Shel Silverstein Quotes

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“Say more than you said”
“People are always giving you credit for really wanting to say more than you said,”says poet Shel Silverstein ("Famous Quotes at BrainyQuote." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016). Silverstein is able to use his imaginative language to do just that. Shel Silverstein has become a talented writer by bringing his imaginative words and world to life. Silverstein has contributed to the world of music,drawings, and poetry. For example, his poem “The Giving Tree” is one of his most loved poems that has touched the hearts of many. The poem’s maternal generosity and kindness makes the ballad unforgettably beautiful. Overall, Silverstein’s witty wording and imaginative illustrations have greatly contributed to the arts …show more content…

Army where he served in Japan and Korea(Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016). After his time in the army was up, he began drawing cartoons for magazine, including Star & Stripes magazine(Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016). Also, in the 1960’s Shel became a famous composer and lyricist, and later was awarded a Grammy for his hit song called “A boy Named Sue”. He was also nominated later for a Golden Globe and an Oscar for other pieces he composed( "Shel Silverstein's Unlikely Rise to Kid Lit Superstardom." Mental Floss. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. …show more content…

The message Silverstein tries to portray is to think for yourself by using the group of “Thinkforyourselfees” that live, due to their choice to think for themselves. On the other hand, the Yesees and Noees all die from either a pushover or overly skeptic. Silverstein’s tone in is very sarcastic and playful throughout. As Silverstein portrays the idea of being either a Yesee or Noee he uses symbolism to connect these two people groups to the types of people there are today. Silverstein also uses rhyme as in the lines “That anyone suggested...Unless it was proven and tested”( PoemHunter.com: Poems - Quotes - Poetry. "PoemHunter.com: Poems - Quotes - Poetry." Poemhunter.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016).The rhyme scheme being used in this narrative poem is A,B,A,B,C,D,C,D. The use of metonymy, substituting a word in the place of the actual word, is also present when Silverstein substitutes “Pushovers” and “Skeptics” with “Yesees” and “Noees”. All in all, the Yesees say yes to anything suggested, and the Noees say no to everything untested. The Yesees die from simple mindedness and the Noees die of fright. Silverstein’s theme is especially present in his last lines, “But somehow I think the Thinkforyourselfees all came out alright.”When I read this poem, I was surprised with how Silverstein was able to relay his message of thinking for yourself in a short and sarcastic poem that would also pass its

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