Personal Poetry Anthology

The aim of this project is to develop your awareness and appreciation of a wide range of poems (their form and content) and your skills in understanding and writing about them. Above all, I hope that you will enjoy reading poetry (or at least appreciate it as an art form) and that it will enrich your lives.

The requirements: contents

  • You should collect a minimum of TEN poems that you really like. You may include more than this, as “other poems I have enjoyed reading,” and, if you wish, you may write a line or two or even a paragraph about this but it is not required.
  • You should write an analysis on THREE of theseten poems, of at least 250-350 words. This should involve a description of what the poem is about, and a commentary on the literary techniques—perhaps just one or two very dominant ones that are the most significant. Basically, what makes this poem “work.” For these three, be sure you are choosing rich poems that provide enough “food for commentary.”
  • You should include a fine art visual for at least ONE of the ten poems along with a brief explanation of its connection to the work. This could be a printout of a painting (or sculpture ) or an original piece of art you created. You must include the artist’s name and the title of the work. You may choose to use one piece of art that captures the essence of multiple poems in your anthology. Write
  • You must include a range of poets and kinds of kinds of poems. You should include
  • At least one poem from pre-19th century
  • At least one sonnet or other form poem (villanelle, sestina, etc). This does not count as your pre-19th too. 
  • At least seven different poets

Range might include different centuries, cultures, forms, styles, etc.

  • Titles, authors, year of publication, and the source of the poem (on each page with the poem)
  • A table of contents
  • A creative title for the entire anthology.
  • A creative cover

What you MAY include

  • The discussion of a lyric or song (but only 1)
  • A series of poems on a similar subject (but these should include a range of authors and forms). Some previously chosen ones include death, love, social criticism, places, the city, flowers, roses, the sea, war, children, women’s experiences, time, animals, birds, food.
  • Illustrations, special design, etc
  • A poem by a friend, or other young person, or by you (but only 1).
  • You may write a comparative commentary about two of the poems on the same subject, if you wish which would count two of the three analyses.
  • You may want to consider an “order” for your portfolio. This can be chronological, by poet, by subject, by device, whatever.

Format

  • This is entirely up to you. At minimum: typed, stapled neatly with one poem and commentary per page. Must still include a table of contents and all the other required parts. Creativity, color, detail, art, and the like is an entirely personal choice that should reflect your experience with poetry. See the attached rubric. Keep all poems formatted exactly as they are supposed to be. Do not center, change indents, or stanza breaks.
  • You may put more than one poem on a page, but please keep the commentaries connected to the poems.

Grade will be determined by range, quality of ideas, and presentation. You will a test grade for this work.

Where can I find some poems?

  • Perrine’s text (the blue “lit brick”), class packet, personal collections…
  • Any classroom anthology (I have a ton! Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Gift on a Watermelon Pickle are perennial favorites!)
  • Old AP tests

Rubric for Poetry Portfolio

**It goes without saying that any instance of plagiarism, copying (in words or analysis) will not be tolerated in part or in whole. You will receive a 0 for the project.**

All required items included

______Table of contents

______Ten poems

______Typed, bound, neat

______Authors, dates, and titles included

______Fine art piece

______Optional extra poems

Commentaries

______Chosen poems are commentary rich

______Understanding is evident

______Noteable devices recognized

______Organized effectively

______Reflects sophisticated literary analysis

______Well written and proofread

______Art explanation included and relevant

Range

______One pre-19th century poem

______One form poem

______Wide range of styles and authors

______Optional thematic link

______Optional thoughtful order

My Ideas for My Portfolio

Poems we have read in class that I liked….

Poems I have read in the past that I liked…..

Poets that I enjoy…..

Poets I would like to know more about…..