Poetry Analysis

The general topic will be focused on one of the literary works assigned for this class. The specific topic
of this essay can be up to you, but in general, the essay should at a minimum do the following:

1. Place the primary text within a specific historical and literary context and explore the cultural
   and philosophical concepts or themes characterized by its era. What period or movement is this
   work and/or author associated with? You should set this up in the introduction paragraph. End
   your intro with a thesis that presents an argument about the work in its historical context or
   literary period.
2. Analyze the work.
   a. For poetry, examine form, structure, and poetic devices such as rhythm, rhyme, simile,
   metaphors, symbols, alliteration, repetition/refrain, onomatopoeia, etc.
   b. For nonfiction, analyze the work rhetorically, examining such things as audience,
   purpose, ethos, pathos, logos, and other rhetorical strategies and/or literary devices used.
   c. For fiction, consider such elements as setting, plot, characterization, theme, point of
   view, symbol, tone, style, language, though not all of these are equally important, and
   you should concentrate on only those aspects that are relevant and revealing.
    How does the work use these elements or devices to achieve its effects and theme? Go
   beyond simple plot summary or overview of the story here, and include analysis and
   explanation supported by outside sources.
    Here you should demonstrate your skill in correct use of MLA documentation and
   formatting as well as your ability to select and integrate valid secondary sources.
    Quotations should be carefully selected and integrated into your own sentences for
   maximum effectiveness.
    Organize your body paragraphs around your main points for this analysis. You will need
   about 3 to 5 body paragraphs.
3. Finally, discuss the work and its effect on contemporary culture. It makes sense to do this in the
   conclusion paragraph. What impact has the work and/or author had on literature, culture,
   history, or society? What other works or writers has this author or work influenced? What
   traces of this work do we see in modern culture? Include specific examples rather than vague
   statements here. This works well as part of your conclusion, after you have summarized your
   main points.