Poetry Explication

by


Poetry Explication Essay Assignment Lecture Notes and Criteria

Poets are often stereotyped as eccentric or hard to understand. Often their messages seem buried within the lines of their work, veiled by obscure diction or syntax. It is no wonder, then, that when writing about poetry it is called explication rather than analysis.

The first and often hardest thing to do when explicating a poem is to develop a theme When you develop your theme (meaning of the poem) remember to connect it to one of three things:

  • Human Nature
  • Society
  • Culture

Do not give me a “one word” theme such as, “The theme of Ode on a Grecian Urn is immortality.” Immediately, I will ask, “so what?” What about immortality relates to human nature, society, or culture? Do not develop a “summary theme” such as, “XVII is about someone living in a small town where there is a lot of gossip.” Once you have developed a theme, decide what three elements of poetry the poet uses to advance that theme. These elements can be found in the reading I assigned in Lit (see the course calendar reading for week two), and here are the main elements I would like you to use:

  • Voice: Speaker and Tone
  • Diction
  • Imagery
  • Figures of Speech: Simile and Metaphor
  • Symbolism (Do not use Allegory)
  • Syntax

Your paper will be written in the five paragraph essay format (refer to the “Five Paragraph Essay” under the Week One Block on Moodle.  Every specific support must include a direct quote from the poem. This will be your illustration or the I  in PIE.

The first paragraph should include all of the following and I do not mind if you use this example in your explication:

In the poem insert poem title here (italicize poem title) poet’s full name uses element of poetry (point A), element of poetry (point B), and element of poetry (point C) to advance the theme of insert your theme here.

Refer to the sample student paper I have posted on Moodle.

Although you do not need a works cited page, you do need to cite the line(s) of poetry you use. Here are a few pointers on MLA and poetry citations:

  • Remember to always introduce your quote. Example: Baca writes, “
  • A single line is written and cited this way: Baca writes, “I love the wind” (ln 1). [the ln indicates a single line. Notice how the introduction is in present tense. The entire paper should be written that way]
  • One to four lines are cited this way: Baca writes, “I love the wind / when it blows through my barrio” (lns 1-2). [a forward slash / indicates a line break.
  • Five or more lines use a block quote and revert to normal punctuation:

Baca writes:

I love the wind

when it blows through my barrio.

It hisses its snake love

down calles de polvo,

and cracks egg-shell skins

of abandoned homes. (lns 1-6)

(If you use a block quote, format with a hanging indent two tab spaces from the left margin)

The explanation portion of your specific supports or the E in PIE is where most students have the most difficulty. You make a point; give an illustration from the poem in the form of a direct quote, then offer an explanation, which often turns out to be nothing more than a summary of the quote. Just as you linked your theme to human nature, society, or culture, you should link your explanation the same way. Be sure the explanation is connected to your theme! Good luck writing!

Assignment Goals:

  • To write a college level poetry explication (analysis) essay in MLA format.
  • To develop a concise theme connected to human nature, culture, or society.
  • To identify major elements of poetry used to support your theme.
  • To articulate specific supports, with direct quotes from the poem, that back the major points and theme of the paper.

Grading Criteria:

  • Is the paper clearly written and well organized?
  • Is there a clearly developed theme?
  • Are specific supports presented in the ‘PIE’ format with direct quotes from the poem used as illustrations?
  • Proper MLA format and citation of line number(s) in the poem.
  • Evidence of proofreading/ editing.
  • DO NOT PLAGIARIZE THE SAMPLE PAPER ON MOODLE!!!

 

Additional Requirements:

  • Minimum of two full pages… no more than three pages in length.
  • Choice One: Baca’s XVII (PDF on Moodle).
  • Choice Two: Keats’ Ode on a Grecian Urn p1097 in
  • No works cited page required as you are only using quotes from the short story.
  • Do not use quotes or references from outside sources, this is not a research paper.

Due Date:

  • Refer to course calendar.