Recap
Contrasts arise from shifts (changes as the poem unfolds) and juxtapositions (two things placed side by side). They may involve focus, tone, point of view, the speaker’s perspective, the dramatic moment, setting or time, or imagery. A shift may be signalled by a word, a structural convention or punctuation. The analysis names what is set against what and what the contrast emphasises.
Key relationships
| Idea | What it is | Example of a signal |
|---|---|---|
| Shift | A change as the poem moves | “But”, “Now”, a stanza break |
| Juxtaposition | Two things set side by side | Two images, two photographs |
| Volta | The turn in a sonnet | A change of tone near line 9 or 13 |
| Tone contrast | Feelings differ | Boast then desolation |
| Time contrast | Past against present | Tense change, “Now” |
| Imagery contrast | Pictures differ | Bright county, black stripe |
What you may assume
- A signal shows where to look, not that a shift exists.
- A poem can have more than one shift, and a contrast can be subtle.
- The effect of a contrast depends on what the poem is about.
Mistakes to avoid
- Writing “there is a shift” without saying what changes.
- Naming only one side of the contrast.
- Treating every “but” as a turning point.
- Confusing shift and juxtaposition.
- Stopping at the label instead of explaining what the contrast emphasises.
Key terms
- Shift: a change as the poem unfolds.
- Juxtaposition: two things placed side by side so each is seen differently.
- Volta: the turn in a sonnet or other poem.
- Signal: a word, structural convention or punctuation that marks a shift.
Sentence frames
- “The word ‘…’ signals a shift from … to ….”
- “The poem sets … against …, which emphasises ….”
- “The contrast of ‘…’ with ‘…’ shows that ….”
Mini-example
Signal: “But” and a stanza break. Contrast: a child’s belief that the snow “cancelled the world” against a world that “resumed”. Emphasis: the end of childhood certainty.
How questions ask about this
- “The word … most directly signals …”: name the shift and what changes.
- “The contrast between … and … emphasises …”: say what is set against what and what the difference shows.
- “The poem shifts in …”: look for tone, focus, time, imagery or perspective.
- Constructed response: quote both sides of the contrast, name the signal and explain what the contrast emphasises.
Quick self-check
- In “Ozymandias”, what is set against the inscription “Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”?
- Which two signals mark the shift in “Snow Day”?
- What is the difference between a shift and a juxtaposition?
Answers.
- The flat statement “Nothing beside remains” and the description of the empty sands.
- The word “But” and the stanza break.
- A shift is a change as the poem unfolds; a juxtaposition places two things side by side.
Full explanations are in the study guide. Try the practice questions next.