Poetry Explication

I have attached the instructions below. Using the PDF below for instructions, write a three to four page explication on one of the poems below. See the example listed inthe Poetry Module. “We Wear the Mask” “Hard Rock” “The Mother” “Still I Rise” /content/enforced/201380/8257181-81217.202080/Poetry Explication Worksheet (1).doc Poetry Explication Poetry Explication Criteria Ratings Pts Argumentation/Claim view longer description 25 pts Full Marks 0 pts No Marks / 25 pts Organization view longer description 25 pts Full Marks 0 pts No Marks / 25 pts Poetic Forms/Devices view longer description 25 pts Full Marks 0 pts No Marks / 25 pts Grammar and Style view longer description 15 pts Full Marks 0 pts No Marks / 15 pts MLA Format 10 pts Full Marks 0 pts No Marks / 10 pts Total Points: 0 Poetry Explication Worksheet What is a poetry explication? Simply put, a poetry explication is a close reading, or an analysis, of a poem. One needs to examine all the pieces of the poem in order to understand its meaning. A poetry explication examines the diction, stanza and line structure, meter, rhythm, and imagery of a poem and explains relationships between these parts. While it does not have to be a full essay with a thesis, it should be in organized paragraphs. Steps to take before the explication: Step 1: Read the poem silently and then read it aloud to familiarize yourself with the content of the poem. Its okay to read aloud. Stand up, sit down, go for a run with the poem in front of you (but also watch where youre going) and read it aloud. In front of people or alone, read it aloud. Step 2: Read actively. That means read the poem again with a pencil. Paraphrase the poem. Draw lines between related ideas or themes. Write your thoughts in the margins (Fun Fact: notes in margins are called marginalia. Say that aloud, too, because its fun to say). Circle words that you think are important, thematic, or repetitive. Mark any words, lines, or stanzas in the poem that you may be having difficulty understanding. Perhaps you could even look up words youre unsure of. Step 3: Consider the basic reporters questions: who, what, when, where, and why. What to include in the explication: 1. Identify the broad elements of the poem – the voice, subject, conflicts, and tone of the poem. 2. Consider the details of the poem. What form is the poem in? How does the speaker use rhetoric in the poem? How does the speaker use syntax? Does the use of subjects, verbs, and objects reveal anything about the speaker? 3. Consider the poet’s diction. Why does the poet choose certain words over others? Research words or phrases you do not know. 4: Identify patterns and relationships. Look for: Rhetorical Patterns Rhyming Imagery Patterns in sound like alliteration and assonance Visual patterns Rhythm and meter Keep in mind: 1. Refer to the speaking voice in the poem as the speaker. For example, do not write, “In this poem, Wordsworth says that London is beautiful in the morning.” However, you can write, “In this poem, Wordsworth presents a speaker who…” We cannot absolutely identify Wordsworth with the speaker of the poem, so it is more accurate to talk about “the speaker”. 2. Use the present tense when writing the explication. The poem, as a work of literature, continues to exist! 3. To avoid unnecessary uses of the verb “to be” in your compositions, the following list suggests some verbs you can use when writing the explication: