Literary Analysis Questions

Literary Analysis Questions Using Robert Priest’s Poetry

1.      What’s the meaning/ point of the poem

2.       What feelings does the text evoke

3.       How using syntax and word choice does the author accomplish 1 and 2

Come to Me, By Robert Priest.

1.       It is an untraditional love poem, rather than just adoration, passion and longing, Priest also collaborates, the acceptance of sacrifice, and the acknowledgment of both agreement and opposites.  It is less of a fantasy and more of a promise for a reachable reality. 

2.       Devotion, sacrifice, longing, passion, desire

3.      “I have tried to hate you with the strength of many animals and I cannot hate you” L5-6

“so come to me burning and I will burn” L The repetition in Priests short sentences, focuses the attention of the reader solely on the single word  to accomplish two things. One to almost cancel out the words (hate) in this case to take the option of being without them is impossible, also to show the devotion, as the speaker promises to be with them through all (burning).  Repetition is also seen throughout the entire poem with the phrase ‘come to me’, this implants the image of two beings together, as the constant repetition, makes the question seem to be more of a present action.   

“come to me with snow and I will promise to be red in it” L The diction used is significant because both the colours white (snow) and red have pure connotations to them.  The snow having just fallen has a pure image for itself, and in a similar way red like blood is also a very sterile object.  With that symbolism, Priest is able to combine perfectly the idea of similarities of the objects, yet dramatic differences in the colours. 

“Come to me unique and I will match you stare for stare Come to me in Greek in Spanish in French in Hebrew and I will sing” L the back to back sentences which hold different meanings allow for the realistic approach on love to sink in.  ‘match you stare for stare’ creates the idea of a challenge, in love it is a balance just as a staring contest, and a equal opponent could make for a good match of a mate. This is followed by a component to over almost as important, and that’s effort, Priest uses the idea of a language barrier, something that many consider a rule out when it comes to love, but the speaker has reached further for love and come to the solution of song, a universal language. 

Revolutions, By Robert Priest.

1.       There’s no need to pity those who don’t fit in, for we fit in where they belong as much as they do where we fit.  Everyone’s purpose is different but that’s why it is specific to them. 

2.       Inspiring, defying, focused, confident

3.      “no doctor you are wrong I am tremendous and exultant” L11-13 The diction used, profiles the character to be strong and unquestioning about himself, instead of proposing to you that he may be happy or good, he forces the belief with the confidence. 

“I am the dancing man who kicks over the jug of stars” L38-40  The diction ‘Dancing’ and ‘Kicks’ bring together the symbolism of the odd person out embracing themselves, the cloud calls himself a dancing Man, not walking or standing, because dancing is an action that cannot be missed, just as a misfit is.  The cloud is the only object of nature that sits in the sky rather than on the earth, (upside down) just as the cloud says he ‘kicks the jug of stars’ a person who would embrace their own nature will toss out the rules for the status quo.  Priest has chosen the action of kicking, to further enforce the conviction behind the clouds acceptance of being different. 

“Where I put my feet is where the ground is”L43-45  Priest uses parallel syntax at the end of his poem in a contradicting way.  The structure of the sentence itself is balanced and almost mimicked, by starting and ending each half with where and is, but the sentence itself is a statement to show the opposite, that the cloud does not mimic the rest of nature, rather it proudly does the opposite.

Christ is the Kind of Guy, By Robert Priest.

1.       Lose, lose situation

2.       Cynical, abrupt,

3.       “Christ has the kind of skin that bruises when you hold him the kind of face that kisses cut” always something wrong, even when intentions are right there’s a sin

“if there is a cross in your house you will find yourself bumping up against him accidentally moving him close and closer to it.” Having made Christ into a actual person, the image of him constantly wanting to jump onto the cross is born.

“Christ is the kind of savior you can only get off the cross with a blow torch ‘Father forgive them’ he says as you begin to burn his hands”