Tuesday, September 29, 2009

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.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Shakespearean Sonnets!

Please submit your Shakespearean sonnet as a comment here.

Introductions!

Please submit your introduction essay as a comment here.