...writings. Attaching paramount importance to poetry in his essay "The Study of Poetry", he regards the poet as seer. Without poetry, science is incomplete, and much of religion and philosophy would in future be replaced by poetry. Such, in his estimate, are the high destinies of poetry. Arnold asserts that literature, and especially poetry, is "Criticism of Life". In poetry, this criticism of life must conform to the laws of poetic truth and poetic beauty. Truth and seriousness of matter, felicity and perfection of diction and manner, as are exhibited in the best poets, are what constitutes a criticism of life. Poetry, says Arnold, interprets life in two ways: "Poetry is interpretative by having natural magic in it, and moral profundity". And to achieve this the poet must aim at high and excellent seriousness in all that he writes.This demand has two essential qualities. The first is the choice of excellent actions. The poet must choose those which most powerfully appeal to the great primary human feelings which subsist permanently in the race. The second essential is what Arnold calls the Grand Style - the perfection of form, choice of words, drawing its force directly from the pregnancy of matter which it conveys. This, then, is Arnold's conception of the nature and mission of true poetry. And by his general principles - the" Touchstone Method" - introduced scientific objectivity to critical evaluation by providing comparison and analysis as the two primary tools for judging...
Words: 500 - Pages: 2
...literature ranging from 3,000 B.C. to the present and is augmented with a wide array of novels and other supplemental materials. All literary genres will be covered. Students are expected to critically read all genres of literature and write cohesive, clear, and well-structured analyses/critiques about what they have read. Students will write a variety of rhetorical modes and for a variety of purposes including narration, information, and persuasion. Students’ papers will reflect a sophisticated level of original analysis and include references to the read text or to outside sources where appropriate. VII. Course Objectives: Students will: * develop an ability to write about problems from historical, philosophical, rhetorical and/or cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives; * engage in group discussions and activities to develop critical perspectives, a clear sense of audience, and a fluent and effective style; * plan, write, and revise three to four formal essays approximately 4-6 pages in length, at...
Words: 1741 - Pages: 7
...More Essay advice - in the course website you will find a basic Lecture on Poetry, and several other files relevant to this topic, especially Lecture Notes on Poetry, which I’ve moved after Assignments. Lecture on Poetry Model Analysis of Shakespeare Sonnet 1 Analysis of Shakespeare Sonnet 65 Suggestions for analyzing poetry 1 Suggestions for analyzing poetry 2 More on Images Again, you have only 3 pages, though we won’t complain about an extra 100 words. 1 First an introduction, 3 to 5 sentences. 2 The similarities are clear enough and should be covered briefly in your second paragraph. 3 Then the differences: first the plot, a hunt in both but with different outcomes 4 Then the hunter, his tone of voice, emotions, and attitude to the deer 5 Then a paragraph on the diction and images (images may stand on their own or be the vehicle of a metaphor. Either way they suggest or dramatize the speaker’s emotions or state of mind. 6 Then some figures of speech, just one or two (you might say, for example, “Each poet employs the trope of paradox, but in different ways….” 7 Then the most important difference, perhaps closure. 8 Finally your conclusion. This is one possible structure, with 8 paragraphs. You might have a different order. You might combine related topics – speaker with imagery related to state of mind, or the similarities with minor differences in plot – and have fewer and longer paragraphs. A paragraph should not be shorter than 4 sentences...
Words: 297 - Pages: 2
...A Format for the Five Paragraphs in a Poetry Analysis Essay: Note: It is important to follow the guidelines for each paragraph as you would a cooking recipe. In other words, for each body paragraph, follow the simple ingredients. Format/Recipe for an Introduction: a). Write one to two sentences that briefly summarize the poem. Your first line should state the name of the poem, the poet’s full name, and the speaker’s intent or main idea. Note: For example, if you were writing about Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, your first line would look something like, “William Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 18’ discusses the conflict that the speaker faces in trying to preserve the beauty of a young and innocent man.” Notice how this opening line follows the above instructions. b). Write about to three sentences that allow you to transition to the element that you will be discussing in your paper. This part is not your argument; this part is designed to transition yourself and your reader to the main point of your paper. c). Write a one to two sentence thesis statement. Your thesis statement will state your overall argument and include at least three rhetorical devices that you will analyze in order to support your argument. Note: For an in-depth discussion on constructing a solid thesis statement for this type of essay, feel free to refer to my previous article in the link provided here: Thesis Statement for a Poetry Analysis Essay Format/Recipe for Body Paragraph 1: a). Write one...
