Poetry: Finding the Main Idea of the Poem
Poetry: Finding the main idea of the poem
WIND AND SILVER
by Amy Lowell
Greatly shining,
The Autumn moon floats in the
thin sky;
And the fish-ponds shake their
backs and flash their dragon
scales
As she passes over them.
Title of Poem: “Wind and Silver”
Does the title give you any clues about the main idea? The title tells me that the poem might have something to do with wind and something silver.
Who or what is the subject of the poem? The subject of the poem is the moon.
What words or phrases tell you about the subject? “Greatly shining” and “autumn moon.”
Describe the action in the poem. The autumn moon floats in the night sky and you can see the fish in the ponds in the moonlight.
What is the main idea of the poem? The magical effect of the moonlight illuminating a fish pond.
Wild Goose
by Curtis Heath
He climbs the wind above
green clouds of pine,
Honking to hail the
gathering migration.
And, arching towards the
south, pulls to align
His flight into the great
spearhead formation.
He’ll find a bayou land of
hidden pools,
And bask amid lush fern
and water lily
Far from the frozen world
of earth-bound fools
Who, shivering, maintain
that geese are silly.
Title of Poem: “Wild Goose”
Does the title give you any clues about the main idea? The title tells me that the poem could be about a wild goose.
Who or what is the subject of the poem? The subject of the poem is a goose’s migration.
What words or phrases tell you about the subject? The words “migration” and “spearhead formation” and the phrase “from the frozen world of earth-bound fools who, shivering, maintain that geese are silly.”
Describe the action in the poem. The first stanza of the poem gives me information about the action, such as, “He climbs the wind above green clouds of pine, honking to hail the gathering migration.” The second stanza also has plenty of information about the goose’s actions.
What is the main idea of the poem? The main idea of “Wild Goose” is that a goose’s migration is smart and beautiful.
Poetry: Finding the theme of the poem
City Autumn
by Joseph Moncure March
The air breathes frost. A thin wind beats
Old dust and papers down grey streets
And blows brown leaves with curled up edges
At frightened sparrows on window ledges.
A snowflake falls like an errant feather:
A vagabond draws his cloak together,
And an old man totters past with a cane
Wondering if he'll see spring again.
What is the main idea of the poem? How do you know? The changing of the seasons affects nature, animals, and the people in a city. We know this because the title mentions city autumn and the words in the poem describe what happens to nature, animals and people in the city during the change of seasons.
What is the tone or voice of the poem? Identify the words or phrases that helped you identify it. The voice of “City Autumn” is somber and reflective. The words the poet uses to describe the actions, such as “Thin wind beats old dust,” “a vagabond draws his cloak together,” and “an old man totters past. . .” give us a somber feeling.
What message does the poem have for the reader? How did you draw this conclusion? We might say that the message or theme of “City Autumn” is to enjoy life because you never know if you will be around to see another season. We drew this conclusion by gathering the information about the poem’s main idea and voice to identify the message or theme.
Birds' Nests
by Edward Thomas
The summer nests uncovered by autumn wind,
Some torn, others dislodged, all dark,
Everyone sees them: low or high in tree,
Or hedge, or single bush, they hang like a mark.
Since there's no need of eyes to see them with
I cannot help a little shame
That I missed most, even at eye's level, till
The leaves blew off and made the seeing no game.
'Tis a light pang. I like to see the nests
Still in their places, now first known,
At home and by far roads. Boys knew them not,
Whatever jays and squirrels may have done.
And most I like the winter nests deep-hid
That leaves and berries fell into:
Once a dormouse dined there on hazel-nuts,
And grass and goose-grass seeds found soil and grew.
What is the main idea of the poem? How do you know? I think the main idea of this poem is many birds’ nests are now visible due to the change in the season because the title mentions birds’ nests and the words in the poem describe what happens to a birds’ nests in autumn.
What is the tone or voice of the poem? Identify the words or phrases that helped you identify it. After reading the poem aloud, I feel somber or somewhat sad. Phrases such as: “hang like a mark,” “I cannot help but a little shame,” and “made the seeing no game,” give me a feeling of sadness.
What message does the poem have for the reader? How did you draw this conclusion? I think the theme of this poem is to take time to notice nature’s beauty before it is too late. Gathering the information about the poem’s main idea and voice can help to identify the message or theme.