SOAPSTone An introduction to Analyzing Poetry Mrs Hudson

SOAPSTone An introduction to Analyzing Poetry Mrs. Hudson

What is SOAPSTone? • Speaker: The voice that tells the story • Objective summary: The objective “gist” of the piece • Audience: The group of readers to whom this piece is directed • Purpose: The reason behind the text • Syntax and diction: The sentence structure and word choice and their significance in the text • Tone: The attitude of the speaker

Speaker • WHO IS SPEAKING? • Don’t confuse the author with the speaker. They are two different voices; sometimes two different personas. • Ask yourself: What’s the point of a speaker? Why do we care who is speaking? How does it influence the text? How does it influence the reader?

Objective Summary • The overall “gist” of the poem or story. • Objective summaries should be short and to the point. • They are objective! In other words, do not include your personal opinion!

Audience • While reading the text, it is important to determine WHO THE AUDIENCE IS. • Don’t think an article on the health risks of elementary school cafeteria food is an article for just anyone. Who could an article like that be targeting?

Purpose • While reading the text, it is necessary to understand the PURPOSE OF THE TEXT. • Ask yourself: What’s the purpose of the writing? What is it intended to do? What is the speaker hoping to achieve? Is there a goal? • Are they trying to influence consumers to buy a certain product? Vote for a specific politician? Save their money by investing? Send their kids to private school?

Syntax and Diction • Analyze the author’s choice of syntax and diction • Syntax- sentence structure • Diction- word choice • Why are these things significant? How do they affect the mood or tone of the poem?

Syntax- What to look for? - Short sentences vs long sentences? Effect? - Type of punctuation? - Enjambment- a sentence in a poem runs from one line to the next without punctuation: - Example: With that some cried, "Away!" Straight I Obeyed, and led Full east, a fair, fresh field could spy; Some called it Jacob's bed, A virgin soil which no Rude feet ere trod, Where, since he stepped there, only go Prophets and friends of God.

Tone • WHAT’S THE TONE OF THE TEXT? • How is the speaker saying what he’s saying? What is his attitude towards the subject? • Use tone words!