First Essay On a Poem from Your Text
The poem you choose for your essay must be at least eight lines long and selected from your
poetry text, The Discovery of Poetry; it can be any poem we have not discussed in our online
discussions, or is not discussed by the author of our text. This poem must be from the 20th or
the 21st centuries.
You will be writing an essay that deepens your knowledge and appreciation about this poem
and what it means to you, as well as about its craft. Make sure you state in the first paragraph
the title of the poem and the author. For example: "The Waking," by Theodore Roethke, is
one of my favorite poems. When I was a college student, I taped it on the wall next to my
bathroom mirror in the dorm room. The poem was intriguing in its use of figurative language
and imagery, and gave me courage to go out into each day and live my mysterious life.
****
Type out the poem you have selected and include it with your essay.
In preparation for writing your essay, I suggest you not only read this poem many times, but
read it out loud. And read it to a friend. Discuss the poem with a friend. It’s always interesting
to see what someone else thinks/feels about the poem.
Please follow these instructions on how to write this essay:
In your first paragraph, give a general overview of why you like this poem and what it means
to you. Make sure you state the title of the poem and the author somewhere in the first
paragraph. Put quotation marks around the title of the poem.
Then continue in your next paragraphs developing more specifically why you like this poem
and what it means to you, and begin including a discussion of its craft. Discuss the following
elements of poetry that we have been studying in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: Sound patterns;
imagery, both literal and figurative; metaphor; simile; symbols; the speaker in the poem;
tone/mood; rhyme and repetition.
At some point in the essay, identify whether this poem is a lyric, a narrative, or a dramatic
poem.
At some point in the essay, give a brief paraphrase of the poem. Remember, your essay
must discuss what you think the theme of this poem is, and you must have a thesis or central
focus to your entire essay about the poem as well.
Quote lines from the poem to support your claims and ideas about the poem, and use
ideas/experiences from your own life for support and to develop your meaning.
You must include a connection to your own life in this essay. This essay needs to have your
voice, your thoughts, your ideas in it.
In your last paragraph, do not say "in conclusion." That is a sign of an unsophisticated writer.
Obviously the essay is ending; you don't have to announce it. Instead, say something new
you haven't said yet about the poem or about your own life regarding it or your appreciation of
the poem. Leave the reader with something to think/feel.
Give this essay your own original title. Make sure your title reflects something you are talking
about in your essay.
This essay is MLA format. For our purposes here, you can single space. (Double space
between paragraphs). This essay should be three to four pages long. Post your essay on our
Discussion Board for this week, and also send me a copy. DO NOT SEND ATTACHMENTS.
Cut and paste the essay into an email and send to:
Number your paragraphs.
There are no reviews yet.