Introduction
A thesis statement in a poetry analysis is an assertive indication of the direction of a student’s argument or essay. It not only serves to provide clear focus for the direction of the student’s argument but also to provide them with a sense of organisation of the main ideas. It is usually one sentence in length and should be placed at the beginning of an essay in order to provide a guidepost for the essay’s direction. This way the student is able to present an effective argument in their essay. According to Harvard professor Ellis Cashmore, this kind of statement should be “clear, concise, direct and specific”.
Argument Definition
A thesis statement conveys the primary message of an essay by giving a concise statement of the main idea and regulating the development of the argument that follows. According to Oxford professor Michael Billig, a thesis statement should “provide direction and layout the structure of the argument,” and “clarify the purpose of your essay.” Similarly, author Nathan Strutz views it as a tool for “building the main argument” and “shaping the structure of the essay.” However, it is important for the student to remember that the thesis statement should not just be a statement of fact.
Thesis Statement in a Poetry Analysis
In a poetry analysis essay, the thesis statement should present/summarize one’s interpretation of the poem, as well as explain the specific elements of the poem that contribute to this interpretation. Additionally, it should be written in the present tense, while also incorporating some of the poetic diction and phrases used in the poem. According to the Indiana University’s Writing Tutorial, a thesis statement in a poetry analysis essay should “consistently incorporate into [the] thesis an interpretation of the poem and explanatory assertions that can be backed up with evidence from the poem”.
Evidence to Support Argument
The evidence that backs up the thesis statement should be connected to the argument in a logical sequence, as well as establish a clear argumentative structure for the essay. This can be done by selecting important quotes from the poem and emphasizing on their meaning and relevance for the thesis statement.In the essay, specific examples from the poem should be used to explain the argument in a persuasive way, as well as placing opinions in their proper context.
It is also important for the student to focus on interpreting and analyzing the complexity of the poem’s language and to explain the implications of certain words used. This is important for the evidence to have an impact and create a strong argument for the essay.
Analysis of Poem
In a poetry analysis essay, the analysis should be the largest part of the paper. It should be used to specific implications and interpretations of the poem while backing them up with evidence from the poem. This allows to create a connection between the evidence and the thesis statement, as well as maintain a strong argumentative paper.
According to Oregon Professor Sam Tsemberis, it is necessary to “investigate the poem line by line” while focusing on the hidden meaning and nuances behind the words used as well as the poet’s choice of words, style and tone. In the same way, New York Professor Lena Miles suggests to analyze the poem by “using metaphor and symbols”, and focus on the different aspects that these represent.
Synthesis of Many Ideas
The synthesis of many ideas is an important part of a poetry analysis essay in order for the student to effectively connect to the poem and make sense of its meaning. A strong understanding of the context in which the poem was written and the circumstances that inspired it is necessary in order to approach the poem from a creative standpoint.
In the same way, understanding the poetic traditions that the poem belongs to and the different metaphors and symbolic meanings can give insight in the implications that each phrase has and how it contributes to the overall poem.
Evaluation of Poem
The evaluation of the poem is the culmination of the analysis, in which the student should ask themselves what statement the poem is trying to make and what effect does it have on the reader. According to Ohio Professor Joseph Keal, “a thesis statement for a poetry analysis should be written to provide a reader with an interpretation of the poem, one that takes into account both the nuances of the poem and the bigger picture.”
The student should then evaluate the implications of the poem in the context of a larger argument and look at the effects of the poem on the reader. This will show how the evidence used in the essay works towards the conclusion and how the poem as a whole works towards achieving the thesis statement.
Relevance of Poem
The relevance of the poem is one of the questions that the reader should ask in order to assess the poem’s impact on the way they think and feel. From a literary standpoint, the reader should look at the poem’s impact on the author’s own creative and writing process, as well as any other thematic implications of the poem.
Looking at the relevance of the poem also allows the reader to question and assess the implications of the poem in the larger context of literature and the world. Considering the relevance of the poem to the wider world or its importance to popular culture will provide the reader with a deeper understanding of the poem’s impact and the way it affects others.
Evaluation of Thesis Statement
The evaluation of a thesis statement in a poetry analysis has to do with making sure that the student has created an argument that is specific, clear and concise. It is important to not only consider the thesis statement itself but also the way in which it is expressed and connected to the evidence. As Harvard professor John Williams suggests, it is important to “think through the argument you want to make and get to the heart of your thesis.”
The evaluation should look at the way in which the thesis statement has been expressed and how it is connected to the evidence found within the essay. This can be done by looking at the direction of the argument, the structure of the paper and how the evidence used supports or works against the thesis statement.
Conclusion of Analysis
The conclusion of the poetry analysis should sum up the argument that has been made throughout the essay. It should reaffirm the thesis statement and provide closure to the essay. This should be done by bringing together the different elements of the essay and summarizing the implications of the poetry or poem discussed.
In the same way, it is important for the reader to connect their work with their own interpretation of the poem and to provide the reader with a conclusion that leaves them with a strong impression. According to Vanderbilt University Professor Taylor Marsh, it is important to “provide the reader with a satisfying sense of closure” and to “create a resonance in the reader’s mind.”
