Task:
- Read over the individual poet's biography, characteristics, and subjects.
- Choose several poems you think best express the point you wish to make about the poet's style, focus, or technique as revealed in the background information.
- Add additional outside source information (either poems or criticisms) to meet criteria.
Essay Format: The easiest format for this essay is a modified research paper format.
Introduction: Introduce the poet. Briefly mention an interesting feature or aspect to create interest in your topic. State the technique, information, or main point that you will focus on.
Background Information: Briefly summarize the poet's life, poetic style and subjects. Mention works or titles if they are relevant.
Issues: Discuss the aspect of the poet that you find most interesting or easiest to develop. This could be a particular style (such as Wordsworth's use of nature, Dickinson's subject matter, or Frost's movement from subjects to a philosophical "generated subject"). Give examples from several poems and use both the textbook and outside critical sources as support. Hint: You do not need to have a personal opinion about the poet. You may just choose and echo an opinion reflected in the text or other source.
Conclusion: Restate your focus topic.
Sources: Of course, the textbook should be your first source. There is enough information there to complete most requirements of the assignment. You may also use an encyclopedia for background information, as well as the Literature Resource Center, Galenet's on-line database.
Here are some additional on-line sources that might help:
"Poets and Their Works", The Gale Group's on-line reference source
Poetry Exhibits for
