Fire Side Poets - Cornell Notes

Questions: Notes: Which poem has the rhythm of marching? Which poem includes many concrete images? A Psalm of Life How does each poet use word choice to create tone and imagery? -Lowell uses concrete language -Lowell focuses on the image of birds and changing seasons -longfellow uses both concrete and abstract language -Longfellow uses many images -Longfellow's speaker addresses "us," creating an abstract, preachy tone -Lowell uses "I," creating a personal tone What tells you that the word "heart" is important in both poems? Analyze word choice, imagery, and structure. The word "heart" is a stressed syllable in each poem and part of a key image related to the theme. How do the themes of "A Psalm of Life" and "Auspex" differ? While "Psalm" argues that the soul continues after death, "Auspex" indicates that time destroys the heart's passions. How do the authors of "A Psalm of Life" and "Auspex" use different images to illustrate their themes? "Psalm" contains primarily images of battle and human interactions, while "Auspex" focuses on natural imagery. Read the quotation from "A Psalm of Life." It reinforces the idea that one should live in the present, not in the past Let the dead past bury its dead! What is the effect of the repetition of the word "dead" in this line? Auspex -But to act, that each to-morrow Find us farther than to-day. -Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. A moment, sweet delusion, Like birds the brown leaves hover; But it will not be long Before their wild confusion Fall wavering down to cover The poet and his song. Lowell uses words such as "song-birds," "passion," and "impatience" to suggest that life is brief and should be lived passionately. How does Lowell's word choice support his theme? What is the main idea of the first stanza of "Auspex"? Though I cannot slow myself down right now, one day my heart will stop beating so quickly, and I will slow down