In-depth analysis of the poem Hard to find. This document consists of 4 resources compiled into one. All the important notes are labeled to make the summary as short as possible for easy learning.
Title: Hard to find
Summary: The speaker struggles to find the right words to express how her heart feels
Analysis:
Stanza 1: The speaker describes how words sometimes come freely
1 Words are everywhere Meaning: The speaker highlights the abundance of words
Hyperbole: Words are all over
2 daily One word line: To emphasize the availability of words every day
3 we read them, and they fly out Fly out:
- Words fly out when the speaker is "provoked"/ feels emotional
- They leave / escape.
4 like nobody's business when we are Provoked:
provoked… - To deliberately stir up a feeling.
- In context: Words fly out quickly without thought.
Like nobody's business:
- The words can’t be controlled.
- They fly out of the mouth very quickly.
Ellipsis:
- Stresses the difficulty / frustration that the speaker
experiences when words can’t come out
- The ellipsis shows that the conversation has not been
resolved / the words that flies out of the poet’s mouth.
- The words have not been found.
Stanza 2: Words may come easily, but the right ones not
5 but there's always something hard to Solitary line:
understand… - The speaker is highlighting the theme of the poem - it's
impossible to understand why words that should give
meaning are hard to find.
But:
- Volta: change in tone
- Shows her dilemma – words may come easily but the right
words are hard to find
Ellipsis:
- Shows that she cannot find the words.
- The line, like the meaning she is seeking, is open-ended
Irony:
- Words may come easily but the right words are hard to find
Stanza 3: Emphasizes just how difficult it is to understand why the exact words are hard to think of.
6 they are hard to find Meaning: She can’t find the correct words to express herself.
7 when they are needed by the heart; Needed:
- Something is essential
- Not want – she does not desire but needs
Personification ‘needed by the heart’:
- The words are needed the heart in order for it to be
understood
8 when the heart feels, Personification ‘heart’:
- The heart is given human quality of feeling
9 words hide like they are not part of life. Personification ‘hide’: The words hide when they are needed.
Not part of life:
- The speaker feels that the words are unable to properly
explain her life.
- They separate her from her own understanding of her life.
Simile: Words are like people not wanting to be found.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller chanellesteyn. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £4.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
