Shel Silverstein Poem Analysis 6

Hug O'War

By Shel Silverstein

This is an amazing poem which despite its simplicity and rather childish rhyming manages to send its deep and strong message across: be loving and caring, not warriors.

It instantly reminds us how important it is to avoid fighting and battles and be more affectionate as love is the key to a happy, peaceful life. Sometimes it takes so little to turn bad ugly things into gestures that prove our kindness and warmth.

The attitude of the poem is an optimistic one as the writer keeps encouraging us to be good to people around us and show our love with hugs and kisses and cuddles.

Once you read these lines, you bear them in your mind, as they are easy to remember. I believe it is one of those poems that can become a motto in life to be followed.

Shel Silverstein Poem Analysis 5

Recipe for a Hippopotamus Sandwich

By Shel Silverstein

The poem is so funny and amusing that it immediately catches your attention. It gives simple instructions on how to make a sandwich and everything looks normal up to the point a hippopotamus is to be added onto the bread, with mayonnaise and an onion ring. But the idea itself is so original that you start wondering about such a possibility.

The attitude of the writer is clearly an optimistic one, his main goal being that of “showing” us everything could be possible as long as we allow our imagination and creativity run freely.

If the first ten lines of the poem tell us what we need to make such a sandwich, without any problem at all, the last two ones, however, do admit that there might be something to cause us difficulties – the biting of the sandwich.

I find this poem very entertaining and I would recommend it to people of all ages. It is, without any doubt, the kind of poem that you will easily remember as it is funny, imaginative and has a simple rhyming. 

Shel Silverstein Poem Analysis 4

Peanut-Butter Sandwich

By Shel Silverstein

The poem is an account of a funny story whose major character is a “silly young king”. The central theme is the king’s uncontrollable appetite for peanut butter sandwiches. And, according to the poet, this love for peanut butter has made the king make ridiculous decisions: “For he had passed a royal rule
                                                      That all that they could learn in school
                                                            Was how to make a peanut-butter sandwich.”

The fact that even powerful men like kings have their “weak points” makes the whole poem sound hilarious. We cannot stop smiling when reading about the madness of a king for such an ordinary, simple thing like peanut butter.

There is an easy to spot shift as the poet narrates in detail the lengths the king went to in order to satisfy his insatiability for peanut butter and although he suffers an accident, not being able to open his mouth for twenty years, in the end he stills asks for more peanut butter. So, despite everything, he doesn’t give up his pleasure.

Any child would feel great when reading this amazing poem. I personally couldn’t stop laughing when seeing how much a king would be willing to do just to enjoy his favorite food. Another remarkable aspect is the skillful way in which the poet minutely describes the events. It simply makes you feel you are right there, witnessing the process, step by step. From the very first lines I felt like any other king’s subject taking part in the action.

Shel Silverstein Poem Analysis3

Tryin' On Clothes

By Shel Silverstein

In this poem we are told about how we should always try things on before we find the one that fits us best. It is not just about clothes but more about the way we decide to live our lives. We may experiment a long time before we finally reach what we truly want.

The attitude is optimistic throughout the poem. You just need to be patient and persevere; if things don’t suit you, try again, and if they still don’t work a second time, keep trying until you eventually get to the point where you feel satisfied and happy.

The shift of the poem is obvious: at the beginning there are some unsuccessful attempts, but in the end the poet eventually finds “that thing” that he loves most, he feels most happy and fulfilled about.

Everyone should read this poem and understand how important it is to find YOUR way in life. It might take some time and effort but once you discover it, everything else makes sense and we feel confident and content and are more likely to succeed in achieving our goals and dreams.

Shel Silverstein's Poem Analysis 2

Ticklish Tom

By Shel Silverstein

From the very beginning, the reader notices the many details describing the places and the different noises which make this poem become a detailed story of a ticklish boy called Tom. No matter where Tom goes, he always laughs and has fun and all the people and things around him contribute to this fabulous state.

It is quite clear to me that the main purpose of the poet is to make us, the readers, feel the same excitement and start laughing, just like the character in the poem, Tom. And I believe he successfully achieves his task by using alive, wisely chosen words and phrases. These name concrete and familiar things and we can easily relate to them: floor, door, school, stool, cop, town, toad, plain, etc.

But just as we were having as much fun as Tom, the ending comes as a surprise and states that the young boy, once “rolled on the railroad track”, ceased to feel ticklish. The unexpected turn abruptly puts an end to all the great fun and the railroad track can be seen as a barrier between the happy, joyful childhood and maturity.

I greatly enjoyed reading this “ticklish” poem as it reminded me how good it is to laugh from time to time, wherever you are and whatever you do. It is a message telling us that having fun keeps us alive and that is why I recommend it to everyone.

Shel Silverstein's Poem Analyse 1

Bear In There

By Shel Silverstein

The poem describes an unusual situation: a polar bear eating voraciously from a fridge. He is just like a child that enjoys noodles, soda and ice and he doesn’t seem to care about how nicely he eats. What makes it funnier is the fact that such a large animal, expected to be fierce and strong, behaves like an excited kid who is suddenly free to eat all of his favorite foods.

The instant feeling that you get when reading these amusing lines is that of joy, happiness and freedom to do whatever you wish. You somehow envy the carelessness of the bear that worries about nothing but his delicious treats. The poet shows great skills in creating such a vivid description of the scene that, despite the fact we know it is not likely to happen, we allow ourselves to believe it is real and truly savor it. The layout of the poem is also very similar to a drawing and gives the reader the chance to interpret it visually, as well.

The whole image resembles one from a fairy tale, where animals can talk and eat and behave like humans and we feel charmed by its magic. However, towards the end there is a sudden twist as the poet expresses a certain feeling of worry and fear towards the big, hungry bear.

I really enjoyed reading this poem and felt like witnessing a scene from a fantasy. The words are so simple, yet intense and the rhyming artistically adds a final touch which makes anyone reading the poem smile and feel happy. That is why I strongly recommend it to people of all ages as it is important to always keep our humor and childhood innocence.

Beginning

"TENNIS PLAYERS WITH GOALS SUCCEED BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING" - Felicity Luckey