Once by the Pacific by Kay Nguyen [FVHS]

SIFT 9 - Theme

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-06 00:59:54 UTC

The theme of the poem can be interpreted through many ways. For instance, the theme of the poem can be that everything is not what it seems. In addition, the poem's theme can involve an apocalyptic topic and discuss the "end."

SIFT 10 -Title

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-06 01:01:40 UTC

The title of this poem is significant because most of the stories start off with "Once upon a time.." are peaceful, happy-ending stories. However, this poem's is peaceful in the beginning yet the ending of the poem is full of hatred and rage.

SIFT 4 - Symbols

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-06 04:59:48 UTC

The main symbols of this sonnet are the waves. Stemming from Frost's childhood fear of the ocean, he personifies the waves by giving them a quality of anger and rage. The waves represent destruction against mankind; everything the waves are touching, they will destroy.

SIFT 5 - Summarize

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-06 05:08:09 UTC

"Once by the Pacific" tells the story of an ocean and its destruction. The poem begins by describing a peaceful scene--skies full of clouds and soft winds blowing throughout. However, as the lines progress, Frost begins describing rage and evil. He informs readers of the demolition caused by waves as they crash and destroy anything they touch.

SIFT 6 - Imagery

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-06 05:15:41 UTC

Through imagery, senses such as touch and sight were stimulated. For example, "the shattered water made a misty din" creates the feeling of a slight mist in the air caused by the constant crashing currents. Moreover, the visual senses came into play as Frost described the clouds as "low and hairy in the skies" and the "great waves looked over others coming in."

SIFT 7 - Figurative Language

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-06 06:56:27 UTC

These same euphemisms also act as
personifications and similes for
the waves. Frost's frequent use of these
devices helps place emphasis on the
destructive forces of the sea assailing
the land by drawing a parallel between
the waves and the inherently violent
nature of man.

SIFT 8 - Tone

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-06 07:11:33 UTC

The poem suggests a suspenseful and foreboding
atmosphere, building and building
upon itself until reaching an unresolved
climax at the end. The poem achieves this
by depicting a gradual increase in the entropic waters, then
escalates the tension by adding threatening
qualities to the waves' strength as it progresses.

SIFT 1 - Structure

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-06 21:22:18 UTC

This poem is fourteen lines, and is called a sonnet. It has a rhyme pattern of AABBCCDDEEFFGG.

SIFT 2 - Sound Devices

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-06 21:24:53 UTC

This poem has a regular rhyme pattern. The poet is

drawing attention to specific sounds and words because

the poet wants to emphasize these words to create a

more dramatic effect. Also, the rhyme makes the poem

catchier and can easily hook the reader. In addition, the

specific sounds are emphasized because it creates imagery

for how the waves are crashing into the shore.

SIFT 3 - Speaker

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-06 21:43:20 UTC

There is no specific speaker. The point of view of this poem is

it is describing how the waves are crashing against the shore.

The point of view is from a person standing by and describing

how it looks. There is no specific audience. Everyone could

be the audience and or the readers

SOCIETAL CONNECTION

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-10 03:25:01 UTC

The connection between this poem and society is that society has two sides, a good and a bad, just like the ocean. The ocean has a happy, calm, peaceful side however, it can also be destructive and full of rage.

ONCE BY THE PACIFIC

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-12 03:56:27 UTC

The shattered water made a misty din.
Great waves looked over others coming in,
And thought of doing something to the shore
That water never did to land before.
The clouds were low and hairy in the skies,
Like locks blown forward in the gleam of eyes.
You could not tell, and yet it looked as if
The shore was lucky in being backed by cliff,
The cliff in being backed by continent;
It looked as if a night of dark intent
Was coming, and not only a night, an age.
Someone had better be prepared for rage.
There would be more than ocean-water broken
Before God's last Put out the light was spoken.

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-12 04:02:33 UTC

CURRENT SOCIETY

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-23 06:14:52 UTC

Although there are not many strong connections to today's society, this poem represents the different and unique ways people can view things. The ocean can be looked at as a beautiful, gentle, and calm scene; however, this poem illustrates readers can view the sea with a sense of pessimism as if it were to harm you.

kmnguyen114 — 2015-02-27 04:37:34 UTC