1. Meaning: This is the most straightforward interpretation. It simply refers to the message or idea the poem conveys. This includes the poet's thoughts, feelings, and observations about the world.
* Example: In Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken," the meaning is about the choices we make in life and their impact on our journey.
2. Mean: This is a slightly more nuanced interpretation, referring to the literal or concrete meaning of words and images used in the poem. It's about understanding the denotation of the language.
* Example: In Emily Dickinson's "Because I could not stop for Death," the mean of the phrase "He kindly stopped for me" is that Death literally stopped his carriage to pick up the speaker.
3. Mean: This interpretation refers to the connotation of the language, the implied meanings and associations of words. It's about understanding the emotional and symbolic weight of the language.
* Example: In Shakespeare's "Sonnet 18," the mean of the phrase "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" is not just a comparison but an implication that the beloved is even more beautiful and enduring than the fleeting beauty of summer.
It's important to remember that poetry is often layered and open to multiple interpretations. To fully understand the "mean" of a poem, you need to consider all three aspects: the literal meaning, the denotation, and the connotation.