Poetry Analysis Essay
The poem essay can be done by as
late as February 7, but I am not assigning this as homework during DCAS. That leaves this weekend and Monday night to
get this finished. The essay is "due" Tuesday, but students can hand it in a late as Friday with no penalty.
Essay Form
In “________,” (poet) ___________ is
(doing?)_____________________. He/She uses form, sound
devices, and language in this poem to communicate the message ______________________.
Describe what the
poet is doing and communicating through poem.
Spend your time with the message of
the poem.
Obviously, the poem itself
expressing a message.
Now explain the
choices, the craft, the art of the poem.
The poem is written in a specific
form.
What is it? How does it help
express the message?
The poem does or does
not use sound devices.
How does the sound of the poem
accentuate the meaning?
What would happen if these sound
devices were not used?
The poem contains
figurative language and/or word choice.
How does the choice of language
help communicate the message?
End with a sentence
or two that sums up the main way the poet it expressing a message in his/her
poem.
Suggestions for writing the essay:
1. My
suggestion is you brainstorm/outline the essay as above.
2. Read
over it to see if you included enough.
3. Find
someone who will listen to you. Have
them read the poem, or you read it aloud to them.
4. Then
use the outline you have made to explain the message and how the poet’s choices
help express the message.
5. Then
take out this blank outline and try writing the piece from what you
remember.
a. I
worry, for good reason, that you will just jam everything into the essay.
b. Try
to focus you attention on the main techniques the writer uses.
c. If
you feel it is necessary, explain what he does do in terms of what he does not
do.
While I am going to grade these more leniently that I had
stated when we started, I do expect certain things to be present:
___ Describe the poem and its message.
___ Follow the outline above to cover each of the
main topics.
___ Use paragraphs to divide up the discussion.
___ End with a conclusion.
___ The piece should be neatly written with no
grammar errors.
If all of these are done, to the best of a student's ability, the essay should earn an A. I do not feel that students are experts on poetry analysis; therefore, this essay is a chance to practice the skill of writing an analysis essay.
