Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?” Nursing Essay
Poems to be read this week: Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?” pg. 894, Simon Ortiz’ “My Father’s Song” pg. 786, Matthew Arnold’s “Dover Beach” pg. 740, Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” pg. 739, Maya Angelou’s “Africa” pg. 757, William Carlos Williams’ “The Red Wheelbarrow” pg. 796, Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” pg. 853, Langston Hughes’ “Harlem” pg. 1019, and T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” pg. 1087. FIRST, READ THESE POEMS. SECOND, READ THIS LECTURE. Just as when you read fiction, there are elements of poetry that can be applied to individual poems. With this lecture, I am hoping to provide you with just an overview of basic points. In short, this lecture should provide you a road map by which to guide you when reading these poems and all the others we will read during our poetry unit. Here’s some vocabulary to know when reading and discussing the poetry: Tone: a poem’s attitude toward its theme Speaker: the narrator, a character–not necessarily the author Context: what’s going on Setting: time and place Language: word choice, diction Imagery: the pictures created in our heads by the words we read on the page Figurative Language: language used to create imagery (types of figurative language are metaphors and similes) Symbol: something that means or stands for something else (for example, love may be symbolized by red roses) Sound: the way words play on the tongue Form: stanzas, sonnet, epic, free verse, limerick Alliteration: when several words (often in the same line of prose or poetry) begin with the same consonant sound (for example, peck of pickled peppers) Meter: the recurring pattern of stressed (accented or long) and unstressed (unaccented or short) syllables in a line of poetry Please look up the following words: onomatopoeia, iambic pentameter, iambic tetrameter, terza rima Often when we read poetry, it’s easy to get bogged down in the details rather than seeing the beauty in the words on the pages. Try to see the beauty! Consider the following things in your study of our poetry unit: ? Primarily, what’s the difference between poetry and other genres of literature (fiction and drama)? The use of rhyme and meter, condensed word play, and focused meaning. ? What is imagery? ? How is meaning created in poetry? Through the use of imagery and word play. ? Do metaphors make meaning? ? Most modern poets throw caution to the wind regarding the use of rhyming words and meter. What do you feel is the reason for this? The thing you need to remember when studying poetry is imagery: What is it? What are some examples of it in the poems we read for this week? What are some things you notice and can explain about the images in the poems we studied this week? Abstract or concrete? Tangible or intangible? How is meaning created in a poem? Here are some things to think about with the poems we read and studied this week. Remember: take notes when you read! Elizabeth Barrett Browning – Consider all the ways ‘she loves thee.’ Which one do you feel is the most significant or stands out to you the most. Why is that? Simon Ortiz – There is some great imagery in this poem (I think anyway!). The loss of the author’s father is a big deal; however, note how he uses one very small shared moment between he and his father to focus our attention. Matthew Arnold – This poem is all about language. Arnold’s word choice is really great, but I find this poem leaves me feeling very melancholy and sorrowful. How about you? Did you find words and or phrases you liked? How about the poem as a whole? What sort of feeling does it leave you with? Andrew Marvell – Context: what the heck is going on in this one? What is Marvell suggesting here? Maya Angelou – There are metaphors galore in this poem! Africa is described through the use of metaphors in the first stanza: “deserts her hair/golden her feet/mountains her breasts/two Niles her tears.” Notice the use of implied metaphors. The author never actually says “The mountains are her breasts.” She only implies this. These implied metaphors create an image of Africa as a woman….a beautiful, powerful woman. William Carlos Williams – Williams was a part of the Imagist movement and used imagery heavily in his poems. If I could teach his poetry solely in this unit, I would…..and would do it gladly! Read the following info on him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Carlos_Williams BE SURE YOU KNOW ABOUT THE IMAGIST MOVEMENT! Bob Dylan – Think of some of your favorite songs and their lyrics. Do you find them especially poetic? (Did you know Dylan took his stage name from the poet Dylan Thomas? I suggest you read Thomas’ poem on page 827.) Langston Hughes – Read about the Harlem Renaissance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_Renaissance What types of figurative language does Hughes use to convey his message in the poem? T.S. Eliot – Okay, I absolutely love this poem! Eliot employs the use of so much imagery in this poem. I would suggest you read all the way through it once. Then, read through a second time, just making note of all the images. Remember how you identify images or imagery: words that create pictures in your head. If you feel as though you are missing things in this when you read through it, don’t worry: I usually find something new every time I read it again! Remember….don’t get bogged down. Try to see the beauty! DB #3: Take a look at what I wrote about each of the poems. Find one you like and can discuss articulately. Write a minimum 200 word response to your thoughts on the poem and what I said about it – due Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. (CST). Then write 3 more posts in response to your classmates posts (also minimum 200 words) due by Sunday at midnight (CST) for a total of 4 posts
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