Poetry Analysis Essay

Words: 923
Pages: 4

In the poem “An Echo Sonnet”, author Robert Pack writes of a conversation between a person’s voice and its echo. With the use of numerous literary techniques, Pack is able to enhance the meaning of the poem: that we must depend on ourselves for answers because other opinions are just echoes of our own ideas.

At first glance, the reader notices that the poem is divided into two parts in order to resemble a conversation. When reading the sonnet for the first time the reader may make the mistake in thinking that what the “echo” replies is an answer to the questions the “voice” asks. But in reality the “echo” isn’t replying to the “voice” but is actually performing its normal job. The “echo” only repeats back the last prominent sounds
…show more content…
This technique plays a major role in enhancing the poem because the author wants us to independent from others. In reality the answers and opinions we seek are just echoes of our own ideas, which are not worth giving up. By using a rhyming scheme that changes in the last two lines so “go” and “know” rhyme with each other the author demonstrates his own control (Lines 13-14). He has the power to change the rhyme scheme to a way that pleases him; just as he does what he likes in life to please himself and not others. The author ultimately demonstrates that we hold the answers we seek.

From a short fourteen line sonnet, the reader is able to understand one overlapping idea fully. In this sonnet, poet Robert Pack takes the opportunity to help his readers understand the over arching meaning of his poem; that we can find all our answers in our own questions. When we depend on ourselves we keep control of our lives and don’t let others gain it by following their opinions on a matter. The audience is able to understand this meaning through numerous literary techniques such as imagery, rhetorical questions, and rhyme