Construct a written analysis of approximately 300−500 words about the poem “The Cremation of Sam McGee.” Your analysis should explain how the figurative language and literary devices contribute either to the meaning or to the narrative structure— plot, setting, characterization, and point of view—of the poem. Your analysis should contain a thesis that is discussed throughout the essay. The essay should also contain textual evidence to support the analysis and a concluding paragraph. Be sure to use correct punctuation, grammar, and spelling, and write using a formal style with precise vocabulary. Use terms from the list provided below to construct your analysis.

Ballad—a type of narrative poem that tells a story, usually in the form of a folktale or legend
Stanza—a division of a poem that consists of two or more lines
Diction—the selection and use of words that influence the style and tone of the poem
Connotation—the emotional suggestion or implied meaning of a word that goes beyond its dictionary definition
Denotation—the actual or dictionary definition of a word
Rhythm—the recurrence of sound patterns created by a series of stressed and unstressed syllables
Meter—the pattern of beats within a line of poetry created by the rhythmic structure of stressed sounds
Rhyme scheme—a pattern of rhymes in poetry
Tone—the attitude of the poet toward the subject or readers, separate from mood or atmosphere
Mood—the overall or prevailing feeling that is created in a story or poem
Theme—the central idea of the story that reveals something about human life or behavior