AP English Literature
Dr. Murphy
Contemporary Poets: Some Research, a Reading, and a Movie or a Recitation
40 Points
¶ Your assignment is to select a poet from the Poets Page and have at it:
1. Select a poet. Need help? Read your Bedford and/or see #2 (below). Type three (3) choices and turn in on Tuesday (3/22). We will agree on your personal poet on 3/25. (5 points)
2. Mandatory: Read a bunch of the poet’s poetry. You can buy book of the poet’s poetry from a bookstore (new or used) or check out poetry from a Public Library. Also, there are on-line resources that have loads of archived poetry. A good place to begin is www.poetry.org (Check the Class Blog for more). Open the link and go cruisin’.
3. Mandatory. Choose one poem and write a 600-750 word “reading” of it. In other words, interpret, analyze, adore, critique, condemn, etc. the poem. (For a little guidance about how to write about poetry, re-read chapter 20 in your Bedford.) In addition to reading the poem for its content, you must comment on the poem in terms of at least three (3) of its poetic figures/elements (and feel free to use a couple more if you are interested in scoring in the highest echelons. As you know, many poetic figures are in your Bedford, specifically in chapters 21-25—and you will be quizzed specifically on these terms on 3/29; it’s also wise to be familiar with the content of 26-28 too, but the AP doesn’t go here too often.). In any case, be sure you identify these figures/elements clearly. Also, feel free to use outside critical sources here (and to cite them properly); or, feel free to use none at all.[1] Also, copy the poem off for me; or cut and paste the poem from the web to your document. I’ve not read every poem, of course, and I’ll need it for reference. Type your short essay. (20 Points). It is due on Monday, 4/4
Next: Choose one (1) of the Following Options:
4. Make an awesome short film. These “poetry shorts” are labor intensive; they are also fun, educational, and positively cutting-edge.[2] You may double-up in this assignment, but no slackers. (15 points + as many as 5 extra credit points.) Due on Wednesday, 4/6. We’ll air it live.
OR
5. Choose a poem from your poet to memorize and recite. It doesn’t have to be the poem you interpret in the paper, but the poem should be at least one hundred fifty (150) words in length. It should also be one that you can recite with some sense of lyrical gusto. Higher marks for a Dramatic Interpretation of your poem (15 Points, possible EC). Recitations will take place on Wednesday 4/6 as well.
¶ NOTE: one poet per person. No doubling up!
¶ Submit 3 choices for poets, in writing, by Tuesday, March 22.
[1] Whether to cite/include critical sources is an important decision. Whether to do so or not depends on the poem/poet and the nature of your reading. In any case, you should read critical material about your poet. At minimum, you are required to read all of the “Perspectives” in the Bedford because they are interesting.
[2] I will provide you with a separate assignment sheet that both describes the “poetry shorts” exercise and provided links to examples.