I am writing a paper on "On the Amtrak from boston to new york city" by sherman alexie. I need to detail how the poet used literary conventions and poetic devices such as meter, imagery, and symbolism to communicate the meaning of the poem. I have the imagery and symbolism parts but don't know about meter. I am not 100% confident on this part but way blown away on how it applies to the poem.
Meter is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. It helps establish the rhythm and musical quality of the poem. In "On the Amtrak from Boston to New York City" by Sherman Alexie, the poet uses meter to enhance the overall structure and impact of the poem.
In this particular poem, Alexie employs a free verse style, which means there is no consistent or prescribed meter. Free verse allows the poet to write in a more natural, conversational tone, without the restrictions of meter. However, this doesn't mean that meter is completely absent from the poem.
While there may not be a strict adherence to a specific meter, Alexie subtly incorporates elements of rhythm and meter throughout the poem. For example, he uses short, quick phrases and sentences to create a sense of momentum and movement, mimicking the experience of riding on a train. This rhythmic quality can be seen in lines such as:
"Outside,
The night is dark blue velvet."
Here, the quick, abrupt sentence fragments enhance the sense of motion and contribute to the overall flow of the poem. Alexie's deliberate use of punctuation and line breaks also creates pauses and rhythm, further adding to the overall meter of the piece.
Though the poem does not strictly conform to a traditional meter, its structure and rhythm contribute to the overall reading experience. The absence of a strict meter allows Alexie to capture the immediacy of the train journey, emphasizing the transient nature of the experience and reflecting the poet's stream-of-consciousness style.
Understanding how meter is used in a poem can be challenging, but it can greatly enhance your analysis of the poem's meaning and create a deeper understanding of the poet's intentions.
In the case of "On the Amtrak from Boston to New York City" by Sherman Alexie, it is important to note that the poem is written in free verse, which means it does not adhere to a specific meter or rhyme scheme. Free verse allows the poet more flexibility in structure and rhythm.
However, even without a strict meter, Alexie still employs various rhythmic and metrical techniques to add a certain cadence or musicality to the poem. For example, you can analyze the poem's line lengths and patterns to determine the natural pauses or stresses.
To get started, read the poem aloud and pay attention to the way the words flow. Notice if there are any repeated patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables or any words or phrases that seem to carry a particular emphasis or weight. These rhythmic patterns can influence the overall tone, mood, and pacing of the poem.
Another approach is to identify any recurring sound patterns or alliterations. While not directly related to meter, these devices can contribute to the poem's sonic texture and add to its musicality.
Remember that analyzing meter is not always straightforward in free verse poetry, but by paying attention to the rhythmic elements and patterns within the poem, you can gain insight into the poet's intentional choices and how they contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the work.
This is a good for learning about meter and rhythm:
http://www.uncg.edu/~htkirbys/meters.htm
And these are good sites for making sure you have read/reread the poem you're working on and then know how to write about it:
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ReadingPoetry.html#top
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts-demos/specific-writing-assignments/poetry-explications
http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/markport/best/study/poetry.htm
If you want further help, be sure to let us know what you DO HAVE (and not in generalities) so no one wastes time. I cannot guess what you already have.