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Poetry?
How do you write a poetry essay? My title is 'compare the way the poets use the idea of time passing and it's effects in each of the poems'. I'm writing stuff about how the rhyme scheme in one creates the idea of time passing quickly and in the other how the rhyme sceme makes it sound like time is passing slowly because you have to read it slowly...and then stuff like, 'this poem is about...blah' and 'this other poem is about...blah'...but I'm not sure I'm doing it right...none of my points seem to relate to my title. Any pointers?? I'm not asking you to do this for me, just give me some hints on how to write a decent poetry essay (i.e. what to include?). Thanks loads!!
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Outlines and Brainstorms are your friends. :)
In this case, since the prompt is "compare", make two columns - one for how the poems are similar, and the other for how the poems are different. Each item on each list can become the topic sentence for a paragraph. A paragraph can be sort, containing the topic sentence, a sentence or two about each of the poems (quotes are good here), and a sentence or two to clarify/reinforce your topic sentence.
An example of how I'd start if I were comparing these two poem fragments:
1. excerpt from Fire, from Verses from the Center, translation by Stephen Batchelor
Were the fire its flames,
Act and actor would be one.
Were flames something else,
They could not have lit this fire.
Independent and alone,
Eternal flames would burn forever -
Actors with no acts.
2. excerpt from Litany of Fire, by Patricia Monaghan
Smoke tree and smoke thorn,
// bonfire, bonfire, //
Flame of the forest,
// Death pyre, needfire, //
Firewheel, firethorn,
// Wildfire, balefire, //
All come to ashes,
// Greenfire, seedfire //
Similarities: both poems have the topic of fire, both poems were written in religious context,
Differences: sentence vs lyric, speed reflection of spirituality
I'll make a paragraph from the "sentence vs lyric" item.
The speed of the poems is primarily a result of the choice between prosey (ok, I probably just made that word up) and lyrical poetry. Batchelor takes a sentence that could be used in prose and splits it half to make lines for his poem. The words needed to make complete sentances force Fire to be read leisurely. It can be read in a conversational tone. Monaghan uses short 4 and 5 syllable strings of 2 to 4 words to create a line. Litany is hard to speak, but lends itself easily to chanting or singing. It's hard to say the in-between lines slowly, even if your force yourself to slowly sing the major lines. The poets choose between prosey and lyrical sets the speed of the poem, and profoundly affects the feel and effect of the poem.
See how it works? If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask. :)
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Another thing to think about is how the time of day is invoked. Are there sounds? Are there smells? Colors? Does it change within the poem? You make pick more than one or two poems for the whole essay because the examples will be much clearer in some poems than others. Think about where the words send you in reference to time passing. Maybe read the whole poem out loud and scribble what you are thinking during the poem.
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Since the assignment says "compare" you also need to make sure you look at how similar writing devices or tricks (so to speak) are used in each one. You'll want to say "In poem #1 the author....Poem #2 is similar/different because this author...."
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It's been a while since I thought about essays. If the poems are portreyed at different speeds you need to explain how the author has achieved this. Ie with phrasing and vocabulary. Short sentances, smaller words, long decribing words. Explain how they've created the atmosphere of a poem and back up your thoughts using quotes as examples. Remember, this sort of thing can never normally be wrong. It'll just be your view. Good luck :O)
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