Write a 750-1000-word essay on a poem you’ve read that deals with one of the following issues: race, class, gender, and/or sexuality. The essay must either paraphrase or quote from two reliable, college-level sources of research (see below for a list of approved websites and suggested databases from the college library). Scholarly sources can comment on the poet, the particular poem you’ve chosen, or on a particular poetic technique. Use of Wikipedia and similar general knowledge websites is not permitted.
Remember that it is important to quote directly from the poem in support of your observations. All quotations must be integrated, cited, and quoted correctly. This document lays out MLA’s rules for formatting and citing poetry in your text. For you auditory/visual learners, this video will help ensure you’re following MLA’s rules properly. Your essay must also contain a Works Cited page.
The elements of poetry you choose to discuss depend upon the poem itself. While one paper might have to spend a significant amount of time discussing imagery, another essay about a different poem might just touch on imagery but spend a lot of time on word choice. Allow the elements of the poem and its primary theme(s) to decide what you will focus on in your essay.
Your essay must have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. It must also have a thesis statement (before you write, read this primer on crafting a strong thesis statement; you are writing a literary analysis, so your essay must make an argument addressing how the poet employs the elements of poetry to address its central issue and convey key themes. Present your thesis in the introduction, then develop each of your points in support of your thesis. Do not spend time too much time on biographical information beyond the introduction—stay focused on the poem.
Your analysis should consider each of the following:
What point or theme is the poem is trying to convey? It may be helpful to write out a summary of the poem before beginning your essay.
What is the poem’s structure and how does it contribute to conveying it central theme(s)?
What poetic techniques is the poet using, and how do they contribute to conveying the poem’s central theme(s)? Be sure to consider imagery, symbolism, simile, metaphor, and irony.
What are the sonic elements of the poem? Do they contribute to conveying the poem’s central themes? Be sure to consider rhyme, alliteration, consonance, and assonance.