Log In
|
My Passes
|
Sign Up
Learning Guides
Teacher Resources
Test Prep
College Readiness
Schools & Districts
All of Shmoop
Literature
Bible
Poetry
Shakespeare
Mythology
Bestsellers
Dr. Seuss
Pre-Algebra
Algebra
Algebra II
Geometry
Biology
US History
Flashcards
DMV
Careers
SAT
ACT
AP Exams
En Español
Essay Lab
Videos
Literary Critics
Shmoop Shtuff
Cite This Page
To Go
This Is Just To Say
by
William Carlos Williams
Home
Poetry
This Is Just To Say
Analysis
Intro
The Poem
Summary
Analysis
Themes
Quotes
Study Questions
Best of the Web
How to Read a Poem
Advertisement
Table of Contents
AP English Language
AP English Literature
SAT Test Prep
ACT Exam Prep
ADVERTISEMENT
This Is Just To Say Analysis
Symbols, Imagery, Wordplay
Form and Meter
Free VerseThough Williams claimed in an interview with John Gerber (source), that "This Is Just To Say" was metrically regular, meaning that it has a regular rhythm, he must have meant this visuall...
Speaker
If the speaker of this poem were, indeed, William Carlos Williams, he would have been in his fifties, married, and a father when it was published. So, we'd guess that he would be writing this note...
Setting
A KitchenPlums? Icebox? We're totally in a kitchen. In fact, the poem itself could be a note on the refrigerator. It could literally be in a kitchen. See, "This Is Just To Say" was published in 193...
Sound Check
Each little stanza of this poem is like a sweet and juicy plum popped into the mouth. Read the poem aloud and try to taste the plums as you do. See, that's just the thing: this poem isn't about sou...
What's Up With the Title?
The title of this poem seems like it could have been the first line. When you read the poem aloud, the title and the first line flow together nicely. Some people say that this poem is supposed to b...
Calling Card
Everyday PoeticsWilliams wrote many poems that are longer and more complex than this one, sure. But his poetry on the whole often reflects everyday American life and everyday American language. A d...
Tough-o-Meter
(2) Sea LevelIf you read this poem and think, "I don't get it, anyone could write something like that," then, actually, you've got it. The hardest part about this poem is getting over our preconcep...
Trivia
Williams wasn't just a fan of plum fruits in his poems. He was also into plum trees. Check out "The Widow's Lament in Springtime," for more stone fruit stanzas.Fun folks love to spoof "This Is Just...
Steaminess Rating
GIt's a kitchen. Get your mind out of the gutter.