Sp08-250-Group5

="Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins lines 12-14 ("But all they want to do / is tie the poem to a chair with rope / and torture a confession out of it")=

Group 5: Laura, Sai, Ashley, Robert
Facilitator: //Sai Lor// Polisher: //Robert Richardson//

__Expert move #1: identifying the figurative language__

The figurative language being used by Collins is metaphor. Like when he uses the well known tactic of torturing a person to receive a confession. "Is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it" (lines 13,14). Collins compares forcing a confession out of someone, to getting the meaning out of a poem. The frustration of a novice reader trying to find the true meaning behind the poem can be compared to the torture method. Imagery is also being used in Collins poem. The lines used by Collins evokes our sense of seeing, you can visually picture the scene in which the student is trying to "tie the poem" and "torture a confession out of it" in a non literal sense.

__Expert move #2: exploring denotations__

The dictionary meaning of torture is forcing a confession by the use of severe pain or punishment. Collins uses the actual torture technique to describe a student who is trying to analyze the true meaning behind a poem. The poets use of the word torture gives a sense of physical harm, in the students case this could be mental anguise. The poet could of used the word analyze instead of torture, however the word torture heightens our sense of fear and visually gives us an image. Mental anguise could of also been used, we have all went through this type of torture. The author's intention was to show the students frustration through metaphor anand image of a torture scene.

__Expert move #3: unpacking the figurative and connotative meanings__

The connotative meaning behind Collins lines is finding the hidden meaning inside the poem and getting to the heart of the poem. Utilizing everything at your disposal to seek the truth behind the author's intentions. A students frustration is a form of torture. Collins use of the word torture is his way of describing the students struggle to find what the author is trying to convey. The use of the word confession implies what the student is trying to accomplish. They are trying to break down the text and bring the truth to the surface. The word confession implies guilt, the author could of said they were trying to force intelligible information out of the poem. The confession is uncovering the hidden meaning, the 7/8ths of the text that is below the surface.

__Expert move #4: recontextualizing within the whole poem__

The lines 12 through 14 sum up the whole process of analyzing a poem. In the beginning the student picks it up and examines it. Then they listen to it and try to hear what it is trying to convey. The reader then has to probe it from every direction and come out with a idea. They need to feel their way through the poem, like they are exploring the world. When the student starts to become frustrated or annoyed they act like it does not matter. However they would rather tie it up and torture a confession out of it. This is when the student gets serious and truly digs deep and brings out the confession or what the poem is about.