Poetry Worksheets

Name: Brendan Phipps

Title of Poem: Preparatory Meditations

Author of the Poem: Edward Taylor
1. Describe the form of the poem, the design it makes on the page. For instance, is it divided
into stanzas? How might the form contribute to its meaning? The form of the poem is in
stanzas, to help contribute to its meaning it puts different information/topics into different
stanzas to help layout whats going on. It might contribute to its meaning because of how
its laid out

2. What happens in the poem? Is there a plot? Who speaks the poem (first, second, third
person narration?) What is the speakers tone? Who is the speaker talking to? Are there
characters? Is there a setting? Where? Does the poem take place over time? The poem is
spoken in 3rd person, there is no plot, the speaker's tone is begging for his "shulamite" to
come back, The author is speaking to his shulamite to come back, The characters are the
boy he mentions, his shulamite, and the Lord, there is no setting, the poem does not take
place over time, he is asking the lord for his shulamite back.
3. How did the poet organize the poem, and why? Is it a question and answer? Is it a story?
Is it a list? Is it a conversation? Is it a description? Does it repeat? The poem is organized
in neat, even sections, it is organized like that, so he can rhyme the words in each
corresponding stanza, the question is for his shulamite back, but there is no answer. There
is no repeating to the poem, it tells a story.

4.
5. Listen to the sounds of the poem. Does it rhyme? Does it use alliteration? Does it have an
interesting rhythm? What do the words sound likeare they short or long, multi-syllable,
smooth or harsh, or lifting or dull? Are there sounds repeated, and why? The only parts of
the poem that do rhyme are the ending words of the last 2 sentences in the stanza. There
is no interesting rhyme, and it's kind of weird and dull. The wording is short and boring,
single syllable, and smooth, but dull. The repeated sounds are at the end of each stanza
6. Describe the kinds of language the poet uses. How does the poet challenge or rely on
connotations and denotations? Are the words everyday words, or are they technical or
abstract? Are the words from a specific job, sport, or hobby? Are any repeated, and why?
The author relies on denotation, and connotation because of the wide use of different
words, hard and easy. The kind of language the poet uses is both very simple, and
complex. He has a wide range of vocabulary.
7. What metaphors, similes or images does the poem use? Does the poem employ
personification, and how so? How does this use of language help the speaker say what is
difficult to say otherwise? Pick out a two examples to quote or describe, and then explain.
There is no metaphors, similes or images that the poem does use. The poem does use
personification by mentioning a "child" when his nurse hath lost runs seeking her. The
author uses different language to ask for her to come back without really doing it, and
using examples of different people trying to get their lover, helper, doctor etc.. back.

8. Take a stab at the poems theme. What do you think the poem is about? Good poems
show us a hard-won, sometimes confusing Truth. Reading them well makes us participate
in that struggle to know, feel, and express those things about living that are not easy to
know, feel, or express.
The authors theme is love, and wanting his shulamite back. I think the poem is about love and
wanting his lover to come back to him. His theme helps express his love for her and how much
he wants her back.
9. Lastly, what is strange about the poem that you might still have questions about? Be sure
to ask about these in class!
The theme.. Is it actually about wanting her back or am I misunderstanding what the poem is
actually saying? I'm seeing it as he's expressing how much he wants her back and using different
examples to help prove his point