Elements and Specific Thesis of a Poem Write an essay [on any of the recent poems] in which you discuss some element[s] of the poem: [see the introduction to poetry handout], compare two poems, or write a comparison of the poem to a short story.
In order to write effectively about poetry, one needs a clear idea of what the point of writing about poetry is.
The goal is to create a specific “thesis” about the poem/poems [what you believe is true] and quote from lines of the poem to support your thesis. I believe the poem means this and I will show you why…
Poem from the text ( ‘must’ use one of these or both of them or can use poems from uploaded files “poems can use” )
Linda Pastan
"Marks"
My husband gives me an A for last night’s supper,
an incomplete for my ironing,
a B plus in bed.
My son says I am average, an average mother, but if I put my mind to it I could improve.
My daughter believes in Pass/Fail and tells me
I pass. Wait’til they learn I’m dropping out.
David Ferry
" At the Hospital"
She was the sentence cancer spoke at last,
Its blurred grammar finally clarified.
