Description
The goal of this essay is to make an argument about why a poet made the choices they made in writing a poem, with special attention to the meaningful contributions of aspects of sound in the poem. Your thesis statement should formulate what you think the poet was trying to communicate with the poem (your interpretation) and the essay should support your argument with detailed analyses of the choices and strategies the poet used at the level of sound, touching on elements such as meter, rhythm, rhyme, onomatopoeia, alliteration, consonance, assonance, line breaks, structure, enjambment, caesura and other relevant aspects of the poem.
Parameters and Criteria
- You can select any poem or song lyrics from any source for this assignment, as long as we haven't discussed it in detail in class.
- If you don't know what to use, choose a poem from The American Voice Anthology of Poetry (ASU Library)
- You can use a poem written previously by you.
- Alternatively, you can write an original poem to satisfy this assignment (See creative option below)
- Each paper should be about 1000 words (4 pages) in length.
- It should offer an interpretive thesis that is supported by detailed analysis of the work.
- When necessary, include screen-captured images or video to support your essay
- The essay should be formatted in MLA or some other established format.
- The essay is due on Monday, October 3 via ASU Learn.
Creative Option
If you prefer, you can write an original poem for this assignment, please accompany it with a 500 word essay that discusses how you shaped the poem at the level of sound to support your goals with the poem.