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Introduction to Poetry Analysis

In: English and Literature

Submitted By boriqua18
Words 931
Pages 4
Victoria De Jesús

ENC 1102 65431

Mr. Suderman

November 9, 2009

Word Count: 914

“Introduction to Poetry” Analysis

“Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins is a poem which uses an ample amount of imagery, words with connotations, and personification. Born in 1941, Billy Collins has since his time, been personified as the poet of poets, and has placed himself in the higher realm of fine poetry (“Billy Collins”). Collins’ poetry reaches beyond the common knowledge of poetry by stretching the general meanings of the English language and by forcing the mind to delve deeper to discover the true meanings of his works. Billy Collins undoubtedly withstands the title of a true poet.

Above all, possibly being one of Collins’ most puzzling works of poetry to interpret is his “Introduction to Poetry”. Being one of his most recognized works, his poem is a perfect example of how he skillfully imbeds his feelings and meaning into his poems by painting numerable pictures and inserting small metaphors in which carry an unbearable amount of meaning.

Upon initial reading, the meaning of this poem is unexplainable. What does Collins mean by his poem? Is it a teacher addressing his students on how to analyze a poem? By incorporating his use of imagery and other techniques, Collins guides the reader through the interpretation of his poem.

There are many small messages in the poem, many of which Collins tells the reader what the poem means to the mind. In others he tells the reader how to treat the poem and how to find its message. Such commands are comprehensible at the beginning of the poem. In the first stanza Collins seems somewhat frustrated at the class as they try and over-analyze the poem. He first asks his students to take a poem and “hold it up to the light like a color slide,” showing that the significance of the poem can’t

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