And also from contesting the deadly rapids

Poetry Analysis Worksheet

Transfer your poetry notes to the analysis charts below.

Consider how each poem connects to one or more of the following topics/questions:

	What is the significance of an individual’s attempt to live unconstrained by convention or

➔ Refer back to the Figurative Language Tutorial on the assignment page.

➔ The text box will expand as you type; it is not indicative of the length your response should be. ➔ If you do research to help you with the analysis, be sure to cite your sources using MLA format

Thought & Understanding and Supporting Evidence aspect of the CART rubric, as indicated by

the rubric on the assignment page. This forms your summative mark (this mark that counts

What is the imagery in the poem? How do figures of speech and allusions enhance meaning? What symbolic meanings are suggested by objects, gestures or images? What is the effect of conventional universal and specific symbols? If present, how have patterns of images and symbols (motif) contributed to meaning?

The imagery of the poem describes a carousel which gives a picture to the reader's mind of a carnival. There are personifications and metaphors in this poem. An example of one would be “We're captive on the carousel of time” which means that we are trapped in our own thoughts of time and life. The carousel is the key symbol in this poem, it represents life because carousels only go forwards, not backwards like life. It also represents how the boy is aging since the carousel is going around and around with the season changing too.

devices of sound contribute to the meaning?(Does the poem use a regular rhythm pattern or is it free verse? Are rhythm and regular line length combined, e.g. blank verse? Do lines correspond to units of meaning? How are pauses used? Is any rhyme regular or unusual? Does the poem use devices of sound such as alliteration, assonance, dissonance, onomatopoeia, imitative harmony?)


That life only moves forwards, not backwards so you can’t focus on the past because you got a future that you can impact the outcome of. Relates to topic question 1.

Imagery & Figurative Language

poet's attitude towards the subject and /or reader? (admiring, ironic, mocking, condescending, candid, sincere, intense, serious, etc.)

People/Point of View

correspond to units of meaning? How are pauses used? Is any rhyme regular or unusual? Does the poem use devices of sound such as alliteration, assonance, dissonance, onomatopoeia, imitative harmony?)


the way in which each person approaches and responds to the unknown challenge.The poem argues that such an unexpected encounter is unavoidable, and that it is up to each individual to recognise and accept or reject their coming fate. Avison uses a clever extended metaphor to investigate the fate of those who take a dive into the unknown: swimmers caught in the spinning tendrils of a whirlpool. Fits in with topic question 2.

Imagery & Figurative Language

poet's attitude towards the subject and /or reader? (admiring, ironic, mocking, condescending,

candid, sincere, intense, serious, etc.)

What is the central idea of the poem? Which of the topic questions above best fits the theme

of the poem?

characters? What are the important perceptions, observations, attitudes, or judgements associated with the persona? From which point of view is the poem presented: first person, omniscient, limited omniscient, objective? Is the persona closely involved in the events, ideas, sensations, or feelings developed in the poem? Is the persona sincere, or does the poet have a less evident purpose? How does the title relate to the work?


The poem is a free verse, consisting of 4 stanzas each containing 6 lines. The poet uses the

Imagery & Figurative Language

Does the poem use devices of sound such as alliteration, assonance, dissonance, onomatopoeia, imitative harmony?)

The poem isn’t a specific type, There is no spacing between stanzas, this is significant because it makes the whole poem one big idea, the idea being about death. There is a progression of feelings throughout the poem because off the start it was a very negative poem but as the reader gets farther down, it becomes more of a positive poem in the sense of death. The poet’s word choices are informal. The punctuation is used to show emphasis on what parts need to be thought about and soaked in. There is no rhyme scheme in this poem.

Imagery & Figurative Language

What is the imagery in the poem? How do figures of speech and allusions enhance meaning? What symbolic meanings are suggested by objects, gestures or images? What is the effect of conventional universal and specific symbols? If present, how have patterns of images and symbols (motif) contributed to meaning?

Mood & Tone



of the poem?

Imagery & Figurative Language

candid, sincere, intense, serious, etc.)

People/Point of View