Paraphrasing of the Poem, Literary Essay Sample

The song is about the writer's past relationship with her boyfriend John. In the song, the writer expresses her disappointment in John for breaking her heart. She regrets for not realizing John's intentions early enough. She feels she did not deserve the kind of treatment she received from John.

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Who the Speaker is addressing

In the song "Dear John" the writer, Taylor Swift is addressing John, her previous boyfriend and reprimanding him for being insincere with her. In the song, the singer regrets not listening to the advice that she had been offered.

Symbol

"But I took your matches before fire could catch me" This line represents the precautions the writer took before being hurt. Seemingly, the writer heeded the advice she received and acted on it.

Theme

The main theme of the song is heartbreak and deceit. We can all relate to the song because many of us have been in relationships which have turned out sour.

Alliteration

"Wonderin' which version of you I might get on the phone." the repetitive consonant sound in wondering and which.

Simile

"I'm shining like fireworks." In this sentence, the writer is stating how she overcame the heartbreak and how she went back to her old happy self.

Overstatement

"All the girls that you've run dry have tired lifeless eyes

'Cause you burned them out." The exaggeration is her saying that all the girls John has been with have tired lifeless eyes because he burned them out. Her statement means John has broken the hearts of several other girls.

Allusion

"The girl in the dress cried the whole way home." The girl in the dress is a book by Lori Wagner. It is also a movie by Natalie Malla.

Works Cited

Dana Hlaine Htet. "Taylor Swift Dear John Lyrics." YouTube, 28 Feb. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-YI_EXTi-w.

Genius. "Taylor Swift ? Dear John." Genius, 25 Oct. 2010, genius.com/Taylor-swift-dear-john-lyrics.

Complete Poem

"Dear John"

Long were the nights when

My days once revolved around you

Counting my footsteps

Praying the floor won't fall through... again

My mother accused me of losing my mind

But I swore I was fine

You paint me a blue sky

Then go back and turn it to rain

And I lived in your chess game

But you changed the rules everyday

Wonderin' which version of you I might get on the phone, tonight

Well I stopped pickin' up and this song is to let you know why

Dear John, I see it all now that you're gone

Don't you think I was too young to be messed withThe girl in the dress cried the whole way home

I shoulda' known

Well maybe it's me

And my blind optimism to blame

Or maybe it's you and your sick need

To give love and take it away

And you'll add my name to your long list of traitors

Who don't understandAnd I look back in regret how I ignored when they said

"Run as fast as you can"

Dear John, I see it all now that you're gone

Don't you think I was too young to be messed withThe girl in the dress cried the whole way home

Dear John, I see it all now it was wrong

Don't you think nineteen's too youngTo be played by your dark, twisted games

When I loved you so?

I shoulda' known

You are an expert at sorry

And keeping the lines blurry

Never impressed by me acing your tests

All the girls that you've run dry have tired lifeless eyes

'Cause you burned them out

But I took your matches

Before fire could catch me

So don't look now

I'm shining like fireworks

Over your sad empty town, yeah

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Dear John, I see it all now that you're gone

Don't you think I was too young to be messed withThe girl in the dress cried the whole way home

I see it all now that you're gone

Don't you think I was too young to be messed withThe girl in the dress

Wrote you a song, you shoulda' known

You shoulda' known

Don't you think I was too young

You shoulda' known