Poetry Analysis:(Page #350) "Women Who Love Angels"

Judith Ortiz Cofer's poem, Women Who Love Angels, seems like a simple poem at first, but by analyzing the literary devices and techniques she uses, one can see how poetry is a whole different type of art.

One of the literary devices that is used is diction. The choice of words that Cofer implements into her poem is ingenious. "Aromatic" and "profusion" are complex words that add to the mystery and beauty of the poem as a whole. Judith Ortiz Cofer's poem consists of words that all have very specific meaning which really adds to the character of the poem. Also, it is easy to analyze and predict Cofer's perspective on the subject because of her word choices in describing things. For example, "tilting their heads at a gracious angle," describes the women in such a precise, smooth way. Also, a second literary device that is used is alliteration. Although it is a simple way to connect words that have similar sounds, it is very important in poetry. "Living out their long lives" and "play their pianos" are two examples of the alliteration that is created by Cofer. This literary device embodies and exaggerates the detail of what is happening throughout the poem. Also, the small pieces of alliteration also add a charismatic flow to the poem that makes it graceful for the viewer to read.

Personally, this poem was really difficult to interpret and understand. I think, in many ways, this poem can be interpreted so many different ways. However, from a religious standpoint, I found the poem to be really moving. The subject of angels and the godly setting that was being described by Cofer was really soothing and intriguing. Although this poem was a challenge to read, it was worth putting the time into analyzing and dissecting all of the different messages and themes of the poem.

Poetry Analysis: (Page #409)"One Day I Wrote her Name Upon a Strand" (by: Edmund Spenser)

Edmund Spenser's poem, "One Day I Wrote Her Name Upon The Strand," is a sonnetin in which the writer uses many literary devices to create a romantic story. One of these literary devices is imagery. By creating descriptions, Spenser is allowing the reader to capture and understand what is going on throughout the poem. "But came the waves and washed it away (Line #2)," is a perfect example of one of the many images Spenser paints through his words. By illustrating various images, the poem has an ambiance of dreamy, romantic feelings. A second literary device that is used by Edmund Spencer is the rhyming scheme. The rhyming scheme, "abab," allows the poem to flow. The words at the end of each sentence makes the poem much more fluid because each line drifts off into the next. In a different light, the rhyming of the words also create a mature feeling. If the lines did not rhyme at all, the poem would have sounded much less smoother and choppier. However, by establishing a rhyming pattern, the romantic feeling of the poem is not lost but is, instead, enhanced.

This poem was really interesting to read. After reading many poems, it is sometimes difficult to tie in romantic feelings within a poem. However, Edmund Spenser successfully completed this task. Also, each time I read this poem over, I take a different aspect or meaning from the poem that I did not catch before I read it another time. For example, I understood that the poem was romantic but now as I read it more times, I find that Spenser also creates a mood in which the poem is very hopeful. I really did enjoy this poem and I think that poems like these are fascinating because they were written so long ago...and yet, people can still relate and understand them today.