Homework wk2

ENGL 1101 / Summer 2021 / Dr. Balint

Week 2 Notes and Assignment

Introduction to reading poetry

Having spent some time last week studying and writing about short fiction, we’ve practiced our critical reading and analysis skills, focusing on the development of patterns in Mary Hood’s “How Far She Went.” Fiction tends to work well as an introduction to critical reading and the study of literature for a few reasons: first, the language is usually accessible; we’re within a relatively familiar linguistic form: full sentences; dialogue; well-developed ideas, etc. Second, we have a good grasp of basic narrative structure, so fiction allows us to focus on pattern, metaphor, etc. Most of us have, from our earliest memories and experiences, a basic recognition of how stories work. Almost everything we’re exposed to as children incorporates some narrative structure – nursery rhymes, children’s songs and books, cartoons, etc. There is a sort of comfort offered by a narrative structure.

When we move to poetry, we may feel a bit disoriented: we may not see the familiar narrative structure in recognizable paragraphs, dialogue, conventional syntax and grammar. We still have pattern and metaphor to look out for, but we are also confronted with unfamiliar structure and linguistic conventions – and that can make poetry seem impenetrable. As a result, many people may see poetry and poetic language as indecipherable or needlessly complex. Fortunately for all of us, it’s neither of those things. Like fiction, poetry uses patterns to construct meaning: these can be repeated words, images, sounds, or even syntactical forms. When we study poetry, what we’re really exploring is how the words are put together, and how that structure (word choice, order, and form) creates an argument. Once we understand how poetry works, we can become more confident readers and we can experience the profound value of poetic language. As you read poetry, keep the following things in mind:

1. Like every work of literature, a poem is making an argument. Look for it.

2. Poems cannot mean whatever we want them to mean. They are not completely open to interpretation. There will be multiple structures of meaning and therefore multiple possible arguments, but they are always specific, recognizable, and well-defined.

3. Everything you need in order to understand a poem is in the poem itself. There is no need to look outside the poem to make it mean something. Now, some poetry’s meaning may be enhanced or emphasized with some external information, but secondary information is always supplemental.

4. The nature of poetic language requires that we take our time reading and interpreting. A good critical reading of a 14-line poem, for instance, may require us to read it 5 or 10 times, maybe over the course of a few days. Do it. You will not regret the time spent.

5. We must look up any words or references we don’t recognize. The nature of poetic language demands our full understanding of every word, and we are often expected to know if a word has multiple possible meanings. Poetry quite often exploits multiple meanings of individual words to make a point.

6. We must pay attention to seemingly minor elements like stanza structure, rhyme scheme, meter and rhythm, punctuation, etc. Every part of a poem means something – even if it’s the absence of something expected.

7. Our role as readers of and writers about poetry is to discuss how the poem means what it means. How does it make meaning? What is the argument? How is it remarking on some element of human experience – i.e., a human truth – even if it’s not our own experience?

8. Finally, there is no such thing as “deeper meaning.” Please avoid using that phrase! There is only meaning – it’s never hidden. It’s always right there in front of us. Good critical readers who know how texts work will always be able to grasp it. It will take some work early on, but once we develop our skills, every text becomes knowable, and our world is transformed. Be patient, ask questions, and trust me. You can’t lose.

Week 2 assignment:

Read all the poems posted in our Week 2 content section, and then choose one of the poems and follow these directions:

1. Read it carefully. Write down a few ideas on what you think it means after a first read.

2. Read it again after a few hours and take a few more notes on what you recognize in it now that you didn’t see the first time. What kinds of patterns do you see?

3. Read it again a day or two later. Live with it. Think about it. Maybe try to memorize it. Read it again. And again. Take more notes. What new things do you see?.

4. By Friday night, write a brief essay – just like your first essay -- detailing what you think the poem means and why. Use evidence from the text to support your ideas. Be specific. Remember, don’t summarize! Identify a topic (an idea – an abstract noun) you see in the poem, and then explain what the poem says about that topic and how. Submit your essay as a discussion post. (Please copy and paste into the discussion board; no attachments!)

5. By Sunday night, comment on two of your classmates’ posts. Be sure to read all the poems at least once before commenting on your classmates’ ideas so you have some familiarity with their subject matter.