What Goes Into A Poetry Essay?

Okay, as we know, poems are used as a medium to transmit messages on deeper issues. Lurking behind that confusing jumble of words is pure emotion. Our job as Literature students is to try to figure out what the poet is trying to say and how he attempts to get that message across.

I know it's easy to get carried away discussing the poet's concerns in your essay, but really that's only half (or less than) of what you really need to discuss. What they're actually looking for is technique. Okay, let me expand a little.

When writing an essay ALWAYS discuss:

1. Content/Levels of Meaning:

Yes you need to talk about content. In your essay you'll want to talk about the various levels of meaning in the poem. For CAPE I'm pretty sure that's only literal (what the poet is saying directly in the poem) and metaphorical (the subliminal messages they're sending across). But it can also include abstract and metaphysical and all that other deep weirdness. 

So remember! What is the poet literally saying? vs. What are they saying beneath the metaphor? 

like this...teacher = metaphorical meaning, author = literal 

2. Versification and Form:

You wanna speak about structure of your poem too. Here are some things to look for:

• Structure of Poem  (that is the physical structure of the poem..stanzas ans stuff)
• Metrical pattern used (iambic pentameter and such)
• Syntax (that is how the words are arranged)
• Form (Is it a ballad/sonnet/free verse etc?)

Remember that a poet doesn't just randomly choose to a particular form, what do you think is the reason the poet choose to write a sonnet or in free verse? How does that contribute to the meaning of the poem?

3. Poetic Technique and Style:

You guys should know all about these things by now, but here's a quick recap of the main techniques you wanna look at when analysing:

•  Diction (that is choice of words. A poet carefully selects each word he/she uses in their poem, nothing is done randomly. So why exactly did the poet use THAT word? What does it contribute to the meaning or effect?)
• Literary Devices (oh come on you all know these things):
• Metaphor
• Simile
• Assonance
• Alliteration
• Hyperbole
• Litote etc.
• Use of Imagery: (Imagery doesn't refer to what you see alone. It involves all senses...examples?)
• Visual
• Aural
• Olfactory
• Tactile 
• Tone (this is the quality of the poet's voice, how they say something):
• Ironic/Sarcastic/Sardonic
• Conversational
• Nostalgic
• Critical
• Meditative
• Musical Quality of the poem (alot of times they ask you to discuss the musical quality of the poem. This allows for listener enjoyment and such as rhymes and shit are fun:
• Rhymes (and shit)
• Rhythm
• Alliteration
• Assonance
• basically whatever contributes to making it sound good 

Okay you stir these three together and you get an essay. Seriously...just know this shit and you've got a one. 

Some Helpful Hints for Poetry

For me poetry is the hardest module. I get confused and overwhelmed by the amount of crap required of me. My brain shuts down and I write like a mentally deranged squirrel. Not my best module at all. Here are some tips to prevent you from losing it while analysing poetry or writing poetry essays.


   1. Know your poet!
 Poets tend to have recurring themes in their poetry. Once you do a few poems by ANY poet you'll realize that they're obsessed with death/nature/relationships/society. Make a list of some recurring themes in your poetry because most likely you'll be encountering them all the time.
 For example Les Murray is completely obsessed with:

• The Human Condition
• Urbanization
• Consumerism
• God-conciousness
• Loss of Humanity
• Displacement of Aboriginal People

   2. Study Smart!

In your exam they always ask you to refer to at least THREE poems by your poet. I'm not telling you to learn only three, but if you have two days to study for the exam it really doesn't make sense trying to learn all by heart. Learn the main ones, the ones you believe portray the themes the best and have the most to write on. 

  3. Don't narrate!

I bet you've heard this enough already for prose and poetry. Don't retell the story! The examiners have read the novel, they know what happened. The same goes for poetry. Retelling each line of the poem isn't going to get you a one. Stick to the question they ask and use your information wisely. They look for analysis more than knowledge. SO FUCKING ANALYSE THAT SHIT! 

4. Prepare

I don't care if you have three days left and you haven't picked up a book. Prepare and organize your notes wisely. Go through each poem and comment on the techniques and devices used (more about that in a next post). And write it down!! I'm telling you won't remember it....Do this for at least five poems. on your 'study sheets' (yes that's what I'm calling them). It will be helpful to compare some poems here before hand so that it will just be a matter of recalling in the exam. 

5. Plan

I want essay plans! Both in and out of the exam. When doing past papers, plan before you write. It provides some framework for you to work with so that your essays will actually have structure and not be all over the place. You don't even need to actually write the past paper essays, just plan them out. 

 

Intro into Drama and Some Elements of Drama

Drama comes from the Latin word 'dran' which means 'to do'. This should give you a hint as to what to expect from the genre.
 Drama transposes action onto a stage, it's unique in that sense. It's not like prose where you read it off a page and imagine or poetry where you listen to recitals. Drama involves literal visual appeal. You can (or are supposed to) SEE what's happening. So whenever you're writing, remember in drama an audience  enjoys a play, not a reader and not a listener.
Because of the live action expect to see and speak about some unique things in your essays. Dramatic significance and stage conventions are very two important elements of drama you need to discuss in your essays. What are they you ask? Well...

• Dramatic Significance: Conflict contributes to dramatic significance. It's the tension in the play. It refers to the element of surprise, the timing of characters, how conflict is introduced, developed, acknowledged and finally resolved. It's what makes you enjoy the play. You want a definition? Fiiine.... Dramatic Significance  refers to the function and importance of a scene, character, incident and speech (dialogue, incident, soliloquy, aside etc)
• Stage Conventions: refers to stage lighting, costuming, use of props, movements, positioning on stage, music. How light and imagery are symbolic to the characters, costumes describe characters and time period, what is the impact of the music on the atmosphere and mood. Pay close attention the stage directions when you are reading as they help you visualize what's happening on stage. (Stage directions are instructions given by the playwright - eg. tone of voice, movement of character, body language). 

A Preamble

Literatures in English - as you should have realized by now - is defiantly not your CSEC English B exam. Gone are the days when you can sleep through the class, not read the books and still get a one.
I'm a student and I'm just here to tell you what I know. Because I'm a student I can only tell you about the books  that I'm doing. I'm sorry about that, but don't lose hope completely, I'll try to offer some general tips that should help everyone regardless of novel, play or poet.

This blog however will be discussing (for Unit 1):

• Drama: Twelfth Night  by William Shakespeare(comedy)
• Poetry: Learning Human by Les Murray (post colonial)
• Prose:
• Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paul Marshall 
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 

If anyone can tell me why this guy has a fish on his head, I'll give you a cookie. A big one. 

So good luck people, feel free to email me if you want/need anything. AND FREAKING COMMENT! It makes me feel fuzzy inside (really I have no life), plus feedback is good.