Remember by Joy Harjo Poetry Analysis PDF

Remember by Joy Harjo - Poetry Analysis Remember when you were little and you couldn’t wait to grow up, but now that you are older you wish you were little again? In the poem,
Remember, by Joy Harjo, the theme is to always remember where you came from and to never take anything for granted. The theme is told throughout the story by the use of figurative language, sound and imagery.


Joy uses figurative language to relay the message of the poem. One example is when she says, “Remember the suns birth at dawn.” This personification is saying not to forget how the sun rises. It also means don’t take for granted that you have another day to live and express yourself.
Always be grateful that you woke up another day and get the chance to explore. Another example is when she says, “Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their tribes, families, their histories. Talk to them, listen to them. They are alive poems.” This personification says to remember mother nature because without it you wouldn’t be alive. Mother nature allows us to live each day to the fullest and to breathe.


In Remember, repetition and refrain have a lot to do with relaying the theme. One example of Joy using repitition and refrain is when she says, “Remember that language comes from this. Remember the dance that language is, that life is. Remember.” Joy keeps reminding us to remember.
To remember everything in your life that got you where you are today and to never forget the people and things that helped. Lastly, imagery helps to relay the theme. An example of imagery in the story is, “Remember the earth whose skin you are; red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth, brown earth, we are earth.” This appeals to the sense of sight. You can see all of the different ethnicities and don’t forget to remember all of them. Also when it says, “Remember the wind.
Remember her voice.” This appeals to the sense of touch and the sense of hearing. You can feel the wind and hear her voice. Don’t forget what the wind feels like, don’t forget how her voice sounds.


The theme of the poem, Remember, by Joy Harjo is to remember where you came from and never take anything for granted. Also to remember all of the people and things that helped you get to where you are today. This theme is revealed in the story through figurative language, sound, and imagery. "Remember" is a great poem that reminds you to always be grateful for life and the people in it.