Intention, Message and Comparison

Intention

Intention refers to the presumed reasons or purposes  why a poet has written a poem. The poet’s  intention may be to criticise a country, some  people) and encourage change. 

       
Poetry for Students: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Poetry [Poetry for Students]

 

 
Message

Message refers to what the poet is trying to tell us in the poem. The message is the deeper meaning which we remember after we have finished reading the poem. The poet’s message may be to encourage the reader to realise the injustice of the society or may be to protest against one’s injustice.

Figurative Language

Words and language are used to extend their meaning beyond the everyday, and create more than surface meaning. They often add meaning by comparing or contrasting two different elements.

Analysing

In this lesson we analyse a South African poem focusing on techniques learnt previously. Pay attention to how the analysis has been worded – this is how you should word your answers in poetry tests and exams.

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Lyrics from “Cleaning out my Closet” by Eminem

I’m sorry mama

I never meant to hurt you

I never meant to make you cry

But tonight, I’m cleaning out my closet…

Message:

In this song, Eminem writes about his childhood  experiences. He wants to tell us his belief that his mother is not a good parent to him. In this extract, his message is that he does not want to hurt his mother with what he is about to reveal, but he does want the truth to come out.

Intention:

Eminem’s intention may have been to hurt his mother, purge his conscience, or appeal to the youth. He could  also be writing to point out how parents sometimes fail in their duty to their children. It is difficult to guess exactly what a poet’s intention for creating a text was.

Figurative language used:

This line “cleaning out my closet” could have both a  figurative and literal interpretation. Literally it means to clear the junk out of your cupboards but figuratively it means to expose something, or to move away from the (possibly unpleasant or upsetting) experiences of the past.

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Analyse 

Examine the following stanza extracted  from the poem “The Birth of Shaka” by Oswald Mtshali

His baby cry

Was of a cub

Tearing the neck

Of the lioness

Because he was fatherless

Questions

1.      What are the poet’s intention and message in this poem?

2.      What comparative figures of speech have been used? Explain what is being compared and how the words add meaning to the poem.

The poet’s message and intention

The poet’s message is to tell us what Shaka was like as a child. His intention is or may be   

to show us how, like a lion cub, Shaka succeeded although she was being illegitimate.

Figures of speech

A metaphor is used to compare Shaka’s “baby cry” to the sound a lion cub (makes whilst tearing his at mother’s throat)

It’s as though the baby and the cub become the same thing - the cry of the baby is exactly the same as the sound of the lion cub.

Because of this metaphor, the qualities of the lion cub are transferred onto the baby. The strength and ferocity of the lion reflect or mirror the description of the baby and his strong, ferocious cry, blaming his mother for his lack of a father.

Analyse

Extract from “How do I love thee” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach …

Message:

This message is written to the poet’s lover. She wants him to know that she loves him as much as it is possible to love.

Intention:

She wants to express the extent and power of her love for the recipient.

Figurative language used:

The poet compares the extent of her love to the infinite reach of her soul. This comparison emphasises the extent of her love, as it is infinite just like the  “depth and breadth and height my soul can reach”.

Task

Examine the following stanza an extract from the poem “The Birth of Shaka” by Oswald Mtshali

His baby cry

Was of a cub

Tearing the neck

Of the lioness

Because he was fatherless

Analyse

1.What are the poet’s intention and message in this poem?

2.What comparative figures of speech have been used? Explain what is being compared

and how the words add meaning to the poem.