Diction, Imagery, Detail, and Syntax (DIDS) in Poetry

Worksheet
Instructions: Analyze the text you selected and fill out the following worksheet in
detail. Provide specific examples from the text that support your analysis.

1. Write the title of the text you have analyzed here:

When I Was Fair and Young

2. List at least three examples of diction in the text that add to the overall tone.
Explain how each word contributes to the emotional power of the piece.

scorn - The author uses scorn to illustrate the fact that not only did she tell them
to back off, she did it in a very impolite way. The negative connotation exemplifies
her bratty young self.

pine - "Pine" is generally associated with desperation and longing, and adds to
the image of all of the men chasing her.

repent - The author chose the word 'repent' (which is associated with the church
and repenting for sins) to explain that she now knows what she did was
wrong and desperately wishes she could change it.

3. List at least three examples of imagery in the text that add to the overall
tone. Explain how each description contributes to the emotional power of the
piece.

weeping eyes - exemplifies perfectly the emotional distress she was putting
these suitors through

but I the prouder grew - This gives the image of her physically growing in pride,
which is never good. That contributes to the overall repentant tone of the
passage.

pluck your plumes - Alliteration definitely adds imagery, and the almost painful
thought of having your beauty "plucked" away from you adds to the image of her
suffering.
4. List the examples of important details the author chose to include. Explain
how these details contribute to the emotional power of the piece.

The author includes many details, but my favorite detailing is in the stanza where
she is discussing Venus's boy (Cupid). She calls him a brave, victorious boy
(indicating that now- further on in her emotional journey- she near applauds him
for reprimanding her). She also includes his description of her (providing an
outsiders description of her pigheadedness) to add to the sting he inflicted.

5. List the examples of important details the author chose to omit. Explain how
these missing details contribute to the emotional power of the piece.

the author chose to omit exactly what happened to her, alluding to the fact that it
was too painful to speak of, but important enough to impact her greatly. She also
omits names and any specifics of her misspent youth, perhaps again to protect
her injured soul

6. Analyze the authors use of syntax in this text. Are the sentences long or
short? Does the author use punctuation to slow down the pace, or short phrases
to quicken it? Explain how the sentence structure contributes to the emotional
power of the piece.

the sentences are short with the use of proper punctuation to quicken the text.

the short sentences magnify the emotional power of the piece, holding up a
vision of her overwhelming regret at not making the right choices when she was
young, so the reader cannot look away and can sympathize with her.

7. Select a tone (or multiple tones) from the list of Tone Words. Explain why this
tone is the best way to describe this text.

Bitter best describes the tone of this passage because she's looking back on her
youth in a very unfavorable fashion.