What is a role of the title in analysis?

• A. It can set theme
• B. It can foretell content
• C. All of the above
• D. It can present irony

Answer: (C)

The title acts as a guiding cue for how you read a poem, shaping your expectations about its meaning, subject, and tone from the start. It can set the theme by hinting at the central idea you’re meant to notice—the big question or concern the poem explores. It can foretell content by signaling who or what will be involved and what events or situations you’ll encounter. It can also carry irony when the wording of the title contrasts with the poem’s mood or outcomes, adding an extra layer of meaning. Because the title can do all of these things, it’s often most accurate to recognise that it can serve multiple roles at once.