Poetry 2

profileMylollipop
Essay1.docx

Essay 1: 3-4 pages

Write a thoughtful, balanced, and convincing essay that analyzes and interprets one poem from the

list below. These are to be read and studied outside of the readings in the assignment calendar. To

locate these authors and titles, go to poets.org, the website for the Academy of American Poets, and

type them in the search menu at top right. Your essay must incorporate a poem from this list

only; if it doesn’t, I will require you to re-do the essay.

▪ Kim Addonizio, “My Heart”

▪ W.H. Auden, “The Unknown Citizen”

▪ Stephen Crane, “War is Kind” (excerpt)

▪ Emily Dickinson, “I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed” or “There’s a Certain Slant of Light”

▪ Rita Dove, “Borderline Mambo”

▪ Martín Espada, “The Republic of Poetry”

▪ Terrance Hayes, “Barberism”

▪ Gerard Manley Hopkins, “Spring”

▪ Langston Hughes, “Theme for English B” or “The Weary Blues”

▪ Sylvia Plath, “Morning Song”

▪ Stevie Smith, “Not Waving but Drowning”

Under “Possible approaches” below are listed several possible inroads to constructing a well-

fortified interpretation. You can use just one of these approaches, or you can combine two

approaches that seem to belong together. Choose wisely! Again, these approaches are just possible

starts; if you have another idea not listed here, let me know. Please do not simply regurgitate ideas

from discussion or elsewhere. I am interested in what you think. Concentrate on your analysis,

your opinion—but it is crucial that you also provide supporting evidence from the poem you

choose.

Don’t feel like you have to start with a perfectly formed idea in order to begin writing. First do

some freewriting. Jot down threads you think you might explore, Draw a map or write a list of

connections you can make. Experiment. Write a tentative thesis statement. Write a rough draft or

two. In short, brainstorm and “prewrite” as much as you can. If you get stuck, put the formal draft

aside and try to "unstick" yourself with some freewriting. Above all, don't get frustrated when you

don't write the paper from beginning to end with no stops or hesitation. Whatever you do, keep

writing—even if you end up changing some of what you've written.

If you’ve grappled and tested possibilities for a while and are stuck, or if you need a sounding board

for your ideas, email me in iCollege. Don’t forget we also have a Learning and Tutoring Center on all

campuses, staffed by professional tutors who are happy to work with you:

https://success.students.gsu.edu/learning-tutoring-center/.

Possible approaches:

▪ Word choice: What specific words or phrasings seem to carry particular weight? Why are

these words chosen, and what is their effect on the poem?

▪ Imagery: What concrete images dominate the poem? Why are they chosen and what is their

effect? (Examples from readings include the vivid, sometimes startling visual and kinetic

images in “Eating Poetry,” “The Fish,” and “wishes for sons.”)