Page 155 - 2023-bfw-IdeasLit-TE-1e.indd

198 Unit 2 ■ Analyzing Comparisons and Representations Preparing for the AP Exam ■ Free-Response Question: Poetry Analysis 199 UNIT 2
®

SOME LITERARY TECHNIQUES AND ELEMENTS INSIDER The author’s strategies justify the idea and
Techniques Elements AP ® TIP insight. Topic sentences in each body paragraph serve PREPARING FOR THE AP ® EXAM
to develop the technique(s) in your thesis. You can use
Imagery connotation, allusion, personification, simile, motif the following basic template to structure your topic
sentences. The author [technique] to illustrate [connection to insight
Contrast irony, juxtaposition, paradox, antithesis, imagery
and idea].
Comparison simile, metaphor, conceit, image, allusion, symbol
Narration point of view, perspective, speaker, tone
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs were used with this sample chapter.
Pacing sentence structure, flashback, foreshadowing, suspense, pause, variety ➔ Step Three: Choose Relevant Evidence INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS
Emphasis subordination, coordination, cumulative sentence, periodic sentence, rhetorical You have learned already that you must provide relevant evidence to support your Step Three: Choose Relevant Evidence
question, exaggeration, repetition, simple sentence, fragment thesis and that you should choose this evidence carefully. Additionally, you must Teachers should guide students to choose their
Balance coordination, parallelism, coordinating conjunction, repetition include evidence to support each reason in your line of reasoning. In other words, evidence based on their line of reasoning and
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.
every body paragraph should include evidence. the relevance to idea and insight in the thesis
In choosing textual evidence or details from the text, make sure that you statement. You may wish to discuss how the
misstep by organizing your analysis with focused reasons related to your unifying arrange those details into the related body paragraphs. For example, in the evidence from the model poem is arranged
idea and insight. paragraph dedicated to the speaker’s once youthful past, you could include strategically or in some cases omitted from the
While an argument must have a line of reasoning, the writer may choose the detail of the season and location where “late the sweet birds sang,” and analysis because it does not support the line of
whether to preview the line of reasoning in the thesis statement. Review the fol- in the paragraph dedicated to the speaker’s approaching death, you could in- reasoning.
lowing examples of defensible thesis statements that omit and include a stated pre- clude the detail that the ashes of the fire are now on “the death-bed whereon
view of the line of reasoning: it must expire.” As a general rule, you should include more than one piece of
evidence within each body paragraph and represent multiple literary elements
Sample Thesis and techniques within your literary argument.
Statements Notes Regarding Line of Reasoning Preview Finally, when you incorporate evidence from a poem, you will need to integrate
In his poem “Sonnet Defensible thesis with no stated line of reasoning: the text into your argument properly. Quoting from poetry is a bit different than
73,” Shakespeare quoting from prose. When you are quoting directly, you must keep the original
compares the speaker This thesis refers to a technique (comparison) and punctuation and capitalization intact and indicate line breaks as well.
includes an interpretation (love grows stronger with the
to objects near death threat of loss); however, it does not directly state the The following examples demonstrate three ways of incorporating textual evi-
to suggest that love dence from a poem.
grows stronger with line of reasoning that will guide the body paragraphs.
the threat of loss. Even so, the writer may successfully develop the literary
argument with this thesis by stating the reasons in the Original text That time of year thou mayst in me behold
topic sentences for the subsequent body paragraphs. When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
In his poem “Sonnet Defensible thesis with a stated line of reasoning: Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
73,” William Bare ruin’d choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
Shakespeare compares This thesis focuses on one unifying strategy (comparison) Paraphrasing The speaker realizes that his loved one notices his aging
the aging speaker to and includes an interpretation (love grows stronger with body and compares himself to the season of winter — a
objects that were once the threat of loss). This writer indicates a line of reasoning cold season when birds no longer sing.
youthful but are now by further breaking down the qualities in the comparison Using a signal phrase Revealing his loved one’s perspective on his aging,
near death to support subjects into two categories: (1) once youthful and Shakespeare’s speaker says, “That time of year thou
the speaker’s final (2) near death. The writer’s thesis suggests a line of mayst in me behold / When yellow leaves, or none, or
revelation that love reasoning that focuses first on details related to youth few, do hang / Upon those boughs.”
grows stronger with and then on details related to death. The order of these
justifications is effective as well because life precedes
the threat of loss. Embedding the text In describing his aging body, Shakespeare’s speaker
death, and the speaker’s revelation at the end of the compares himself to winter when the trees “shake” and
poem is a response to impending death. By developing a the “cold / Bare ruin’d choirs” are no longer inhabited by
body paragraph for each of these observations, the writer the “sweet birds.”
can support the thesis and develop the literary argument.

03_williamlit1e_46174_ch02_116_207.indd 198 22/09/22 9:47 AM 03_williamlit1e_46174_ch02_116_207.indd 199 22/09/22 9:47 AM

®
Preparing for the AP Exam Free-Response Question: Poetry Analysis 199

03_williamlitte1e_47545_ch02_116_207_3pp.indd 199 08/12/22 5:49 PM