McKay’s America

I chose to closely look at McKay's America.

  (just in case you couldn't tell by the title)

Many of my initial responses are answers to the question in the how to closely read a poem section so I will keep this part brief.

I have read some boring sonnets, but America is interesting because it does not feel like a sonnet.  I think this because of the subject matter or maybe more the tone of the poem.  This is in a way a love poem.  However, it is more raw and honest then romantic.

Close Read

1. How is the title of the poem working?  What information is it giving?  How would the poem be different with a different title?

Yes. The title is the only indication that poem is talking about America.  The title provides the subject, without this title the subject would be left to the reader.

2. List all of words you don’t know, or think you don’t know.  Look them up in the dictionary.  Write them down.

None.

3. Read the poem out loud.  What sounds do you notice in the poem?  Is there rhyme?  Are there any repeated sounds?  Write down the sounds you hear at work in the poem.

This is how I read poetry anyways (I understand much better and skip less words when reading out loud).  The poem is a sonnet.  An English sonnet?  Because of this it has a distinct pattern of rhyme.  It has a nice flow and doesn’t sound forced as some sonnets can.  

4. What is literally happening in the poem?  Write a paragraph describing what is going on.  Where is this happening?  Who are the people in the poem?

Well, nothing is literally happening in the poem. The poem is this kind of exploration of the relationship and feelings between the speaker and America.  There are a lot of metaphors though.

5. What are the images in the poem?  List five images you see in detail.  What do you know about them?  How is the poem using imagery?

“sinks into my throat her tiger tooth”

“flows like tides into my blood”

“bitterness sweeps my being like a flood”

“granite wonders”

One thing I love about this poem is that it uses imagery to explain more abstract thoughts and emotions(Flows- blood) and actual problems (there were actual violent problems in America and so “sinks- tooth” does not describe idea that is as abstract.

6. What do you know about the speaker?  List ten facts you can infer (the If-Then game).

The speaker is well read enough to write an English sonnet. . .

                Speaker will be using language, not simply laying it down

Speaker has had trouble with America’s “hate”. . . .

                Speaker as experienced some kind of prejudice. . . .

                Most likely not white male(though I already knew this)  

7. Write a paragraph describing the tone of the poem.  Remember, tone is the speaker’s attitude toward his/her subject.  Most attitudes in poetry will be complex, i.e. more that one attitude.  List 10 words you think helps set this tone.

The tone in this poem is extremely complex.

 “Although she feeds me thee bread of bitterness”

The speaker can list many ways in which “America” harms him (at least metaphorically).  In spite of this the speaker still says “her vigor flows like tides into my blood.” But this is flowing in his veins this is what gives him the “strength” against “hate.”  Who’s hate? America’s hate.   It is an amazing path of logic because it seems to deny logic but then it doesn’t. 

                “stealing”

                “sinks”

                “hell”

                “hate”

                “rebel”

                “bitterness”

                “darkly”

                “gaze”

                “strength”

                “might”

                “priceless” 

(Look its a poem ^)

8. Does the poem have a formal structure?  If not, what effect does the lack of structure have?  If so, what effect does the structure have on the meaning of the poem?

Yes, This poem is an English sonnet.  It give this poem tension (see below).

9. Where does the tension lie in the poem?  Poetic tension can come in many forms.  Is there any conflict in the plot/action of the poem?  Do images form a tension?  Does the speaker and/or tone create tension in the poem?  List three poetic tensions you see at work.

1.       There is a tension in the idea of “love”ing  something that is described as so violent by the speaker.

2.       This is a sonnet? The traditional form and content provide an interesting tension.  This could still be considered a love poem (I kind of think of it that way) but it is not your traditional or idealistic love poem.

3.       I guess the massive amounts of different metaphors can provide tension.                         

10. Are there any images, phrases, words, and sounds in the poem that you can't shake out of your head? List three that resonate with you.

The whole poem.

Specifically- - - “flows like tides into my blood”

Oh and ---- “cultured hell”

How My Understanding Expanded ( or didn't)

What if my understanding did not expand that much?  I am sure this means I am not reading closely enough.  Some of the list I just do automatically because I have been working on sharpening these skills in other classes. 

I don’t normally “infer” a lot about the speaker though and I could definitely use this in the future.  In this poem I did not get much, but this is probably because I did not do it right. 

McKay Reading "If We Must Die"