Words: 330 - Pages: 2
...HOW TO WRITE A LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY The purpose of a literary analysis essay is to carefully examine and sometimes evaluate a work of literature or an aspect of a work of literature. As with any analysis, this requires you to break the subject down into its component parts. Examining the different elements of a piece of literature is not an end in itself but rather a process to help you better appreciate and understand the work of literature as a whole. For instance, an analysis of a poem might deal with the different types of images in a poem or with the relationship between the form and content of the work. If you were to analyze (discuss and explain) a play, you might analyze the relationship between a subplot and the main plot, or you might analyze the character flaw of the tragic hero by tracing how it is revealed through the acts of the play. Analyzing a short story might include identifying a particular theme (like the difficulty of making the transition from adolescence to adulthood) and showing how the writer suggests that theme through the point of view from which the story is told; or you might also explain how the main character‟s attitude toward women is revealed through his dialogue and/or actions. REMEMBER: Writing is the sharpened, focused expression of thought and study. As you develop your writing skills, you will also improve your perceptions and increase your critical abilities. Writing ultimately boils down to the development of an idea....
Words: 3487 - Pages: 14
...communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes, including literary analyses. Apply the writing process to create and critique writing composed in a variety of situations. Edit and critique writing for clarity and effectiveness. Use advanced presentation skills on self-selected and assigned topics. Evaluate oral messages for accuracy, logic and usefulness. Summarize and evaluate the validity and relevance of ideas, arguments, hypotheses and evidence presented in a discussion. Identify and analyze the history, origin and usage of English words and phrases. Compare and analyze the use of symbol systems and expressions in other cultures’ languages. Use advanced computer skills to assist in the acquisition, organization, analysis and communication of information. Develop and apply criteria to evaluate various media messages. Develop and present various media products to inform or entertain real audiences across content areas. Evaluate the impact of various market factors on the effectiveness of media production and distribution. Evaluate audience feedback on the clarity, form, effectiveness, technical achievement and aesthetic appeal of media work. Use a research process to plan, conduct and...
Words: 2102 - Pages: 9
...re tu ra li CAPE Modern te ng Languages Literatures nE e siniEnglish ur e at l er g it En sin ur e at er it L Caribbean Examinations Council ® SYLLABUS SPECIMEN PAPER CSEC® SYLLABUS,MARK SCHEME SPECIMEN PAPER, MARK SCHEME SUBJECT REPORTS AND SUBJECT REPORTS Macmillan Education 4 Crinan Street, London, N1 9XW A division of Macmillan Publishers Limited Companies and representatives throughout the world www.macmillan-caribbean.com ISBN 978-0-230-48228-9 © Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC ®) 2015 www.cxc.org www.cxc-store.com The author has asserted their right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988. First published 2014 This revised version published 2015 Permission to copy The material in this book is copyright. However, the publisher grants permission for copies to be made without fee. Individuals may make copies for their own use or for use by classes of which they are in charge; institutions may make copies for use within and by the staff and students of that institution. For copying in any other circumstances, prior permission in writing must be obtained from Macmillan Publishers Limited. Under no circumstances may the material in this book be used, in part or in its entirety, for commercial gain. It must not be sold in any format. Designed by Macmillan Publishers Limited Cover design by Macmillan Publishers Limited and Red Giraffe CAPE® Literatures...
Words: 121889 - Pages: 488
...* Home * Literature * History * The Arts * More Subjects * Sign In * Register Today's Date: May 13, 2014 ------------------------------------------------- Top of Form Advanced Search Bottom of Form ------------------------------------------------- Top of Form Bottom of Form Home » Literature » Poetry » Poem Analysis of “Do Not Go Gently into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas Poem Analysis of “Do Not Go Gently into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas Posted by Nicole Smith, Dec 6, 2011 Poetry No Comments Print In this analysis of “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” by Dylan Thomas, it will be explored how this is a poem that explores the helplessness associated with growing old and inching toward death. There are six stanzas in “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” by Dylan Thomas with a simple rhyme structure that belies the complex message of the poem. In general, it is clear that this is a poem about death and dying but when examined closer, it becomes apparent that it is also about life and how it is lived. Through the structure of “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” by Dylan Thomas as well as the use and choice of language that invokes certain images and employs certain techniques that arouse deep imagery/ The speaker of the poem “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” by Dylan Thomas seems to think it is not honorable or befitting for a great or interesting man to die quietly in old age and he encourages the reader to think...
