Part 1: 500 words
Part 1: From the list of poems found in the Poetry Assignment 1 handout (found in the Learning Resources folder and
below the rubric on this page) starting with the first poem, “The Ruined Maid,” to the last poem “”Here Bullet”
a. Identify which poem for you proved to be the greatest challenge to understand and
b. Explain what words were the key to unlock the meaning of the poem.
Part 2: Identifying Poetic Devices
a. Identify what visual or sensory (sight, sound, taste, smell, sensation) images you discovered in your poem.
b. Did you find any similes, metaphors, personification, or symbols?
Guidelines:
1. Include citations to reference line numbers of the words, phrases, or lines you discuss.
The citation should just include line numbers (e.g., 5–6).
2. Your post and three responses are due by 11:59 pm, Sun.
Student Model:
In this week’s lesson, the poem I chose to read and analyze was Edgar Allen Poe’s, “Sonnet to Science.” This poem was definitely very difficult to understand because of the language that was used in the early 1800’s. Some key words, in the poem, that helped me understand more of the meaning were ‘art’, ‘preyest’, and ‘vulture’. In this poem, Poe is explaining that the expansion and progress of science is making it hard for the arts and creativity to thrive. For example, Poe states, “Why preyest thou thus upon the poet’s heart, / Vulture, whose wings are dull realities?” (3-4). He uses a vulture as a symbol to represent science, and how it is impacting people’s imagination. Also, when I read the poem, those lines, and the rest of his writing does a great job of almost painting a picture because of the imagery used. I think what Poe was trying to get across was that science gets in the way of what poets and artists are trying to create. He points out, “How should he love thee? or how deem thee wise . . .” (5). Poe is asking why these poets should respect scientists, since these scientists are removing all of their ‘beauty’ from the world.
Part 2: 300 words
Please write about some aspect of reading and writing about poetry such as
(1) your previous experience with poetry or
(2) how another of the assigned poems other than the one you selected for the DB impacted you.
