Sonnet 29 - Commentary

In class today, please write a commentary on Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Sonnet 29".


Sonnet 29
Edna St. Vincent Millay

Pity me not because the light of day
At close of day no longer walks the sky;
Pity me not for beauties passed away
From field to thicket as the year goes by;
Pity me not the waning of the moon,
Nor that the ebbing tide goes out to sea.
Nor that a man's desire is hushed so soon.
And you no longer look with love on me.
This have I known always: Love is no more
Than the wide blossom which the wind assails.
Than the great tide that treads the shifting shore.
Strewing fresh wreckage gathered in the gales:
Pity me that the heart is slow to learn
When the swift mind beholds at every turn.

________________________________________________
Your commentary should take the following form.

Paragraph 1 - Introduction – Include the title and author, a general explanation of the subject matter, a summary of what the poem is about, and what the key themes of the poem are (if there are any).

Paragraph 2 - Include detailed, stanza-by-stanza (or section-by-section, with line references) analysis of what is actually happening in the poem (without the greater depth of analysis coming later).

Paragraph 3 - Discuss the subtext and the implied. Look at the way that the poet hints at wider meaning, how a greater range of interpretation can be applied. This paragraph should lead in to the analysis of style in Paragraph 4.

Paragraph 4 - This paragraph should be a focused discussion of the way the poem is written and structured with regard to style – analysis of diction, rhythm and rhyme, figurative imagery, mood and tone, alliteration and assonance, the way that pace is controlled and atmosphere created – with detailed reference to the text in the form of quotation and line references.

Paragraph 5 - Link this poem with any other literature (especially poetry) you have read or studied. What are some common themes? In this case, you should be thinking especially about how this poem compares with Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Sonnet 43".

Paragraph 6 - Conclusion – Discuss your overall feeling about the poem, its abiding images, and whether it is successful or not in what it sets out to do.

"The Taste of Watermelon"

We have now spent two full periods reading Borden Deal's short story "The Taste of Watermelon" but have not yet finished with our reading. For the first part of the period today, let's finish reading the story. Though the story's conclusion is very interesting, we won't spend to much time today discussing it. Instead, we will spend the final portion of the period beginning to write a "SCASI" essay about the story. This essay is to be completed before Friday, 4 December. This should only take about 20-25 minutes of homework time. If you haven't done so already, also be sure that you have memorized Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Sonnet 29" before our next class!

The Barretts of Wimpole Street

Today in class, we viewed the first portion of the film The Barretts of Wimpole Street about the courtship of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning. Given what you have viewed, please write a 10-15 minute reflection on the film. You can discuss your thoughts about the characters, setting, action, etc. of the film, the biographies of these poets, love, family, poetry, or go wherever else thinking about the film takes you. Feel free to refer to what you already know about Elizabeth Barrett Browning from reading Sonnet 43 and researching her biography. You are especially encouraged to think further about specific aspects of the poem. We probably won't be viewing this film further in class, so here's the first in a youtube playlist of the full film for you to continue enjoying.

"Sonnet 43"

Oh no! I forgot to have this blog post up for you on Friday. What was meant to be written was a commentary on "Sonnet 43" using the structure for a poetry commentary that we used before. I know that I told some students about this before Friday and hope that everyone was able to figure this out. Not to worry. We'll discuss this further this week. When you have finished this commentary, please post it as a comment here.

"Meteor"

Please submit your "SCASI" essay on "Meteor" here.

Comparison and Contrast - "The Signalman"

Today in class, we watched a film adaptation of Charles Dickens' story, "The Signalman". For homework, please spend 15-20 minutes writing two paragraphs comparing and contrasting the story with the film where your paragraphs take the following form.

Paragraph 1: Compare the story and the film. (Discuss similarities.)

Paragraph 2: Contrast the story and the film. (Discussion differences.)

Here's the video. Part one can not be embedded on our page, so here is the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c06WUYsI0ic

Comparison and Contrast

Please take twenty minutes to write two paragraphs comparing and contrasting Ray Bradburry's "There Will Come Soft Rains" with the Soviet animation adapted from it.

Paragraph 1: Comparison (Similarities between the story and the film)

Paragraph 2: Contrast (Differences between the story and the film)

"There Will Come Soft Rains" - Essay

Please write an essay about Ray Bradburry's "There Will Come Soft Rains" using the same structure we have used twice before (SCASI). You should be able to come close to finishing this essay in class, but, if you need additional time, may submit your full essay before Wednesday.

Have a good long weekend!

Ghost Stories!

During this period, please write a short essay comparing and contrasting the two ghost stories we have recently read. Please let your essay take the following form.

Paragraph 1 : Introduction (This should serve as an "opening" in which you mention both titles and both authors.)

