This analysis is the final fruit of our initial foray into semiotics. Here’s what you’ll want to do:
- First, get a sheet or two or three of paper and a writing instrument.
- Next, read our “Mystery Text.” (You’ll do better on this assignment by not trying to figure out who actually wrote this poem. I.e. avoid Google etc.)
- Next, follow our semiotic analysis process. I.e. print the poem out and highlight or underline all the high-value words in the poem. High-value words are words that seem very particular or very important. I.e. “the,” “a,” “is,” etc. are not usually high-value words. (Recall the list of high-calorie words we culled from Frost’s “Stopping by Woods.”)
- Make a list of these high-value words. Examine the list and ask yourself some questions: are there any similar words in the list – – words that go together? are there contrasting words in the list – – words that seem opposite in meaning? Re-organize your list to group these similar and dissimilar words together.
- Focus for the moment on the dissimilar or contrasting words. Do these pairs seem to echo some common opposition? (E.g. natural/human, colors – – dark/light, solitude/company, sound or other senses, etc.). What you are doing here is looking for patterns, groups of words that seem to cluster around a particular difference or opposition. Chose one particular pair of opposing/contrasting words from the poem as the most important opposition. Underline or highlight this pair of words.
- Once you’ve found a pattern – – that begins with particular paired words from the poem – – now is the time to re-read the poem. How does your pattern help you to grasp a meaning/s for the poem? How does this pattern help you to interpret the poem? Write a couple of paragraphs answering these questions.
- Based on your analysis: what would you title this poem? Write a paragraph explaining why you chose this title.
On Tuesday, September 26, you’ll submit the following as a packet:
- your printed-out poem page with highlights or underlining
- your list of high-calorie words/phrases
- your map of patterns, with particular emphasis on oppositions or contrasts and an indicated main opposition
- your several paragraphs – – typed and printed-out – – of interpretation of the poem (no more than one typed/double-spaced page)
- your paragraph – – typed and printed-out – – titling the poem and explaining the title (no more than one typed/double-spaced page)
Be sure to include your name on all these pages.