UNSEEN POETRY AND THE SWIFFTT METHOD - 1

The "SWIFT Method" for analyzing unseen poetry is an acronym that stands for Structure, Word choice, Imagery, Figurative language, and Theme and tone. This method provides a framework for students to systematically break down a poem to identify its deeper meanings and the writer's techniques, with a key first step being to read the poem through.

1. UNSEEN POETRY AND THE SWIFFTT METHOD How to analyse an unseen poem

2. The SWIFFTT Method of Literary Analysis When exploring how a writer uses literary elements and stylistic technique to convey meaning or theme, this method allows you to “sift” through the parts in order to comprehend the poem as a whole.

3. What does SWIFFTT stand for? S – Sense W – Words I – Intention F – Figures of speech (as well as sound devices) F – Format T – Tone T – Theme

4. Sense What is the literal meaning of the poem? What is your understanding of the actual meaning that the poem conveys?

5. Words What words does the poet choose to use? What are the literal and figurative meanings behind these words? What is the significance of the choice of words? How do the words contribute to the overall meaning of the poem?

6. Intention Why did the poet write the poem? What did the poet intend for us to learn/experience? What message is he/she trying to convey?

7. Figures of Speech: Writers use figures of speech such as similes, metaphors, personification and irony to form images. What figures of speech have been utilised and why? Also consider the sound devices used (such as alliteration, assonance and onomatopoeia) – what purpose do these serve?

8. Format What format has been used and for what purpose? Look at aspects like the length of the lines, the way each stanza is formulated, the rhyme scheme etc.

9. Tone  Analyse the author’s word choice. What language and word choices contribute to creating the tone of the poem? Is the tone melancholic, joyful, light-hearted, defiant, frustrated, ominous, determined, assertive, celebratory or perhaps mocking, for example?

10. Theme   What ideas/ life-lessons/ messages have you have taken away from the poem? (comments might be about life, the world, or human nature). Examples of themes include the fragility of human life, feminism, the destruction of nature, the cruelty of war, etc.  

11. Using the SWIFFT method when analysing a poem When analysing an unseen poem in a test or exam, one should read the poem over once, the perform a ‘mental’ SWIFFTT analysis to assist in your understanding of the poem. This will enable you to answer the questions effectively.

12. Exercise: Analyse the following unseen poem using the SWIFFTT method (this can be done mentally or written down) AND answer the questions that follow:

13. MOTHER, A CRADLE TO HOLD ME – MAYA ANGELOU “It is true I was created in you. It is also true That you were created for me. I owned your voice. It was shaped and tuned to soothe me. Your arms were molded Into a cradle to hold me, to rock me. The scent of your body was the air Perfumed for me to breathe. Mother, During those early, dearest days I did not dream that you had A large life which included me, For I had a life Which was only you.

14. Time passed steadily and drew us apart. I was unwilling. I feared if I let you go You would leave me eternally. You smiled at my fears, saying I could not stay in your lap forever. That one day you would have to stand And where would I be? You smiled again. I did not. Without warning you left me, But you returned immediately. You left again and returned, I admit, quickly, But relief did not rest with me easily. You left again, but again returned. You left again, but again returned. Each time you reentered my world You brought assurance. Slowly I gained confidence.

15. You thought you know me, But I did know you, You thought you were watching me, But I did hold you securely in my sight, Recording every moment, Memorizing your smiles, tracing your frowns. In your absence I rehearsed you, The way you had of singing On a breeze, While a sob lay At the root of your song. The way you posed your head So that the light could caress your face When you put your fingers on my hand And your hand on my arm, I was blessed with a sense of health, Of strength and very good fortune. You were always the heart of happiness to me, Bringing nougats of glee, Sweets of open laughter.

16. I loved you even during the years When you knew nothing And I knew everything, I loved you still. Condescendingly of course, From my high perch Of teenage wisdom. I spoke sharply of you, often Because you were slow to understand. I grew older and Was stunned to find How much knowledge you had gleaned. And so quickly. Mother, I have learned enough now To know I have learned nearly nothing. On this day When mothers are being honored, Let me thank you That my selfishness, ignorance, and mockery Did not bring you to Discard me like a broken doll Which had lost its favor. I thank you that You still find something in me To cherish, to admire and to love. I thank you, Mother. I love you.”

17. 5. Refer to stanza nine, specifically to the lines: “Did not bring you toa Discard me like a broken doll Which had lost its favor.” Identify the figure of speech and discuss what it tells us about the relationship between the mother and the speaker.    (3) 6. What do you think the poet’s intention was in writing this poem?   (2) 7. Why is the structure of the last stanza so effective?  (2) 8. What is the theme of the poem?   (1) 9. What is the tone of the poem?   (1) 10. Considering the poem as a whole, CRITICALLY discuss the development of the relationship between the speaker and her mother.   (5)

18. Questions 1. Refer to stanza one. What does the speaker imply about the relationship between an infant/young child and his/her mother? (2) 2. Refer to the third stanza: “ Time passed steadily and drew us apart… Slowly I gained confidence.” Critically discuss how the mother gains the speaker’s trust in reassuring her that she will always be there. (3) 3. The poem utilises American spelling. Identify three of these words examples and provide the South African spelling for each. (3) 4. Refer to stanza eight: “I loved you even during the years… And so quickly.” How does this stanza portray the typical relationship between a teenager and a mother? (3)