Paragraph 2: Discuss the role of spirits/ghosts/spectres in "The Signalman". Try to use as much appropriate direct quotation of the text as you can.

Paragraph 3: Discuss the role of spirits/ghosts/spectres in "How It Happened". Try to use as much appropriate direct quotation of the text as you can.

Paragraph 4: Compare/contrast the role of ghosts in the two stories.

Paragraph 5: Conclusion (Try to find a way of closing that includes summary of your main points.)

"How It Happened"

This week, we have read Arthur Conan Doyle's very short story, "How It Happened". Please write an essay about this in the following form, as you did with "The Signalman".

Paragraph 1: Introduction (Be sure to include title and author here as well as whatever else you find appropriate as an “opening”.)

Paragraph 2: Discussion of the story’s setting (Where? When?)

Paragraph 3: Discussion of the story’s Characters (Who?)

Paragraph 4: Discussion of the story’s Action (What happens? - the plot)

Paragraph 5: Discussion of the story's Style (How does the writer tell the story? For "How It Happened", you will probably want to focus on the way that the author uses foreshadowing, and builds suspense, as well as the way he structures his story and what effects these stylistic choices have.)

Paragraph 6: Discussion of the story’s Ideas (“Themes” – Go ahead and interpret this as you like. There is no “right” or “wrong” answer here. Feel free to refer to the idea of "spiritualism" that we spoke about briefly in class.)

Paragraph 7: Conclusion (Try to include some personal reaction to the story here.)

Though you could, of course, spend a long time writing an essay like this, please try to approach it as though it were an exam question on which you could spend only about 40 minutes to write a full seven paragraphs.

"The Signalman"

When you have finished reading the story “The Signalman”, please write an essay about it in the following form.

Paragraph 1: Introduction (Be sure to include title and author here as well as whatever else you find appropriate as an “opening”.)

Paragraph 2: Discussion of the story’s setting (Where? When?)

Paragraph 3: Discussion of the story’s Characters (Who?)

Paragraph 4: Discussion of the story’s Action (What happens? - the plot)

Paragraph 5: Discussion of the story's Style (How does the writer tell the story? For "The Signalman, you will probably want to focus on the creation of a spooky atmosphere and the building of tension.)

Paragraph 6: Discussion of the story’s Ideas (“Themes” – Go ahead and interpret this as you like. There is no “right” or “wrong” answer here.)

Paragraph 7: Conclusion (Try to include some personal reaction to the story here.)

Though you could, of course, spend a long time writing an essay like this, please try to approach this one as though it were an exam question on which you can spend only about 40 minutes to write a full seven paragraphs.

Textual Analysis - Prologue to Ethan Frome

Please submit the text of your textual analysis of the prologue to Ethan Frome as a comment to this entry before Monday, October 12. Your answer to this question will be assessed and will count toward your first quarter grade.

Poetry Commentary - First Draft

Please write the first draft of a commentary about your poem and submit it as a comment to this entry by the end of class next Monday, October 5. Do not be worried if you find this task challenging. It is meant to be a challenge. During class today, Tuesday, September 29, you should be sure to transcribe the text of your poem in a form you will be able to access outside of class (as an e-mail, as a saved document, in your notebook) and to begin writing. Between now and class on October 5, continue reading and thinking about your poem, perhaps research it a bit on the internet, and make notes about your ideas. In our class on October 5, you will need to complete this commentary.

Your commentary should take the following form.

Paragraph 1 - Introduction – Include the title and author, a general explanation of the subject matter, a summary of what the poem is about, and what the key themes of the poem are (if there are any).

Paragraph 2 - Include detailed, stanza-by-stanza (or section-by-section, with line references) analysis of what is actually happening in the poem (without the greater depth of analysis coming later).

Paragraph 3 - Discuss the subtext and the implied. Look at the way that the poet hints at wider meaning, how a greater range of interpretation can be applied. This paragraph should lead in to the analysis of style in Paragraph 4.

Paragraph 4 - This paragraph should be a focused discussion of the way the poem is written and structured with regard to style – analysis of diction, rhythm and rhyme, figurative imagery, mood and tone, alliteration and assonance, the way that pace is controlled and atmosphere created – with detailed reference to the text in the form of quotation and line references.

Paragraph 5 - Link this poem with any other literature (especially poetry) you have read or studied. What are some common themes – possibly how different poets address similar issues, such as the topic of childhood?

Paragraph 6 - Conclusion – Discuss your overall feeling about the poem, its abiding images, and whether it is successful or not in what it sets out to do.

Shakespearean Sonnets!

Please submit your Shakespearean sonnet as a comment here.

Introductions!

Please submit your introduction essay as a comment here.