For Tuesday

Rhythm and Meter Reading (531-542)

Reading for Friday:

Read about Symbolism and Allegory (457-464)and be prepared for a quiz on the concepts discussed in this section. Remember, quizzes focus on definitions and applications, not on the specific poems in the section, although you should carefully read and think about each poem.

If you will be missing third period, you can take your quiz Thursday after school, before school Friday, during 5th period, or after school Friday.

Read the section on "Syntax" (465-472)

Upcoming Assignments

Due Friday:

Diction (436-444), Voice (427-436)

Prospectus Assignment Info:


Each poem prospectus will consist of the following:

- “Device/Effect T-chart” of a minimum of three different poetry devices, text support for these devices, and their effects the poem. Select a poem from the anthology that we have not thoroughly discussed in class.

- Thesis statement

- Paragraph (approximately 1/2 page). This paragraph will either be an introduction to a hypothetical paper on the selected poem ( background ideas, thesis, poa) or a body paragraph (topic sentence with 3 examples, where, what, how, why, model. )

For the Poetry Prospectus 1-4 Assignment, two of your poems will have an introduction as their paragraphs, and two will have a support paragraph.)

And finally,


Here is the poem for your first poetry paper (remember, do not consult any resources online or otherwise) but begin thinking about possible interpretations/devices to analyze. Due date, TBD, but rough draft work day will be next Wednesday.

when serpents bargain for the right to squirm
and the sun strikes to gain a living wage-
when thorns regard their roses with alarm
and rainbows are insured against old age

when every thrush may sing no new moon in
if all screech-owls have not okayed his voice
-and any wave signs on the dotted line
or else an ocean is compelled to close

when the oak begs permission of the birch
to make an acorn-valleys accuse their
mountains of having altitude-and march
denounces april as a saboteur

then we'll believe in that incredible
unanimal mankind(and not until)

e e cummings

Due Wednesday, 9/12

Read part one of the "Manifesto".

Due 9/10

You will want to review the information contained in the two handouts from today, on Associative Thinking, and Interpretation and Analysis.

You will need to be prepared with the information from the sections on "Figurative Language" and "Imagery". In other words, make sure you have learned the new information and have used your notes to help in this process. Page numbers are listed in the previous post.

Poetry Essay Pretest Due Thursday, 9/6

Here is a bit more specific of a prompt than I said in class:

Read and think about the poem "Design" by Robert Frost. Then, time between 40-50 minutes during which you will write as much as you can analyzing the poem. The prompt you are using for your essay is:

Explain how Frost uses literary devices such as diction, figurative language, imagery, and structure to convey the meaning of the poem, "Design."

You may type the essay if you wish, but DO NOT consult outside sources or other people.

THIS IS A PRETEST/COMPLETION POINTS ASSIGNMENT!!! As long as you produce a reasonable product in 40 minutes, you will receive full credit.

Text of Poem:

Design


I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all*, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth --
Assorted characters of death and blight
Mixed ready to begin the morning right,
Like the ingredients of a witches' broth --
A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,
And dead wings carried like a paper kite.

What had that flower to do with being white,
The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?
What brought the kindred spider to that height,
Then steered the white moth thither in the night?
What but design of darkness to appall?--
If design govern in a thing so small.

* A type of flower that is typically blue, but in this case, white.


Reading Due Monday:

451-456
444-450