[TCA-Asyn-Sep] ENG3U ...

Because poetry is short, we need to pay attention to every word. In short fiction and novels, looking up every word becomes less important because we can use context, inferences and other cues to determine the meaning of any given phrase or sentence.

Here is a poem written in 1896 in England where the language is archaic because of the period in which it was written. Words like: amongst; betide; chap; heath; lads, and yon (yonder).

But I want you to realize that the basic message of the poem is likely clear if you can pick up on the context, the inferences and the visual clues the poet presents.

As an example, the teacher models with the recitation of the poem On Moonlit Heath by A.E. Houseman by focusing on words and imagery the students will likely know already.

It is time to begin examining how one can arrive at the discovery of THEME(s) in poetry. THEME refers to the thing the poet wants to say; the reason for writing the poem; perhaps even understanding the circumstance (the CONTEXT)  that inspired the poem in the writer’s mind.

What can one theme of On Moonlit Heath be and where can we find it? Usually at the end in a form of summary. The poet links ideas and observations together stanza by stanza, line by line to come to a conclusion. So what does On Moonlit Heath lead to – execution of a friend of the narrator.

But another clue might come earlier in the first line of the second stanza “A careless shepherd ...” How can a shepherd be careless (fell asleep, didn’t defend the sheep from a thief or a wolf?) .  Is that worthy of hanging? Is the poem a plea for leniency? Or is the theme you shouldn’t abandon your friends in their time of need? Etc Etc