Question

“To Pimp a Butterfly” the poem

1. READ. Read through the poem carefully. Write down any immediate thoughts that come to mind.

2. BUILDING YOUR UNDERSTANDING. Read the poem again, then answer these guiding questions to get a better sense of what the poem is about:

TITLE: What is the poem’s title? (Or, what is the poem’s first line, if it has no title?) What impact does the title have on readers?

SUBJECT: What happens in the poem? What objects, people, or events are described?

SPEAKER: Is there a clear speaker or voice narrating the poem? If so, who is the speaker and how does the speaker feel? (Or, what is the speaker’s tone?)

AUDIENCE: Is the poem’s speaker talking to someone specific? If so, who is the poem addressed to?

3. DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING. Read the poem a third time out loud. This time, take a closer look at the features of the poem that stand out to you.

SOUNDS: What sounds, such as rhyme or rhythm, do you hear in the poem? How do these sounds make readers feel? What is their impact on the meaning of the poem?

LANGUAGE: What descriptive language, such as imagery or metaphors, do you notice? How does the language impact how readers feel or understand the poem?

STRUCTURE: What do you notice about the poem’s shape and structure, like its lines and spaces? How does this structure affect the poem’s meaning or message?

4. INTERPRET. Based on your notes above, what do you think the poem’s meaning or message is? This is your INTERPRETATION that you’ll explain in your essay. Here are some sentence frames to help you:

The poem reveals _______. The poem explores the idea that ________.

INTERPRETATION OF THE POEM:

5. Plan for writing. Put a star ( * ) next to 2–3 main features that helped you arrive at your interpretation.

Essay: Reading Closely to Arrive to a Interpretation

Answer 1

Title: The title of the poem is "To Pimp a Butterfly". The impact of the title is to catch the reader's attention and create a sense of intrigue.

Subject: The poem talks about the struggles of African Americans in society and the pressure they face to conform to societal norms. The poem also touches on themes of identity, race, and self-worth.

Speaker: The poem is narrated by an African American individual who is expressing their frustrations with society and the way they are treated.

Audience: The poem is addressed to society as a whole, particularly those in power who have the ability to influence change.

Sounds: The poem uses various sound devices such as rhyme and repetition to create a musical and rhythmic quality. This helps to convey the emotions and message of the poem in a powerful and impactful way.

Language: The poem uses vivid and descriptive language such as metaphors and imagery to evoke strong emotions and create a sense of empathy with the speaker's experiences.

Structure: The poem has a structured form with repeated lines and a consistent rhyme scheme. This structure helps to create a sense of unity and cohesiveness in the message being conveyed.

Interpretation: The poem reveals the struggles and challenges faced by African Americans in society and the pressure to conform to societal norms. The poem explores the idea that true freedom and self-worth can only be achieved by breaking free from these expectations and embracing one's own identity and culture. The repeated line "we gon' be alright" serves as a hopeful and empowering message that despite the challenges, there is still hope for a better future.