Literature III Poetry Assignment

The essay assignment for this week is to compose an essay of at least 750 words in which you offer your interpretation of a literary element (such as theme, imagery, symbolism, or characterization) in one of the assigned poems. You may choose any poem from our reading list. If you wish, you may base your paper on the analysis you began in this week’s discussion.

 Tips for the Essay

1. Open your introduction with an engaging opener, such as a question, quote from the poem, or interesting idea. Then, connect to the poem and mention the title and the author. End your introduction with a thesis statement that interprets one literary element of the poem (such as theme, imagery, symbolism, or characterization).

2. The body paragraphs should support your thesis. Present specific aspects of the poem that help to illustrate your points. Make sure to quote from the poem and analyze specific lines that support your argument. Typically, body paragraphs will contain at least two short quotations each as supporting evidence.

3. Include a strong concluding paragraph that summarizes your main points and explains the significance of the thesis. Finish this paragraph with a strong and satisfying ending.

Martin Espada -1957

My Father is a Guitar

The cardiologist prescribed

a new medication

and lectured my father

that he had to stop working.

And my father said: I can't.

The landlord won't let me.

The heart pills are dice

in my father's hand,

gambler who needs cash

by the first of the month.

On the night his mother died

in faraway Puerto Rico,

my father lurched upright in bed,

heart hammering

like the fist of a man at the door

with an eviction notice.

Minutes later,

the telephone sputtered

with news of the dead.

Sometimes I dream

my father is a guitar,

with a hole in his chest

where the music throbs

between my fingers.