For the poem that follows, write two or three paragraphs that examine the meaning of the poem and how the elements of sound, structure, and figurative language contribute to the meaning. identify at least five elements of sound, structure, and figurative language.
"to my valentine" by ogden nash

This poem is about the absurdity and power of love. The structure of the poem highlights this theme. The rhythm and rhyme scheme are sing-song and playful. The rhyme scheme is abcb in every stanza and the rhythm is mainly iambic with some occasional trochees. The stanzas are all 4 lines, with the first and third lines longer than the second and fourth. The lines are all end stopped in a very traditional way. This is a lyric poem, very much like a nursery rhyme which highlights the absurdity of love.

The elements of sound also contribute to the theme. Repetition is used to show the repetitiveness of the speaker's thoughts of love. In fact "I love you more" is repeated 4 times. The repetition might also be used to drill into the audience's head how loved they are by the speaker. Rhyming, both internal and external, are used throughout to make the poem like a song. Internal rhymes include "loathes perjurous oaths" and "I love you as much as a beggar needs a crutch." In addition, the poem uses consonance in the line "As a shipwrecked sailor hates the sea." The rhyming and consonance serve the same purpose as the structure, to make the poem light and amusing.

Finally, the elements of figurative language contribute to the meaning of "To My Valentine." First, the poem uses irony by using images of hate to say that his love is not like those things. Negative images include catbird hating a cat, a criminal hating a clue, the way a hangnail annoys, the pain of a wasp's sting, and the Axis hating the United States. The last simile is also an allusion as it refers to the group of countries in WWII that fought against the Allies led by the United States. This serious historical comparison is also ironic in a Valentine's day poem. Every comparison in the poem, and there are 14, is a simile. All of these images are made funnier through the use of hyperbole and understatement.

1. the details that would clarify the authors purpose for writing would be after the "haley collected used soccer jersey and sent them to guatemalan children." part, he would say, "and you can also donate today to save ". so far in the text, you can see no such thing. if, near the end the author persuades you to donate to guatemalans, then you know that the author's reason to write is to persuade you.

2. what details would make the text more engaging is to see the guatemalan children's reaction to getting free jerseys.

3. the details that convey the author's attitude would be an opinion by the author, for example, if he said, "haley was a very nice girl " or, you can find the attitude by finding parts of haley's personality that he highlights. you can strengthen your tones by using more descriptive words, and simplify long sentences as much as you can.

you're welcome ; p