Is “Bullet the Blue Sky” Poetry?
We begin our exploration of poetry with a basic question: What qualities turn a text into a poem?
For this discussion only, we will all examine one poetic text and read it closely to formulate some answers. I have selected U2’s song, “Bullet the Blue Sky,” from their Joshua Tree album and reproduced the lyrics in the following PDF:
（i will send you the pdf）
After reading the lectures in Module 4 and browsing Chapter 5, “Writing about Poetry” (pp. 109 – 154 in Literature for Critical Reflection), read the lyrics carefully, and then answer the following questions:
- Explain four instances of symbolism and figurative language in the song.
See Module 4’s lectures for a refresher on symbols and figurative language. - Is “Bullet the Blue Sky” a narrative poem? That is, does it tell a story?
- Do you find a protagonist in this song? If so, who?
- Do you find an antagonist in this song? If so, who or what is it?
- Who is the speaker of the poem?
- Who is the speaker addressing?
- Is there a central conflict in this song? If so, what is it?
- What themes do you find in this song?
- How have the songwriters used language to draw the attention of the listeners?
Optional question for anybody with more of a music background who can listen to the song:
How have the songwriters used instrumental sound effects and other musical elements to draw the attention of the listeners?
