For this essay, you will analyze a poem by paying careful attention to its language and structure
Poetry Essay: Close Reading
For this essay, you will analyze a poem by paying careful attention to its language and structure. This type of analysis is known as close reading. The practice of close reading is extremely detail-oriented, like looking at a poem with a magnifying glass.
To begin, choose Walt Whitman, “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer,” 1865
Next, focus on details in the poem that seem important. Things to look for include, but are not limited to: imagery, metaphor, simile, rhyme, repetition, word choice, irony, ambiguity, confusing passages, diction, tone, structure, enjambment, line breaks, stanza breaks, alliteration.
As you start to write your essay, use lots and lots of details to help you analyze the poem. In other words, let the poem’s explicit meaning guide you towards your implicit interpretation of it.
Your finished essay should be well-organized and should include a clear thesis statement that articulates your main argument and that is supported with lots of textual evidence. A good thesis statement should tell us something about the poem that is not obvious. For further details on evaluation criteria, please see the grading rubric available on Blackboard.
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