Words: 1175 - Pages: 5
...firmly and possessively gripped by the composers of poetry, movies, and even documentaries and biographies. It is these forces that have shaped my understanding of the representations of events, personalities and situations, or rather, the manipulation of the truth surrounding them. The strings behind such truths are often twisted, knotted and complex due to conflicting perspectives. A relationship between two successful people that finds its way into the public eye will always reveal conflicting perspectives. Think about TomKat or Branjelina, the media jumped on speculations and rumours about their relationships immediately. The same thing can be said about Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath. Hughes remained silent about their relationship until he published Birthday Letters (hereafter BL) in 1998, thirty five years after Plath’s death. BL is a suite of poetry which commemorates Plath, their life together and gives Hughes’ perspective. This can be contrasted with the views of Erica Wagner’s Ariel’s Gift (AG) and Sylvia Plath: The Poetics of Beekeeping by Frederike Haberkamp. AG attempts to make all sides of the story clear, allowing readers to make their own perspective of Hughes’ and Plath’s relationship. Wagner approaches the topic with an objective view to establish ideas and reveal the complex nature of their relationship by exposing the conflicting perspectives. Sylvia Plath: The Poetics of Beekeeping is a critical analysis of Plath’s life and literary works in reference to her...
Words: 1001 - Pages: 5
...of Northumbria Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST Self-Assessment ISBN: 1-86135-080-5 Text editor: Rebecca Johnson Copy editor: Publications Office, University of Northumbria Designed and produced by the Department of External Relations DER: 2308HCB/6/00J Contents Project mission statement Introduction The nature and scope of the project i) The self-assessment sheet ii) Student guide to self-assessment iii) ‘Writing essays: A guide for literary studies students’ (sample) 5 7 8 10 13 23 Ways of using the materials i) How the self-assessment sheet can be used ii) Workshop using the self-assessment sheet 34 34 34 iii) How ‘Writing essays: A guide for literary studies students’ can be used 35 iv) Workshop using the essay guide 35 Impact on staff and students i) Student response to the self-assessment sheet ii) Student response to workshops using the materials iii) Staff response to the materials 37 37 37 37 Further references About the authors Acknowledgements Appendices i) Example of completed self-assessment sheet with essay 39 39 39 41 3 4 Project mission statement T he Assessment and the Expanded Text Consortium is a project directed by the English division at the University of Northumbria. It involves collaborating with colleagues who teach English courses at Sheffield Hallam University, Staffordshire University and the University of East Anglia. We came together three years ago to build on existing relations between...
Words: 13479 - Pages: 54
...yMacmillan Study Companions Sharon R. Wilson-Strann POETRY FOR THE CSEC® ENGLISH B EXAMINATION Second edition Prescribed list for 2012–2017 CSEC® is a registered trademark of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) POETRY FOR THE CSEC® ENGLISH B EXAMINATION is an independent publication and has not been authorised, sponsored, or otherwise approved by CXC. CSEC Study Comp Poetry 2nd Ed_2011.indd i 9/6/11 4:31 PM Macmillan Education Between Towns Road, Oxford OX4 3PP A division of Macmillan Publishers Limited Companies and representatives throughout the world www.macmillan-caribbean.com ISBN: 978-0-230-41802-8 Text © Sharon R. Wilson-Strann 2011 Design and illustration © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2011 First published 2008 This edition published 2011 All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers. These materials may contain links for third party websites. We have no control over, and are not responsible for, the contents of such third party websites. Please use care when accessing them. Designed by Mike Brain Graphic Design Ltd Typeset by E Clicks Enterprise, Malaysia Cover design by Clare Webber Cover photo by Jenny Palmer The author and publishers are grateful for permission to reprint the following copyright material: Bloodaxe Books for the poem...
