9/11/2013

Tips For Studying Mormon Poems

By Helene Norris


A reader might go through a Mormon poem just for the fun of it or to facilitate passing of a poetry paper. Either way, this article offers some guidance to the reader that can help him or her get a glimpse of what the poet had in mind. Following the tips contained in this guide will enable anyone discuss Mormon poems with much more confidence.

The first trick is to read the poems until the end. Stopping and puzzling over a tricky bit may be tempting. However, by reading a poem all the way, one should be able to figure out the overall idea that the poet is attempting to convey. The reader should consider the subject matter, which is literary what the poem is all about, together with any emerging themes. These happen to be the ideas that a poet wishes the reader to think about after reading it.

The reader should also think about the poems mood, while also putting into consideration what the poet wants them to feel after reading it. Generally, the tone can have any of two effects; uplifting the reader or leaving them feeling sad. A number of Mormon poems usually incorporate a purposeful mood change whereby a seeming upbeat poem ends up in a grave manner, or a downbeat one ends happily. An author will structure the poem quite carefully; hence it is the role of the reader to figure out the number of verses or stanzas it is divided into. Every stanza most likely examines a new mood or thought.

It is a good idea to listen to sounds of the words. Since poems are written to be read out loud, it should not be any embarrassing at all for someone to recite the poem by themselves. Doing so will not only help the reader to know if a regular rhythm or rhyme exists, but also assist in figuring out any words that the author selected due to the way they sound.

A good example is the stylistic device known alliteration, which the poet may use to draw attention to a line or image, together with assonance. Sibilance and assonance are the other stylistic devices that are commonly used, in which words echo their real meaning.

Any other stylistic technique the poet uses is another factor worth putting into consideration. For instance, the way imagery is utilized in a poem is something the reader should check. In simple terms, it is the manner in which use of language helps get an image of the events happening in the poem. Metaphors or similes can be used by the poet to help achieve this, whereby ideas are compared by whoever reads the poem.

A simile uses particular words to draw attention to a comparison aspect. On the other hand, metaphors use direct comparison, and can be more difficult since the reader is told a single thing is actually something else. Considering why a poet opted to use a particular comparison over the other is of great importance.

If all else does not work, the reader should not hesitate to seek help. After all, Mormon poems are written to be enjoyed, hence the more one reads, the less the need to refer to the above tips.




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