English Two (Poetry)

Essay 2 (Poetry) Assignment Instructions
Purpose
To learn to write an analysis about a poem for a general audience.
To analyze a poem using literary terminology.
To write an essay, showing attention to feedback received on your previous essay.
To articulate the poem’s overall meaning based on the “lens” of a literary theory. (You are all welcome to use new criticism for this this essay, the same theory you used in essay 1. However, those who want to use another can do so!)
Prompt
Write an essay on ONE of the poems listed below where you analyze its language and images, using up to 4 literary devices, in order to interpret the poem’s overall meaning. Please note that essay 1 was similar in that you were assigned to use one or two literary device, but for your poetry essay, you can use up to four literary devices. However, more is not necessarily better, as you want to give multiple examples of each literary device you plan to use. For example, 4 paragraphs of four different elements is not as thorough as, say, 4 paragraphs focused on just one or two literary devices.

Poem Choices

Hughes “Theme for English B”

Requirements
750-1000 words (approx. 3-4 pages) not including the Works Cited page; MLA formatting.

Remember to include your word count at the end of your essay, and also a Works Cited page that cites your poem. Outside/additional sources are not required, but if you choose to use one to help you with your analysis, then you must make sure to quote and cite it, and include it on your Works Cited page. Failing to do this can look like plagiarism!

Important Information
Use your chosen literary devices (examples: tone, word choice, imagery) to explain what the poem “means.”
Use examples from the text to convincingly support the claims you’re making.
When quoting extensively, take time to explain the specific parts (letters, sounds, words, punctuation, etc.) in the quote that prove your point.
Avoid simply restating each line, but analyze and discuss the words/lines with a purpose.
Use the present tense when describing or discussing events in the poem. In writing about literature, the convention is to always use the present tense throughout. The idea is that the poet is currently communicating thoughts to you in the present time.
Ensure you have correctly spelled all names and titles. Put the name of the poem in double-quotation marks. When referring to the poet, write out his/her full name (and later references can be last name only).
Don’t confuse the poet with the speaker of the poem – they are different.
Remember to put quotation marks at the beginning and end of each quoted part. Review this handout about quoting poetry.