phone
And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since eighteen
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
'Cause we're just under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple grams
And she don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland
Or sells love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
An angel will die
Covered in white
Closed eye
And hoping for a better life
This time, we'll fade out tonight
Straight down the line
And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since eighteen
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
They scream
The worst things in life come free to us
And we're all under the upper hand
Go mad for a couple grams
And we don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe we fly to the Motherland
Or sell love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
Angels to fly
To fly, fly
For angels to fly, to fly, to fly
For angels to die
13. "The Dance" by Garth Brooks
Looking back
On the memory of
The dance we shared
'Neath the stars above
For a moment
All the world was right
How could I have known
That you'd ever say goodbye
And now
I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go
Our lives
Are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss
The dance
Holding you
I held everything
For a moment
Wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known
How the king would fall
Hey who's to say
You know I might have changed it all
And now
I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go
Our lives
Are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss
The dance
Yes my life
It's better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss
The dance
More Writing Tips
How do I start?
Start by writing about the GENERAL idea of your thesis.
For example, if your thesis is
"The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot is a meditation on loneliness as the human condition.
Then you might start by writing about the manifestation of loneliness in art. State your thesis as the LAST line of the introduction, and include the author and title of the work.
You will want to have several specific examples from the poem that support your thesis. It helps to write them down on a separate piece of paper. To find support, focus in on interesting phrases, word play, symbols, metaphors, tone/mood, imagery etc. You will use quotes from the work to support your thesis claim.
You may have heard the old mantra, "restate your thesis in the conclusion". As we've discussed in this class, that is not the only or even primary goal of the thesis. It is to guide readers on what to do with that thesis. However, as you conclude your main idea, you want to make sure not to copy the same wording as you have previously used in the paper. Make it fresh and new. If I did want to restate the thesis above in my conclusion, I might say: Through verse, T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" contemplates the isolation of human existence.
The key to building a good body paragraph is starting with a clear, direct TOPIC statement that contains a key word to focus on. Do not lose focus. Provide multiple examples from the work (quotes and discussion of those quotes) to support your topic. Make sure you connect the topic to the thesis at the end of the paragraph.
Work in quotes properly: They must be introduced, stated, cited, and explained. They need to be blended, set up as an example, or properly introduced.
Example:
The narrator describes the girls eyes as "painted red" (line 14), perhaps to indicate them being bloodshot due to drug use.
Imagery is used to describe the physical effects of drug use: "The girls eyes [were] painted red" (line 14).
Vivid imagery is presented as a physical description of the addict; for example, "The girls eyes [were] painted red" (line 14) indicates bloodshot eyes due to drug abuse.
After the first quote where you cite (line #), you can eliminate the word "line" in all subsequent quotes.
In order to achieve fully developed content, you should present at least 3 examples in your body paragraphs.
Example:
The girls’ “eyes painted red” (line 26) serve as a reference to the state of being high. Other references to her eyes include, “I see seven towers / But I only see one way out / You got to cry without weeping” (14-16), and “the storm blows up in her eyes” (32). Eyes become a metaphor for understanding in the song; one must get past the surface image of the disease before it clouds the vision to the point of causing a complete denial, or “blindness,” to this deadly addiction.
Be sure to include "value words" in your conclusion, as well as the main point readers can take away from the work.
U2's "Running to Stand Still" is a powerful display of the rut drugs can create for an addict.
How do I start?
Start by writing about the GENERAL idea of your thesis.
For example, if your thesis is
"The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot is a meditation on loneliness as the human condition.
Then you might start by writing about the manifestation of loneliness in art. State your thesis as the LAST line of the introduction, and include the author and title of the work.
You will want to have several specific examples from the poem that support your thesis. It helps to write them down on a separate piece of paper. To find support, focus in on interesting phrases, word play, symbols, metaphors, tone/mood, imagery etc. You will use quotes from the work to support your thesis claim.
You may have heard the old mantra, "restate your thesis in the conclusion". As we've discussed in this class, that is not the only or even primary goal of the thesis. It is to guide readers on what to do with that thesis. However, as you conclude your main idea, you want to make sure not to copy the same wording as you have previously used in the paper. Make it fresh and new. If I did want to restate the thesis above in my conclusion, I might say: Through verse, T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" contemplates the isolation of human existence.
The key to building a good body paragraph is starting with a clear, direct TOPIC statement that contains a key word to focus on. Do not lose focus. Provide multiple examples from the work (quotes and discussion of those quotes) to support your topic. Make sure you connect the topic to the thesis at the end of the paragraph.
Work in quotes properly: They must be introduced, stated, cited, and explained. They need to be blended, set up as an example, or properly introduced.
Example:
The narrator describes the girls eyes as "painted red" (line 14), perhaps to indicate them being bloodshot due to drug use.
Imagery is used to describe the physical effects of drug use: "The girls eyes [were] painted red" (line 14).
Vivid imagery is presented as a physical description of the addict; for example, "The girls eyes [were] painted red" (line 14) indicates bloodshot eyes due to drug abuse.
After the first quote where you cite (line #), you can eliminate the word "line" in all subsequent quotes.
In order to achieve fully developed content, you should present at least 3 examples in your body paragraphs.
Example:
The girls’ “eyes painted red” (line 26) serve as a reference to the state of being high. Other references to her eyes include, “I see seven towers / But I only see one way out / You got to cry without weeping” (14-16), and “the storm blows up in her eyes” (32). Eyes become a metaphor for understanding in the song; one must get past the surface image of the disease before it clouds the vision to the point of causing a complete denial, or “blindness,” to this deadly addiction.
Be sure to include "value words" in your conclusion, as well as the main point readers can take away from the work.
U2's "Running to Stand Still" is a powerful display of the rut drugs can create for an addict.