Poem analysis

Assignment #2-Poetry Analysis

Rough Draft Due:

Final Draft Due:

Description of Assignment:

A literary analysis essay pulls​ ​apart a piece of writing to examine its technique and understand its themes and ideas. For this assignment, you will choose one selection of

two poems from the list on the next page and write an analytical essay, no less than 3

pages in length (with an additional works cited page that includes your two poems as

primary sources and at least two secondary sources), that​ ​ ​analyzes, compares and contrasts​ how the poems use two or more of the poetic devices on the Poetic Devices Glossary (we will address this soon). It will be important to use appropriate terminology

in your analysis.

Organization:

The introduction​ should focus on the poetic devices you will be analyzing in the poems, not necessarily the poets or history of the poems, although a little

background on the authors can be helpful in the introduction. Your thesis should focus

on the poetic devices you will analyze in the poems.

The body​ should examine different ways the poetic devices show up in the poems; for instance, if you were focusing on theme, then you may look at the way the

theme is expressed in symbols, imagery, structure, tone, etc. In addition, the body

should help us see what is to be gained by comparing and contrasting the poems’ unique

take on your chosen poetic devices. Spend less time on the historical context of the poem

or the author. Avoid analyzing one poem separately from the other. Organize the paper

point-by-point (more on that in class).

The conclusion​ should restate your thesis and examine any new understandings that arise from analyzing the poems. What should we take with us about

the themes? What have you uncovered in these texts that is worth remembering? What

do we gain by analyzing the same poetic devices in two different poems?

Requirements:

· MLA formatted with in-text citations and a works cited page

· 3 pages (plus a works cited page), typed, double-spaced, 12pt font, Times

· Two sources in addition to your two poems

This is the Approved Poetry List for your ENGL 1302 poetry analysis paper. Find one of the

selections containing two poems to compare and contrast, either in theme, style, structure, use

of imagery, symbols, metaphor, etc.

Selection #1

LANGSTON HUGHES​ ​Harlem CLAUDE MCKAY​ ​If We Must Die

Selection #2

ROBERT HERRICK​ ​To the Virgins, Make Much of Time JOHN KEATS​ ​Ode to Autumn

Selection #3

ROBERT FROST​ ​Birches ROBERT FROST​ ​Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening

Selection #4

T.S. ELIOT​ ​The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON​ ​Ulysses

Selection #5

E.E. CUMMINGS​ ​somewhere i have never traveled E.E. CUMMINGS​ ​silently if

Selection #6

HELENE JOHNSON​ ​Sonnet to a Negro in Harlem CLAUDE MCKAY​ ​Harlem Shadows

Selection #7

EMILY DICKINSON​ ​Because I Could Not Stop For Death PABLO NERUDA ​Nothing But Death

Selection #8

SHERMAN ALEXIE ​The Facebook Sonnet RICHARD BRAUTIGAN ​All Watched over by Machines of Loving Grace

Selection #9

ALLEN GINSBERG​ ​A Supermarket in California WALT WHITMAN​ ​Had I the Choice

Selection #10

ESTHER BELIN​ ​Night Travel LAURA DA’​ ​Vantage