Task: You will choose an English poem to analyze through an essay. You will read the poem and write a 750-1000 word essay (more than 1100 words or less than 700 words, not counting the works cited, will not be accepted) in a way that shows your ability to do close reading, situate the text within its historical context, and to connect it to our society and your own life.
Guidelines:
Your essay will contain a short introduction and conclusion (3-5 sentences each) and three body paragraphs (7-10 sentences each), which will answer these questions:
Paragraph 1: What does the text mean?
How would you summarize and analyze the texts message?
What is the connection between the meaning and the language?
Paragraph 2: What is this texts historical context?
You must include MLA cited research with this!
Consider the triangle from literary theory–what is the significance of / how does it reflect the time it was written / published and the setting (may or not be explicit in a poem)?
Paragraph 3: Why is the text important to you?
Consider the third point of the triangle–how does the current era influence your reading?
Why is it worth reading in 2021 / what impact can it have?
How do you relate to or connect with this poem?
Make sure your introduction has a thesis and claim!
You must include direct quotes from the poem in each paragraph
You must include a works cited page (in MLA format) with MLA in-text citations for the poem you choose and at least 3 external (English, academic) sources
Double space, normal font, make sure you edit
