Some verbs that would be especially useful for analyzing poetry include: - Illustrates - Symbolizes - Alludes to - Juxtaposes - Foreshadows - Connotes - Explores - Portrays - Represents - Suggests Poetry relies heavily on imagery, symbols, juxtaposition of ideas, implied meanings, and exploration of themes/ideas. These verbs help analyze how the poet uses literary devices and crafts deeper meaning.

1. Preparing for AQA GCSE English Literature
Moon on the Tides Poetry Anthology – Character and Voice
AO1: respond to texts critically and imaginatively, select and evaluate textual detail to
illustrate and support interpretations
AO2: explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers‟ presentation of
ideas, themes and settings
Great verbs for analytical writing
LO: Can I use appropriate powerful
verbs when I write about texts?

2. Which do you use when writing about texts
(novels, plays, poems, adverts, films etc.) in English?
Advises Describes Foretells Relates
Affects Determines Highlights Remarks
Alludes to Displays Hints Represents
Argues Encourages Illustrates Reveals
Builds Emphasises Impacts Shows
Clarifies Establishes Implies Signifies
Confirms Evokes Indicates Symbolises
Connotes Exaggerates Informs Suggests
Constructs Examines Introduces Supports
Juxtaposes Tells
Conveys Exemplifies
Manifests Typifies
Creates Expands
Narrates
Criticises Explains
Persuades
Demonstrates Explores
Portrays
Denotes Exposes Presents
Depicts Foreshadows Refers

3. Powerful verbs for analytical essays
 Some verbs are helpful for showing how details (like
events, words or symbols) in texts support an idea or
interpretation…
 “The act of hurling the pearl into the sea suggests
that the beauty of the soul cannot be bought.”
 “Her constant use of first-person pronouns like „I‟
and „My‟ exposes her self-centred nature.”
 Example + Verb + Explanation

4. Your turn…
 “The use of statistics __________ the reader that the
writer‟s argument is logical.”
 “The verb „clawed‟ __________ a great struggle.”
 “The intense disagreement between these characters
__________ tension throughout the play.”
 “The tide in the image __________ time and eternity.”
 suggests persuades
builds represents

5.  Plural verb?
 “Both the moon and the tide in the image__________
time and eternity.”
 Can you turn the verb into a noun?
 “The tide is perhaps a __________ of time and
eternity. ”
“The tide in the image
represents time and
eternity.”

6. Powerful verbs for analytical essays
 These verbs can also be helpful for showing how writers
convey ideas, messages or intentions…
 They can help you talk about the context of a text…
 “The lighthouse is an important symbol in the poem.
It represents hope and truth.”
 “In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee highlights
racial and social injustice in 1930s America.”
 Example + Verb + Explanation

7. Your turn…
 “„The Crucible‟ __________ the conflict between
individual choice and social expectation.”
 “Iago __________ Othello using animal imagery.”
 “The movie „Fight Club‟ __________ American society
and __________ it to be breaking down completely.”
 “The snake __________ evil, so the author may be
suggesting that the setting is sinful and dangerous”
 explores portrays criticises
describes symbolises

8. “ „The Crucible‟ explores the
conflict between individual
choice and social expectation.”
 Plural verb?
 “Both „The Crucible‟ and „Pride and Prejudice‟
__________ the conflict between individual choice and
social expectation.”
 Can you turn the verb into a noun?
 “„Pride and Prejudice‟ can be read as an __________ of
individual choice versus social expectation.”

9. Note of Caution: Only use the verbs you‟re familiar with unless you take the time to
examine the definition in the dictionary. This is not a list of synonyms. Each word has
specific uses that are unique to its meaning.
Active verbs for writing about texts...
Advises Determines Foretells Refers
Affects Demonstrates Highlights Relates
Alludes to Displays Hints Remarks
Argues Encourages Illustrates Represents
Builds Emphasises Impacts Reveals
Clarifies Establishes Implies Shows
Indicates Signifies
Confirms Evokes
Informs Symbolises
Connotes Exaggerates
Introduces Suggests
Constructs Examines
Juxtaposes Supports
Conveys Exemplifies
Manifests Tells
Creates Expands
Narrates Typifies
Criticises Explains
Persuades
Denotes Explores Portrays
Depicts Exposes Presents
Describes Foreshadows

10. Task: „Portrait of a Deaf Man‟ by John
Betjeman
 1. What kind of images does the poet present us
with in the opening stanza?
 2. Using the active verbs for analysis (and any poetic
terms you can) you will be answering this question:
How does the poet introduce a character
in the first stanza?

11. The kind old face, the egg-shaped
head,
The tie, discreetly loud,
The loosely fitting shooting clothes,
A closely fitting shroud.

12. How does the poet introduce the character in the first stanza?
The kind old face, the egg-shaped
head,
The tie, discreetly loud,
The loosely fitting shooting clothes,
A closely fitting shroud.
Explode the

13. Which of these active verbs do you think will be especially
useful when writing about poetry?
Active verbs for writing about texts...
Advises Determines Foretells Refers
Affects Demonstrates Highlights Relates
Alludes to Displays Hints Remarks
Argues Encourages Illustrates Represents
Builds Emphasises Impacts Reveals
Clarifies Evokes Implies Shows
Indicates Signifies
Confirms Establishes
Informs Symbolises
Connotes Exaggerates
Introduces Suggests
Constructs Examines
Juxtaposes Supports
Conveys Exemplifies
Manifests Tells
Creates Expands
Narrates Typifies
Criticises Explains
Persuades
Denotes Explores Portrays
Depicts Exposes Presents
Describes Foreshadows