Mrs. Bell’s analysis of student responses on the 2009 Poetry Prompt Essays

Prompt: In the following speech from Shakespeare’s play Henry VIII Cardinal Wolsey considers his sudden downfall from his position as advisor to the king. Spokesmen for the king have just left Wolsey alone on stage. Read the speech carefully. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how Shakespeare uses elements such as allusion, figurative language, and tone to convey Wolsey’s complex response to his dismissal from court.

Things to keep in mind:

  • Sometimes you will get excerpts from drama (usually Shakespeare) as a “poem” and sometimes as prose
  • Though you don’t have to write on the lit elements they give you(allusion, figurative lang, tone), you should be looking for them and identifying them as you annotate your prompt – they pick these for a reason.
  • An allusion is a reference to another literary work – Steinbeck in East of Eden alludes to many biblical stories. In this excerpt, Shakespeare alludes to the biblical story of Lucifer. When you see “allusion” look to a reference from the Bible or mythology. You need to ask yourself “why is this allusion significant or ironic?”
  • Wolsey is a CARDINAL, which means he is basically a step away from pope, and also a step away from the king. Lucifer was the angel of light, an archangel who was a step away from God and wanted to be God but fell from heaven (lost the war) and god created hell for him. Lucifer fell because of his pride/arrogance (thinking he could be god), as did Wolsey (high blow pride broke under him).
  • Some people mentioned the Garden of Eden or creation (the stages of life metaphor), which was a little outside the realm of interpretation, but you would not be docked points– I think.
  • I’d save discussion over this element until the last body paragraph since it packs a punch at the end, is addressed in chronological order, and contributes most to Wolsey’s complex response if it is addressed at the end.
  • Figurative Language is an umbrella term that can include (but is not limited to) metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole…(anything that should not be taken literally but rather figuratively). Be specific when you talk about figurative language and point out what you are identifying in your thesis.
  • In this case, there is an extended metaphor (longer than a line or two) comparing the state of man to a blossoming plant that ends up being killed quickly in a premature frost.
  • This is not personification.
  • This does reference, in pastoral diction (which contrasts with the ending), not only the stages of man but of Wolsey’s own rise to power and expectations.
  • When you “nip the root” of a plant, it will not grow back – unlike pruning.
  • There is also a simile comparing Wolsey’s pride to “little wanton boys that swim on bladders this many summers in a sea of glory, but far beyond their depth.” His “high-blown” pride “broke under” him and left him in that “sea of glory” to drown. You can reference hubris here – overweening pride that leads to a great downfall. Also this simile highlights the rapidity of his fall – adding to the shock.
  • Could also be seen as a metaphorical baptism, though it does not point toward renewal but is distorted (like his references to Lucifer).
  • These two comparisons (plant and swimming boys) are quite harmless in comparison to the scathing reference to Lucifer shortly thereafter.
  • You could also discuss hyperbole (exaggeration) with how he is reacting (waxing eloquent) to his dismissal
  • Save tone for last (usually). Remember that tone is dependent on Wolsey’s complex response (if it is complex it must have many dynamics to it). You need to show HOW Shakespeare created that tone.

Describe Wolsey’s response at the beginning of the poem:

______

At the Middle:

______

At the End:

______

  • The best scores will work through all parts of the poem in an organized manner.
  • If you are unsure what a section of the poem means, don’t write “I’m not sure what this part means, but…”
  • DO NOT neglect to look at the last few lines of your poem! They are almost always important.
  • If your poem has a title (this does not), you may want to address the meaning in the conclusion.
  • List good vocab words (off our list or from your essay) to use in this essay: histrionic

Misreads and problems:

  • Don’t spell Shakespeare wrong – his name is in the prompt!!
  • Spell soliloquy correctly please.
  • Bible is capitalized (title of a book) but biblical is not.
  • Wolsey is not happy, joyous, at peace, renewed by his dismissal.
  • Lines 7-9 are not about the king but the “state of man” (see line 3).
  • Line 17 “I feel my heart new open’d” means it feels like his heart is ripped open anew…not a pleasant thing.
  • Lucifer refers to Wolsey’s position, not the king’s.
  • There is no personification in the excerpt.
  • The focus of the prompt and passage are not on the king but Wolsey .
  • AP uses New Criticism – you can go outside of the range of interpretation for them and can’t get higher than a 4.
  • Small misreads are generally overlooked (may take a point for it).