be a full paragraph (at least 8 sentences)
contain topic and concluding sentences
employ examples, brief quotations, or concrete details (using in-text citation by line)
apply what you have learned about explication, close reading, and poetic terms
Your first writing assignment–which comes prior to the first essay–is a poem interpretation journal. A journal is a place to practice and experiment. It is less formal than an essay. Choose poems from the list of links provided on the next page and write a detailed entry on each work that you examine.
What to write about?
Aim to get at the meaning or central message of the poem, but know that it may be ambiguous and there may be several possible interpretations. Do not go running to find out what others have said about the meanings of these works. This is your opportunity to explicate poems on your own without worrying about being right or wrong. This is a practice exercise. Here is your “How-To”:
Practice close reading, which means quote and cite by line. When we cite a poem, we cite by line number rather than page or book. (line 5), for example.
Even though journal entries are less formal, this is a writing course, so practice your writing skills. Write thoughtfully, revise, and edit your paragraphs before you submit. Create a separate Word document for this submission.
Choose FIVE from the following to read and write about in your journal:
I, TooLinks to an external site. by Langston Hughes. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47558/i-too
The Road Not TakenLinks to an external site. by Robert Frost https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken
Caged BirdLinks to an external site. by Maya Angelou. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48989/caged-bird
An American SunriseLinks to an external site. by Joy Harjo https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/92063/an-american-sunrise
Widening CirclesLinks to an external site. by Rainer Marie Rilke. https://onbeing.org/poetry/widening-circles/
AmericaLinks to an external site. by Allen Ginsberg. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49305/america-56d22b41f119f
The Good LifeLinks to an external site. by Tracy K Smith https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56376/the-good-life
seventh heavenLinks to an external site. by Patti Smith https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50433/seventh-heaven-56d22d8ceae8b
Long Finger PoemLinks to an external site. by Jin Eun-Young https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/49337/long-finger-poem
SaguarosLinks to an external site. by Javier Zamora
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/58656/saguaros
