a. a weak, timid creature.
b. an unpredictable creature.
c. a powerful, fast creature.
Like all good similes, this comparison creates a
vivid image that not only helps us actually picture the
eagle’s flight, but also tells us something about the eagle
by comparing it to the incredible force of nature that is
lightning. The eagle, this simile suggests, is as power-
ful, as fast, as dangerous—and as impossible to catch—
as a thunderbolt. We should, in short, be as awed by the
eagle as we are by lightning—and that feeling, more
than an idea we might call a theme, is what this poem
is all about.
A c t i o n + L a n g u a g e = T h e m e In the final poem for today, by American poet Stephen
Crane, see if you can determine the theme of the poem
by looking at both the action of the poem and its lan-
guage (diction, style, and tone). As before, begin by
reading the poem carefully, first out loud and then
with pen in hand.
Practice Passage 3 A Man Said to the Universe A man said to the universe:
“Sir, I exist!”
“However,” replied the universe,
“The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation.”
13. Which sentence best summarizes the theme of
this poem?
a. The universe is too big for humanity.
b. The universe is indifferent to humanity.
c. Humanity has an obligation to the universe.
The best answer is b, “The universe is indifferent
to humanity.” This idea is conveyed in part by the action
of the poem: what the man says to the universe and the
universe’s reply. But the universe’s indifference is also
reflected in the language of the poem.
14. Which of the following best describes the tone of
this poem?
a. warm, caring
b. hot, angry
c. cold, formal
The words of this poem—especially “sir,” “fact,”
and “sense of obligation”—are cold, formal words that
reflect the way the universe feels about man: indiffer-
ent. There is no sense of intimacy, no relationship, no
warmth in these words. The poet’s diction and style
help to reveal the theme of the poem.
S u m m a r y Reading poetry wasn’t so bad after all, was it? If you are
an active reader who is sensitive to the language used by
the poet, you can use the clues the poet gives you to
help you enjoy the pictures and emotions created
through words and understand the poem’s theme. And
if you can do this for poems, you can certainly do it for
stories, novels, and plays as well.
