Analysis Of The Poem ' Billy Collins '

What I believe Billy Collins in his poem “Introduction to Poetry” is how he believes poetry should be read. It teaches the reader how to go into a poem, in the form of a poem. What really stood out to me is how there is a lot of excellent use of literary devices to help create imagery for the reader to help grasp Collins’ message. On line 3, Collins uses a simile: “like a color slide” saying that the reader must look through the color slide (the poem) in order to focus in and search for the picture (the message). After this, Collins provides three metaphors to illustrate his message. In one of these three metaphors, he says “I want them to waterski across the surface of the poem waving at the author’s name on the shore.” Like the other two

The Poem “Introduction to Poetry” is by Billy Collins, an English poet, and it is about how teachers often force students to over-analyze poetry and to try decipher every possible meaning portrayed throughout the poem rather than allowing the students to form their own interpretation of the poem based on their own experiences.

Billy Collins uses dark rooms, oceans, hives, color slides and mouse mazes to describe his poem “Introduction to Poetry”, but also a way to analyze poetry in general. Growing up, students are advised by teachers how to analyze poetry. The speaker of Introduction to Poetry, Billy Collins, attempts to guide the readers by teaching them a unique and appropriate way to analyze poetry. The use of personification and imagery, by the author, gives the readers a new perspective to interpret and find the significance in poetry. In this particular poem, the speaker does not want the reader to listen to the teachers of the reader’s past, “tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a

“Dubbed ‘the most popular poet in America’ by Bruce Weber in the New York Times, Billy Collins is famous for conversational, witty poems that welcome readers with humor but often slip into quirky, tender or profound observation on the everyday, reading and writing, and poetry itself” (“Billy Collins”).“Billy Collins was the American Poet Laureate from 2001 to 2003” (534). His work was highly recognized due to his use of literary elements and his high intellect in the field of poetry. Collins constantly receives praise from others. For example John Updike has been quoted praising his poems saying, “lovely poems...limpid, gently and consistently startling, more serious than they seem, they describe all the worlds that are and were and some others besides” (“Billy Collins”). “Schoolsville” is a classic poem that has been read and enjoyed for many years. The literary elements used throughout the poem help readers relate more to the speaker’s life. Through the use of similes, form and others, Collins provides the audience with a timeless work that shows how reflecting on past experiences can help one in the present. While others may think that this poem is strictly comical and was written only for a sense of enjoyment, some readers interpreted the work as holding a deeper meaning that helps readers transfer the knowledge from the past into their present day lives.

Billy Collins has compiled twelve poetry compilations; made a six figure pay advance, just from changing publishers; served as poet laureate for two terms, which most only serve one term; served as New York’s poet laureate right after his two terms of the United States poet laureate; in total has sold over 200,000 poems since his debut book Pokerface in 1977; named “the most popular poet” by The New York Times. Billy Collins’ fame is almost incomparable to other poets. His poems are are the “not-so-serious” side of the spectrum. Billy Collins’ poetry is known for its dry humor, too. Although his writing is rather plain and is known for being quite humdrum, Billy Collins is the most skilled poet of his time because his poetry is uniquely characterized by his unique dry sense of humor.

This poem takes a simple subject and adds a very interesting perspective to the way we look at it. Even the name is unusual “Introduction to Poetry” it sounds like a chapter in one of our literary books. We get this classroom feeling from the title all the way to the last stanza it sounds like a teacher speaking to another teacher, telling them how their poetry lesson went. This poem takes into account how linear people can be when it comes to poetry usually they don’t care for the detail they just want the meaning of the poem and be done with it. But poetry is meant to be experienced and along the way we may find a meaning to the poet’s words.

Billy Collins was born on March 22nd,1941 in New York City to William and Katherine Collins. His mother was a nurse and had the ability to recite verses into any subject which made Collins have the love for words written and spoken. During his teen years Collins attended Archbishop Stepinac High School and later on received a Bachelors Art degree in 1963 at the College of the Holy Cross as well as received a M.A. and PHD in The University of california. He joined the Faculty of Lehman College in Bronx as a distinguished professor of english in 1968 and served there for 30 years.In 1977 he wrote his first book of poems called Poker Face which sold over 200,000 copies. He then later on made more collections which continued his sell streak such

The poem Introduction to Poetry is one of Collins most famous works of literature. The poem begins with Collins using similes such as “I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a

By adding conversational wit to his poetry, Collins is able to transform a serious notion into a completely divergent context. Collins’ personal temperament can be attributed to his writing style in that he is “quick to add a touch of humor to whatever he has to say, however serious the topic, but

In 2001, the American population was shocked by the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Two planes were hijacked and rammed into the twin towers. As soon as the first plane hit, news reporters began to broadcast the event on every news station throughout the country. In the next moment, a second plane crashed into the other building, and it was witnessed on live television. A frenzy of panic and uncertainty engulfed the American society and patriotism soared.

When you think of poetry, the famous poets that come to mind are Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and Langston Hughes. Today when poetry is taught, Billy Collins is a modern day poet that is admired because of his comprehensible style of writing. The poet Stephen Dunn has said, “We seem to always know where we are in a Billy Collins poem”. “On Turning Ten” is a poem of Collins that makes me reminisce my own childhood days.

Billy Collins is an American poet born in 1941, he was born in New York where he grew up. Collins was only the age of twelve when he wrote his first poem. Collins received a B.A. from the College of The Holy Cross in 1963. Collins then earned a doctorate in Romantic poetry from the University of California in 1971. In that same year Collins also began a career as a professor of English.

From controversial events to ordinary life stories, Billy Collins writes about various topics in different perspectives just like a chameleon, changing its colors to fit with its surrounding. Collins talks in a gentle, yet humorous way; he illustrates a profound understanding through a clear observation. His writing style blends humor and solemnity in one entity. Throughout his poetry, Collins demonstrates, in a witty and satirical voice, his insightfulness towards the objects, using numerous poetic devices, especially allusions and metaphors to effectively convey his messages, most of which revolves around the theme of death.

In the third stanza, a lot of imagery is used. The significant ones are present in the seventh and eleventh lines. In the first line, the poet writes, "A

While reading the poem “Introduction to Poetry,” Billy Collins sends a message to the readers that they should be patient and impartial when it comes to analyzing a poem in order to see the true meaning behind the without being over analytical. There is a revieting situation that takes place because Billy Collins is delivering his message to all readers about the way that one should be able to read a poem. This poems educates the reader on how to be able to read and plunge into a poem, through using many techniques like mood, tone, and literary devices to do so. In the first two lines Collins demands that we tackle a poem with a invigorating eye. There should be an exploration of what the poem means to us. How does this poem apply to our