Poem analysis
Assignment #2-Poetry Analysis
Rough Draft Due:
Final Draft Due:
Description of Assignment:
A literary analysis essay pulls apart a piece of writing to examine its technique and
understand its themes and ideas. For this assignment, you will choose one selection of
two poems from the list on the next page and write an analytical essay, no less than 3
pages in length (with an additional works cited page that includes your two poems as
primary sources and at least two secondary sources), that analyzes, compares and
contrasts how the poems use two or more of the poetic devices on the Poetic Devices
Glossary (we will address this soon). It will be important to use appropriate terminology
in your analysis.
Organization:
The introduction should focus on the poetic devices you will be analyzing in
the poems, not necessarily the poets or history of the poems, although a little
background on the authors can be helpful in the introduction. Your thesis should focus
on the poetic devices you will analyze in the poems.
The body should examine different ways the poetic devices show up in the
poems; for instance, if you were focusing on theme, then you may look at the way the
theme is expressed in symbols, imagery, structure, tone, etc. In addition, the body
should help us see what is to be gained by comparing and contrasting the poems unique
take on your chosen poetic devices. Spend less time on the historical context of the poem
or the author. Avoid analyzing one poem separately from the other. Organize the paper
point-by-point (more on that in class).
The conclusion should restate your thesis and examine any new
understandings that arise from analyzing the poems. What should we take with us about
the themes? What have you uncovered in these texts that is worth remembering? What
do we gain by analyzing the same poetic devices in two different poems?
Requirements:
MLA formatted with in-text citations and a works cited page
3 pages (plus a works cited page), typed, double-spaced, 12pt font, Times
Two sources in addition to your two poems
This is the Approved Poetry List for your ENGL 1302 poetry analysis paper. Find one of the
selections containing two poems to compare and contrast, either in theme, style, structure, use
of imagery, symbols, metaphor, etc.
Selection #1
LANGSTON HUGHES Harlem
CLAUDE MCKAY If We Must Die
Selection #2
ROBERT HERRICK To the Virgins, Make Much of Time
JOHN KEATS Ode to Autumn
Selection #3
ROBERT FROST Birches
ROBERT FROST Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening
Selection #4
T.S. ELIOT The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON Ulysses
Selection #5
E.E. CUMMINGS somewhere i have never traveled
E.E. CUMMINGS silently if
Selection #6
HELENE JOHNSON Sonnet to a Negro in Harlem
CLAUDE MCKAY Harlem Shadows
Selection #7
EMILY DICKINSON Because I Could Not Stop For Death
PABLO NERUDA Nothing But Death
Selection #8
SHERMAN ALEXIE The Facebook Sonnet
RICHARD BRAUTIGAN All Watched over by Machines of Loving Grace
Selection #9
ALLEN GINSBERG A Supermarket in California
WALT WHITMAN Had I the Choice
Selection #10
ESTHER BELIN Night Travel
LAURA DA Vantage
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/175884
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/175884
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173960
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173960
http://allpoetry.com/To-The-Virgins,-To-Make-Much-Of-Time
http://allpoetry.com/To-The-Virgins,-To-Make-Much-Of-Time
http://allpoetry.com/Ode-To-Autumn
http://allpoetry.com/Ode-To-Autumn
http://allpoetry.com/Birches
http://allpoetry.com/Birches
http://allpoetry.com/Stopping-By-Woods-On-A-Snowy-Evening
http://allpoetry.com/Stopping-By-Woods-On-A-Snowy-Evening
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/173476
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/173476
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174659
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174659
http://allpoetry.com/somewhere-i-have-never-travelled
http://allpoetry.com/somewhere-i-have-never-travelled
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jRn7AR2spOofN2SQ10jMqw0XkqHCXhpS_n5tMovPxds/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jRn7AR2spOofN2SQ10jMqw0XkqHCXhpS_n5tMovPxds/edit?usp=sharing
http://allpoetry.com/Sonnet-to-a-Negro-in-Harlem
http://allpoetry.com/Sonnet-to-a-Negro-in-Harlem
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173959
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173959
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177119
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177119
https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/nothing-death
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/05/16/the-facebook-sonnet
https://allpoetry.com/All-Watched-Over-By-Machines-Of-Loving-Grace
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177128
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177128
http://allpoetry.com/Had-I-the-Choice
http://allpoetry.com/Had-I-the-Choice
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/239026
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/239026
http://billmoyers.com/content/laura-das-vantage/ Compare/Contrast outline
Whether you are doing a point-by-point comparison or using the block method of organization, use the generic outline below for your compare/contrast paper.
Topic sentence:
Point one:
Supporting detail:
Point two:
Supporting detail:
Point three:
Supporting detail:
Point four:
Supporting detail:
Point five:
Supporting detail:
Point six:
Supporting detail:
Conclusion:
