Close Reading of “Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins, Essay Example

The Introduction to Poetry written by author Billy Collins will be analyzed for the distinctive use of literary devices and discussed for interpretation with regards to the narrator and the reader. The poem emphasizes how the true meaning of a poem can be depicted if properly addressed with a vision of light rather than a closed mindedness that most repressed readers tend to do when initially reading as such. My essay will introduce the meaning of the poem, focus on the literary value to poetic readers, present a true theme and present a formal personalized opinion of the poem.

Collins is addressing the readers of the poem and how they vision the meaning of the poem or rather how he would prefer they vision poetic readings with the use of illusion and light. The speaker of the poem is certainly identifiable as the narrator of the poem. He is speaking to the reader of the poem as the poet about how he wants the reader to have the poem come to life as he/she is reading it through the use of senses such as light, feeling and hearing.

The poet presents extreme use of literary devices in the poem to express the true meaning of the poem. The use of assonance is used to speak about the poem waving the author’s name on the shore. The motive for the use of this literary device is to offer value and distinction to the poem; to add value to the poem. The use of consonance is used when referring to feeling the poem’s walls for a light switch after walking inside the poems room. This use of literary device is to give the poem virtue and meaning through the use of light and giving it illumination to make it come to light. The use of metaphors and similes are present throughout the poem. Holding the poem up to the light like a colour slide depicts the resources to give the poem meaning through the use of illumination by comparing it to a colour slide that can be seen visually with great vividness. “But all they want to do is tie the poem up to a chair with rope and torture a true confession out of it.”  This is an example of comparing the opposite action of illuminating the poem and seeing light and vivid colour to choking the poem and having a closed and empty mind and missing the true meaning of the poem. Drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out is a classic illustration of comparing how the author wishes the reader to view the poem in a most eloquent and vivid manner.

Collins, author is stating that poetry is a beautiful art if interpreted with an open and colourful mind. The reader should possess a mind of illuminating virtue and beauty with respect towards poetry in order to decipher the true meaning as such. The meaning of the poem is established by the author by virtue that he is asking for the reader to come with feelings and open senses to address and read a poem properly.

Through various uses of literary devices the poet was able to narrate the poem and develop a one-on-one relationship with the reader and express how some readers do not look into the true meaning of poems whilst reading them. Further he was able to show how an open-minded reader would creatively view the poem to decipher the true meaning from the poem. I enjoyed the poem tremendously because it gave an argumentative viewpoint through classic use of literary devices that developed the true way to read a poem. It was informative through the use of illustrative literary means. The concept of beauty is portrayed in individual preference. Content and style are both extremely important attributes to a good poem and this poem possessed both. However, a great poem will possess the ability to emotionally move a person.