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Assignment: give your audience an interpretation of the

poem, some insightful explanation of the poem that will help them understand its meaning and

significance. I expect you to identify the poem’s speaker, the

overall tone of the poem, and, of course, its primary message.

Because your essay will discuss a poem, you must identify and explain some of the “poetic”

elements of the poem, such as metaphors, similes, personification, imagery, connotative

meanings, etc. (Of course, not all of these terms will appear in all poems! ) However, your

primary goal is discuss the poem in an interesting, coherent manner that will appeal to your

audience.

Requirements:

1. 2 ½ - 3 pages in length, double spaced, Times New Roman, 12-pt. font.

2. Quotes from the poem, correctly formatted.

3. At least two (2) outside sources (library, internet, online databases, etc.) should be

consulted and referenced in your paper to support your thesis.

4. A properly formatted Works Cited page.

Poem:

Mother to Son

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.