Analyse the use of language and verse in the poems under the following heads: Diction: choice of words or lexical choice and range of vocabulary Syntax: The Noun Phrase, the verb Phrase and conjunctions (e.g. "and" in a Refusal) The sentence and the clause Consider particularly the first sentence running in thirteen lines in A Refusal. Find the subject and the finite verb of the sentence. Consider the clauses. Attempt a paraphrase of the sentence (MEG 102) (DYLAN THOMAS)

Consider the finite verbs of The Force that ... Notice that they are mostly in 'the present indefinite tense form, Compare this with the present participle form of the verbs in A Refusal, and the past tense of verbs in "Poem in October" and "Fern Hill". Would you accept the suggestion that the tense in The Force that makes it a descriptive poem and in A Refusal.... It is an ironic juxtaposition of death and life. -Notice also the future ("Shall have") in Death Shall Have No Dominion, VerseThe verse-forms are unconventional in the poems. Discuss if there is any compromise attained by the poet between traditional and personal prosody. Rhyme and rhythm are artfully, manipulated. Show how. Consider the figures of speech used. Pun and paradox, in particular. Is irony central to his vision and technique? 

Diction:

Dylan Thomas's use of language is characterized by a rich and varied vocabulary, with a particular emphasis on descriptive and sensory words. He often employs archaic or unusual words, which adds to the texture and richness of his poetry. In "A Refusal to Mourn the Death, by Fire, of a Child in London," for example, he uses words like "bracken," "honeycombed," and "uncombed" to create vivid and evocative images. In "Fern Hill," he uses words like "hayfields," "barns," and "thorned" to evoke the pastoral landscape of his childhood.

Syntax:

Thomas's syntax is often unconventional, with long, complex sentences that are broken up by dashes and parentheses. In "A Refusal to Mourn," for example, the first sentence runs for thirteen lines, and is broken up by several parenthetical clauses. The subject and finite verb of the sentence are "The stars go waltzing out in blue and red" - which is a descriptive statement about the night sky. A possible paraphrase could be "The stars dance away in the blue and red sky."

Thomas also uses a variety of verb forms, including present indefinite tense, present participle, and past tense. In "The Force That Through the Green Fuse Drives the Flower," for example, he uses mostly present indefinite tense verbs, which contributes to the poem's sense of continual motion and life. In "A Refusal to Mourn," he uses a mix of present participle and past tense verbs, which creates a sense of contrasting states of being.

Verse-forms:

Thomas's verse-forms are highly unconventional, often incorporating irregular line lengths, unconventional rhyme schemes, and unpredictable rhythms. He sometimes employs free verse, but also experiments with more structured forms like the villanelle and the sestina. In "Fern Hill," for example, he uses a loose iambic meter, with lines of varying lengths and no consistent rhyme scheme. In "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," he employs a strict villanelle form, with repeating lines and a tight rhyme scheme.

Figures of speech:

Thomas uses a variety of figures of speech, including puns, paradoxes, and irony. In "A Refusal to Mourn," for example, he uses paradox to explore the tension between life and death. In "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," he uses repetition to emphasize the poem's central theme of resistance to death. In "Fern Hill," he uses metaphor to explore the passage of time and the loss of innocence.

Overall, Dylan Thomas's poetry is marked by a highly individual style that incorporates unconventional syntax, unpredictable verse-forms, and a rich and varied vocabulary. His use of figures of speech, including puns, paradoxes, and irony, adds to the depth and complexity of his work, and helps to explore the fundamental themes of life, death, and the passage of time.