Explication
Situation
The poem "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" does tell a story, but it is not a narrative. The poem does express emotions and describes a mood. Poetic Voice: The speaker is a person who is going through some hard times and the poet is speaking to the directly. Yes, we can trust the speaker. Tone: The speaker is determined to rejoice even though the past was not easy. When reading the poem out loud the tone should be fearful and proud.
Structure
Form: In this poem there are 33 lines and it is written in as free form . Movement: The poem develops by telling the story of their hard times (free association). Syntax: The poem has 11 sentences and there are complicated. Punctuation: Semi-colons, question marks, commas, and periods. The punctuation does not coincide with the end of a poetic line. There is punctuation in the middle of a line. Title: The title "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" basically means don't stop believing and even when your journey has not been easy keep believing.
Language
Word Choice: The language is colloquial. I did know what all the words mean. Allusions: Refers to Bible and to our naive land (Africa). Imagery: Similes~ "High as the list’ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea." Metaphors~ "...the dark past has taught us" & "...hope unborn had died"
Musical Devices
Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme occurs in a regular pattern and the effect is formal and satisfying. The author uses rhymes ("Lift ev’ry voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring," & "Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet")
The poem tells us to always keep believing even if your road has been bumpy.
The poem "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" does tell a story, but it is not a narrative. The poem does express emotions and describes a mood. Poetic Voice: The speaker is a person who is going through some hard times and the poet is speaking to the directly. Yes, we can trust the speaker. Tone: The speaker is determined to rejoice even though the past was not easy. When reading the poem out loud the tone should be fearful and proud.
Structure
Form: In this poem there are 33 lines and it is written in as free form . Movement: The poem develops by telling the story of their hard times (free association). Syntax: The poem has 11 sentences and there are complicated. Punctuation: Semi-colons, question marks, commas, and periods. The punctuation does not coincide with the end of a poetic line. There is punctuation in the middle of a line. Title: The title "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" basically means don't stop believing and even when your journey has not been easy keep believing.
Language
Word Choice: The language is colloquial. I did know what all the words mean. Allusions: Refers to Bible and to our naive land (Africa). Imagery: Similes~ "High as the list’ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea." Metaphors~ "...the dark past has taught us" & "...hope unborn had died"
Musical Devices
Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme occurs in a regular pattern and the effect is formal and satisfying. The author uses rhymes ("Lift ev’ry voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring," & "Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet")
The poem tells us to always keep believing even if your road has been bumpy.