i am not very good at analyzing/interpreting poems and figuring out their meaning. what are some tips/strategies/methods that i could use to better my poetry understandings? and please help me to interpret this here poem:
Starlight
Philip Levine
My father stands in the warm evening
on the porch of my first house.
I am four years old and growing tired.
I see his head among the stars,
the glow of his cigarette, redder
than the summer moon riding
low over the old neighborhood. We
are alone, and he asks me if I am happy.
``Are you happy?'' I cannot answer.
I do not really understand the word,
and the voice, my father's voice, is not
his voice, but somehow thick and choked,
a voice I have not heard before, but
heard often since. He bends and passes
a thumb beneath each of my eyes.
The cigarette is gone, but I can smell
the tiredness than hangs on his breath.
He has found nothing, and he smiles
and holds my head with both his hands.
Then he lifts me to his shoulder,
and now I too am among the stars,
as tall as he. Are you happy? I say.
He nods in answer, Yes! oh yes! oh yes!
And in that new voice he says nothing,
holding my head tight against his head,
his eyes clsoed up against the starlight,
as though those tiny blinking eyes
of light might find a tall, gaunt child
holding his child against the promises
of autumn, until the boy slept
never to waken in that world again.
Here are some really excellent websites to help you with analyzing poems, as well as writing about them:
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/ReadingPoetry.html#top
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/poetry-explication.html
http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/markport/best/study/poetry.htm
I've used all of these at various times with my students, whether in a writing class or a literature class.
=)
Analyzing and interpreting poems can be a challenging task, but there are several strategies that can help you better understand the meaning behind a poem.
1. Read the poem multiple times: When analyzing a poem, it's essential to read it several times to grasp its overall structure, language, and imagery. Each subsequent reading will allow you to notice new details and connections.
2. Consider the title: Pay attention to the title as it often provides clues or hints about the poem's theme or subject matter. In this case, the poem is titled "Starlight," which suggests that stars and the night sky may play a significant role in the poem's meaning.
3. Examine the speaker and the relationship: Identify who is speaking in the poem and their relationship to the subject or events described. In this poem, it is the speaker's father who is addressing the speaker, and they seem to have a strong connection.
4. Identify key images and symbols: Look for recurring images or symbols in the poem and try to understand their significance. For example, in this poem, stars, the moon, the porch, and the cigarette are important images that provide deeper meaning and emotions.
5. Analyze the language and tone: Examine the poet's word choice, figurative language (such as metaphors or similes), and the overall tone of the poem. This will help you uncover the poet's intended emotions and messages.
6. Consider the context and historical background: Understanding the poet's background, the time period, and any historical or cultural references in the poem can provide additional insights into its meaning. Researching the poet's biography or exploring the historical context can be helpful in this regard.
Now, let's try to interpret the poem "Starlight" by Philip Levine based on the provided text:
The poem seems to be a reminiscence of a moment between the speaker and their father when the speaker was four years old. The scene takes place in the evening, with the father standing on the porch of the speaker's first house. The father's presence is illuminated by the stars, and his cigarette glows red like the summer moon.
The speaker mentions feeling tired as they observe their father. When the father asks if the speaker is happy, they cannot answer because they do not fully understand the concept of happiness at such a young age. The father's voice seems different - thick and choked - which suggests a depth of emotion that the speaker has not heard from him before but has since become familiar with.
The father then bends down and passes his thumb beneath each of the speaker's eyes. Although the cigarette is no longer present, the smell of tiredness on the father's breath lingers. The father smiles and cradles the speaker's head with both hands before lifting them onto his shoulder, bringing them closer to the stars and making them feel as tall as he is.
When the speaker asks if the father is happy, he nods emphatically and repeatedly says "Yes!" in a new voice. The father holds the speaker close, closing his eyes against the starlight. The mention of a "tall, gaunt child" suggests the father and son sharing a vulnerable moment, holding each other against the uncertainties and transitions of life.
The poem seems to evoke a sense of love, tenderness, and the fleeting nature of childhood innocence. The stars, moon, and starlight can be seen as symbols of brightness, dreams, and possibilities, while the father's protective embrace represents both love and a realization that the speaker, or any child, will eventually outgrow their childhood and move into a different and unknown world.
Remember, poetry interpretation can be subjective, and different readers may have slightly varied interpretations. Trust your instincts and feelings while considering the context, imagery, and emotions evoked by the poem.