A beat poem utilizing word choice to shock the audience. (Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, Evergreen Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 1957)

Word choice played a major role in the written art of the Beat Movement. In a society of propriety and alleged wholesomeness, curse words and other shocking words made a significant statement. Poems discussing sensuality and sexuality stood out in a world that kept personal life private.

In the poem "A Coney Island of the Mind," author Lawrence Ferlinghetti makes use of specific words that evoke strong emotions. Vulgarity and inappropriate words were useful to arouse discomfort in the audience in order to express the discomfort beatniks felt with the superficial society of which they were a part. Repetition, allusion, and alliteration also play a part in this poem, and in other literature. References to real events and items could directly critique aspects of materialism. Repetition and alliteration could be used to emphasize certain parts of a sentiment.

Just as teenagers of today tend to swear and be vulgar to rebel against their parents, beatniks used their language to rebel against society. This extended from curse words to the discussion of taboo topics. As mentioned, personal life was typically kept private, but the beatniks worked to make it public. Literature of the Beat Movement frequently talked openly about sex, nakedness, and passion. The poem provided demonstrates such.