Poetry Explication

English 1020

Poetry Explication

Write an explication of at least 800 words of either Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress,” Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz,” Blake’s “The Tyger,” or Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est.” An explication is an explanation; and explanation necessarily requires that you interpret the poem. Each poetic element you discuss should advance your interpretation.

Follow the guidelines in the “Poetry Explications” handout except as noted in the next paragraph. Remember that an explication does not have a formal concluding paragraph; the explication is complete when you have reached the end of the poem. Remember that explication of a poem involves a line-by-line analysis; you may, however, discuss some lines as a group.

Consider as appropriate the following poetic elements of your poem: its rhetorical situation (including the relation of the speaker to its audience(s)), its form (including meter, rhythm, and rhyme patterns), its language (word order, word choice – do any words have multiple meanings? Are any archaic?) its imagery (including metaphor/simile), and its sound patterns (alliteration and assonance).

Remember that poets are sometimes ambiguous. That means that they deliberately create space for multiple interpretations (“My Papa’s Waltz” is a good example). Incorporate as appropriate that possibility into your interpretation.

When citing the lines of your poem, follow MLA guidelines.

The rough draft of this explication is due 6/30; the final is due 7/7.