Diction, Imagery, Detail, and Syntax (DIDS) in Poetry—Worksheet "When I Was Fair and Young"
by Queen Elizabeth I circa 1585
When I was fair and young, then favor graced me.
Of many was I sought their mistriss for to be,
But I did scorn them all and answered them therefore:
Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more.

How many weeping eyes I made to pine in woe,
How many sighing hearts I have not skill to show,

But I the prouder grew and still this spake therefore:
Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more.

Then spake fair Venus' son, that brave victorious boy,
Saying: You dainty dame, for that you be so coy,
I will so pluck your plumes as you shall say no more:
Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more.

As soon as he had said, such change grew in my breast
That neither night nor day I could take any rest.
Wherefore I did repent that I had said before:
Go, go, go, seek some other where, importune me no more.

Instructions: Analyze the text you selected and fill out the following worksheet in detail. Provide specific examples from the text that support your analysis

1. Write the title of the text you have analyzed here:
2. List at least three examples of diction in the text that add to the overall tone. Explain how each word contributes to the emotional power of the piece.
3. List at least three examples of imagery in the text that add to the overall tone. Explain how each description contributes to the emotional power of the piece.
4. List the examples of important details the author chose to include. Explain how these details contribute to the emotional power of the piece.
5. List the examples of important details the author chose to omit. Explain how these missing details contribute to the emotional power of the piece.
6. Analyze the author’s use of syntax in this text. Are the sentences long or short? Does the author use punctuation to slow down the pace, or short phrases to quicken it? Explain how the sentence structure contributes to the emotional power of the piece.

7. Select a tone (or multiple tones) from the list of Tone Words. Explain why this tone is the best way to describe this text.