Sympathy

Poetry requires interpretation because it often has different levels of meaning that go beyond just the literal level. Poets use various literary techniques to create multiple layers of meaning. One such technique is symbolism, which involves an object, person, place, or experience that has a literal meaning itself but also stands for something else. Reread the poem “Sympathy,” and then write a paragraph for each stanza that addresses these questions:

What is the literal meaning of the stanza? What specific symbols can be found in the stanza? How might the stanza be interpreted symbolically?