The transition from childhood to adulthood is an important element in our lives and for many people it can be a daunting experience. The poem "Black Box", by John McAuliffe, portrays this change from the perspective of an individual who resists development from childhood to maturity. This essay will critically examine how this interpretation is formed following the model established by IARichards and the New School critics. The purpose of this model is to build understanding of a text by “isolating the text from history and context.” (Barry, 2009, p.15) In terms of poetry, the model focuses on how literary techniques, structure, and form contribute to the meaning of a poem. This essay is divided into three sections; in the first section I will focus on how literary techniques, such as language, syntax, and symbolism, enhance the meaning of the poem. The second section will evaluate how the poet embodies the transition in the structure of the poem. In the final section I will analyze how the form of the poem increases the speaker's attitude towards the question of transition. The poet uses the use of literary techniques to support the meaning of the poem. Such techniques include language, syntax, and symbolism. The way language reinforces the subject of the poem is that the poet reveals the speaker's aptitude for transition through the use of concrete words. On a literal level, concrete poetry is when “the meaning or effect is conveyed… by visual means.” (Oxford Dictionaries, 2010) An example of this is in stanza two when the speaker mentions “the muddy gravel of the wet yard” (11). The gravel is wet and muddy probably due to rain or a liquid substance on the gravel. However, on a literal level, the gravel... in the center of the paper... is practical to give the interpretation that the poem is about an individual resisting the transition from childhood to adolescence. The model provides basic methods for devising an interpretation from a poem; however, this does not mean that every interpretation will be the same. This is because how an individual understands a poem will result in different responses and interpretations. Therefore the model simply provides an outline of what to consider when forming an interpretation. Works Cited Barry, P. (2009) Theory before 'theory': liberal humanism. In: (3rd ed.) Early Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. Manchester: Manchester University Press. P15.Oxford Dictionary (2010) concrete poetry. Available at: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/concrete%2Bpoetry?q=concrete+poetry (accessed: 22 December 2011)