For Wendy Lewis

Poetry Essay

Essay option 1: Write a poetry analysis essay explaining the usage of three significant poetic devices or examples of figurative language that the author uses to convey theme. You must use proper textual support and develop an academic argument.

Essay option 2: Write an essay that communicates what you believe to be the meaning or significance of ONE of the poems listed on our syllabus. If the poems on the syllabus aren’t of interest to you, you may write about any poem that appears in our textbook. Essays should feature a strong thesis and build an academic argument that persuasively defends and justifies it.

The only source you’re required to use in order to write the essay is the poem you’ve selected. However, if you would like to use additional sources, you may!The only stipulation is that additional sources fall into the category of credible, academic, primary, and secondary.

All essays should observe MLA format.

Essays should be 4 pages in length, not including a works cited page.

Here is an outline to help you begin:

Poetry Analysis Essay Outline

Introduction

Attention-getter (critical analysis quote, poem quote, fact, interesting detail about author that pertains to poem theme or tone)

Link the Attention Grabber to your thesis

Clear Thesis that names the key elements to be analyzed along with the title and the author’s name

Body

Poetic Device or Figurative Language Example #1

Topic Sentence

Surface Meaning (what is happening in the poem?) textual support

Deeper Meaning (what is the poem actually about?) textual support (if needed)

How does it connect to Theme or Tone (what is the message about life or emotion the poem brings out?)

Transitional Sentence

Poetic Device or Figurative Language Example #2

Topic Sentence

Example #1 textual support

Example #2 textual support (if needed)

How does it connect to Theme or Tone (what is the message about life or emotion the poem brings out?)

Transitional Sentence

Poetic Device or Figurative Language Example #3

Topic Sentence

Example #1 textual support

Example #2 textual support (if needed)

How does it connect to Theme or Tone (what is the message about life or emotion the poem brings out?)

Transitional Sentence

Conclusion

Repeat thesis in different words

Summarize main points

Relate the poem to broader themes or a tone in life. What can we learn from it?