Analysis Of To This Day By Koyczan

All around us, we see anti-bullying messages whether it be on the television, the radio, or the internet and even through school presentations. Bullying is something that can affect one directly, or indirectly. Through either medium, someone always ends up physically, mentally, or emotionally hurt that can lead to extremities such as self harm, drug use, and even suicide. Other than the usual forms of media, one effective way to spread anti-bullying messages is through poems for they can grasp a wide-range of audiences due to their relatability. One powerful poem is called To This Day by Shane Koyczan for it addresses the issue of bullying through various modes of rhetoric. Throughout his poem, Koyczan illustrates the negative impacts of bullying through the use of anecdotal details, metaphors, and figurative language. By the …show more content…
For example, Koyczan uses his own personal experiences to describe the effects of bullying, which not only adds credibility but it also creates a sense of compassion and empathy: “I earned my first name, Pork Chop. To this day I fucking hate pork chops” (Koyczan). Not only was Koyczan bullied for mistaking pork chops with karate chops, but the effects have followed him throughout his life, to the point where he longer considers pork chops his favorite food. As a matter of fact, he despises them. Given that this anecdote is not as serious when compared to others, it symbolizes how the phrase “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me," (Koyczan) is actually not true. Anyone that has been or still is being bullied can relate