Elect of Elohim-Orson F. Whitney.
I choose to analyze this one, because I really enjoyed reading
it. It is written in the form of an epic poem. I didn’t detect a specific rhythmic
form, but there is a rhyme pattern of abcbdefe. The audience is obviously
members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The content is
doctrine unique to the Church and words like Kolob, Elohim, and Lucifer as also
words only commonly used by members of the Church. I think the purpose of the
poem is to help members visualize and better understand the council in heaven.
The Kiss-Carol Clark Ottesen
I chose this one because it is so different from all the
other ones we read for this section. Most are narrative or instructive type
poems. This one though is more describing emotions or an experience in a figurative
way. It also has a different purpose then most. It is really more to entertain
then to provide some big insight or teach us anything. It doesn’t have a specific
rhyme pattern or rhythm, but it uses a lot of similes and metaphors. I also
like the way it reads. With the short lines and then the longer ones. I can’t
quite describe it, but it adds a dimension to the poem.
I like your analysis of Orson Whitney's poem because of the familiar language it uses for members in the Church. Non members may have a harder time reading and understanding it and its title alone "Elect of Elohim" suggests that. Most non members don't acknowledge that Heavenly Father's title is Elohim.
ReplyDeleteThe different literary elements are important to note in these poems. Rhyme scheme and meter as well as other literary tools not only add dimension to the poems, but also contribute to a larger historical understanding of LDS culture. What type of exposure did these early saints have to other poetry? Where they basing these poems off of other literary texts they had previously read?
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