Words: 3558 - Pages: 15
...07/08/15 Poetry essay ENG4U-42 A Dream within a Dream By Edgar Allen Poe Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now, Thus much let me avow-- You are not wrong, who deem That my days have been a dream; Yet if hope has flown away In a night, or in a day, In a vision, or in none, Is it therefore the less gone? All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream. I stand amid the roar Of a surf-tormented shore, And I hold within my hand Grains of the golden sand-- How few! yet how they creep Through my fingers to the deep, While I weep--while I weep! O God! can I not grasp Them with a tighter clasp? O God! can I not save One from the pitiless wave? Is all that we see or seem But a dream within a dream? Analysis My initial glance through this poem I realise that the poet is not really talking about a dream. He compares life metaphorically to a dream within a dream. The structure of this poem is not a standard rhyming pattern which halts the reader in order to absorb what is being said. The poem consists of nine couplets and two triplets. The opening stanza, for example, begins with a triplet, then shifts to couplets and the second stanza shifts from couplets to triplet in the middle then shifts back to the original pattern. The poem expresses the poet’s frustration of the uncertainty and temporariness of life and people. He compares life and dreams because when we dream, it seems so real but when we are awakened by the roar of life...
Words: 1001 - Pages: 5
...Poetry Analysis Essay for “Road Not Taken” By: Robert Frost Course # and Title: ENGL 102: Literature and Composition Semester of Enrollment: Spring 2012 Name: Timothy Bayless ID #: L22915807 Writing Style Used: MLA Timothy Bayless L22915807 ENGL-102 C04 Poetry Analysis Essay Outline I. Introduction A. Facts: Robert Frost thought a poem should start with delight but end in wisdom and has also won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry four times. B. Title and Author: “The Road Not Taken” By: Robert Frost C. Thesis: The poem displays the difficult decisions people make in order to progress in life and how one choice can alter the future for better or worse. II. Body A. Meaning and Message i. Surface Meaning: A person comes to a “y” in the road and has to decide which way to go. ii. Deeper Meaning: Internal debates are overwhelming when deciding what the right decision to make is. iii. Theme: The choices made in life can alter the future for better or worse. B. Tone i. The person speaking in the poem seems to have a certain level of maturity and it shows in the debate about which road to take. ii. The tone of the speaker is solemn in nature. iii. The reason the tone seems solemn is because the speaker is left with...
Words: 1400 - Pages: 6
...Poetry Analysis Essay October 13, 2009 Instructor: Liza Erpelo English 110 AK The Prompt • Choose a poem from R. Zamora Linmark’s The Evolution of a Sigh and write an essay in which you analyze the poem’s literary elements (parts of the poem and figures of speech) and use this analysis to interpret the meaning of this poem. The Prompt • In other words, what is the poem saying and what literary elements does the author use to demonstrate this message? Introduction Provide the necessary background information in 3 to 5 sentences: title of poem poet’s name/any relevant biographical facts summary of the poem’s subject or topic. Thesis • In your thesis, identify the literary element(s) to be analyzed and the approach or direction of the analysis. • What message is the poem sending? Sample Thesis Statement #1 In “First Lessons,” R. Zamora Linmark uses allusions to describe how not to write a poem, and then he uses imagery and allusions to describe how to write a poem properly. Sample Thesis Statement #2 R. Zamora Linmark in “First Lessons” uses imagery and verbal irony to describe how a writer can discover his or her topic, then through diction and allusion, tells the writer how to write a poem that will leave a lasting impression on readers. Sample Thesis Statement #3 In the poem “First Lessons,” R. Zamora Linmark uses allusion and visual imagery in a playful way to teach writers what to avoid and what to incorporate when composing poems based on other literary...
Words: 643 - Pages: 3
...commonly used to refer to works of the creative imagination, including works of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction. Generally, most people have their own ideas of what literature is. When enrolling in a literary course at university, you expect that everything on the reading list will be “literature”. Similarly, you might expect everything by a known author to be literature, even though the quality of that author's work may vary from publication to publication. Perhaps you get an idea just from looking at the cover design on a book whether it is “literary” or “pulp”. Literature then, is a form of demarcation, however fuzzy, based on the premise that all texts are not created equal. Some have or are given more value than others. Most forays into the question of “what is literature” go into how literature works with the reader, rather than how the author set about writing it. It is the reception, rather than the writing, which is the object of enquiry. Largely, what we call “literature” is often a subjective value judgment, and naturally, value judgments, like literary tastes, will change. Etymologically, literature has to do with letters, the written as opposed to the spoken word, though not everything that is written down is literature. As a classification, it doesn't really have any firm boundary lines. The poet Shelley wanted to include some legislative statutes of parliaments under poetry because they created order and harmony out of disorder. There is recurring...
Words: 1731 - Pages: 7
