What is a ?good? poem? Or what makes a poem ?bad?. There are no specific rules or guidelines to writing a poem. It is easy to form an opinion of what is good or what is bad on two different poems for an individual, but to be able to make informed judgments and for these judgments to be accepted as good or bad, universally, takes a bit more of an in-depth insight. In this analysis and evaluation of ?Little Boy Blue? and ?The Toys?, one will be able to understand what makes them either good poems or bad poems by the writers? usage of diction, images and figure of speech, details, and the poems general impression. As well, it will incorporate that both poems are sentimental but differ in their appeal to a beginning reader and a more mature reader.

There are three basic questions that one must follow in judging a poem or poems. What is the poem?s central purpose? In ?Little Boy Blue? the purpose of this poem is in a loved one?s death, the ones? who loved them will always remain longingly and true. The central purpose of ?The Toys? is before one takes out their aggression on a child, remember that a child is good and seeks

In the following paragraphs, one will see that using these methods are incorporated and built around the central purpose of each poem. Using these methods helps one use insight for making respectable judgments. Also, they will begin to unveil the poems? ?goodness? or ?badness? in a sort of checklist-type manner.

goodness. One will regret excessively punishing a child for committing childish things. Secondly, how fully has this purpose been accomplished? ?Little Boy Blue? and ?The Toys? both accomplish their purpose through the list above in the previous paragraph. However, ?Little Boy Blue? attracts less inexperienced poem readers because of the simpler yet powerful diction that is used. ?The Toys? draws a mature poem reader do to a higher level of diction but at the same time is clear as well as powerful to that reader. Lastly, how important is the purpose? In both poems the purposes are both sentimental, again depending on the readers? poetic experience level, and they are moving and intense giving the poems a better and a more powerful central purpose. These are the first steps used in making informed judgments for the two poems in deciding whether they are ?good? or ?bad?.

Details in a poem can either ?make or break? it. Too many details can become overbearing and distract the reader from the central purpose. Too few details can take away from the poem?s general impression, again, stealing from it?s central purpose leaving it diffused and bland. In ?Little Boy Blue? the poet uses compressed but well-chosen and purposeful details describing Little Boy Blue?s lifelike but aged toys. Although the poet?s details are not in the masses and no

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Approximate Word count = 1126
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)