Due 10/26: The Bell Jar and More…

October 25, 2016 By

1. The Bell Jar–Complete the novel!

The Bell Jar essay is just around the bend, so you should begin thinking about argumentative positions on the text. I strongly encourage you to consider how the feminist lens questions can give shape to a thesis.

Keep in mind: Feminist criticism is concerned with “…the ways in which literature (and other cultural productions) reinforce or undermine the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women” (Tyson). This school of theory looks at how aspects of our culture are inherently patriarchal (male dominated) and “…this critique strives to expose the explicit and implicit misogyny in male writing about women” (Richter 1346).

Remember, Plath illustrates economic, social, and psychological oppression of Esther (and perhaps others). Where do we see this in the novel? How does she illustrate these dynamics?

(Due 10/31) Thesis/Essay Pre-writing–In preparation for your essay, you must fill in the blank here: In my The Bell Jar essay I will explore Plath’s treatment of ___________. Fill in the blank with an element(s) that you would like to explore. Many of you will choose to explore her treatment of a specific theme, and that is fine, but know that you are not limited to theme here. then, develop the idea a bit. Naturally, I want you to WRITE OUT (in your binder) at least 5 quotations that are relevant to a discussion of your chosen element(s). This is the first step of the process! The more thought and effort you put into this, the easier the entire process will be. Here is a sample:

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2. (Due 10/27 for 10H and 10/28 for 10B) Confessional Poems…  Requirements:

  • Honest and Authentic
  • Free verse is fine
  • You must use stanzaic form
  • Pay attention to sound as you write
  • You must employ “painterly language” and literary devices (i.e. vivid imagery, metaphor, symbolism, motifs, etc)
  • Write from the inside out

Due 10/24: The Bell Jar…

October 20, 2016 By

1. The Bell Jar–Read and annotate Chapters 15 and 16.

2. Vocab Quiz

3. Confessional Poetry–The linked reading is quite brief, yet gives us a sense of the nature of confessional poetry. Confessional Poems are due 10/27 for 10H and 10/28 for 10B. It is not a good idea to wait until the night before to write this. Start thinking about what you would like to write about.

Requirements:

  • Honest and Authentic
  • Free verse is fine
  • You must use stanzaic form
  • Pay attention to sound as you write
  • You must employ “painterly language” and literary devices (i.e. vivid imagery, metaphor, symbolism, motifs, etc)
  • Write from the inside out

4. By the end of next week, you should have 25 words in your personal vocab section.

Due 10/17: Confessional Poems and more…

October 14, 2016 By

1. Confessional Poem–Confessional Poetry–The linked reading is quite brief, yet gives us a sense of the nature of confessional poetry.

Requirements:

  • Honest and Authentic
  • Free verse is fine
  • You must use stanzaic form
  • Pay attention to sound as you write
  • You must employ “painterly language” and literary devices (i.e. vivid imagery, metaphor, symbolism, motifs, etc)
  • Write from the inside out

Heading (UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER):

Name
Poetry Seminar
Date
#2: Confessional Poem

2. (Due 10/20) Poetry Explication–Choose one of the poems read this term and explicate it formally.  How to Explicate (click the link) a poem.   An explication entails a more detailed break down of a piece of literature (i.e. line by line). Here’s a sample poetry explication! Both linked articles are in the packet distributed at the beginning of the term.

The first paragraph

The first paragraph should present the large issues; it should inform the reader which conflicts are dramatized and should describe the dramatic situation of the speaker. The explication does not require a formal introductory paragraph; the writer should simply start explicating immediately. A sample opening sentence may be “In If We Must Die Claude McKay (thematic sentence).”

The next paragraphs

The next paragraphs should expand the discussion of the conflict by focusing on details of form, rhetoric, syntax, vocabulary, sound, and figurative language. In these paragraphs, the writer should explain the poem line by line (stanza by stanza) in terms of these details, and he or she should incorporate important elements of rhyme, rhythm, and meter during this discussion. Alternatively, you can explain the poem detail by detail.

Requirements:

  • 2-4 pages
  • Double-spaced; size 12 font; Times New Roman or similar
  • .75 margins on both left and right sides. Justify margin. Indentations– .5” or 1 tab space.
  • All pages beyond the first page should be numbered.  Page numbers should be placed at the bottom right of each page.
  • No Cover Page.  Include name, class, and date (Single space the heading)
  • If you are explicating If We Must Die, title should be formatted as such:
    An Explication of If We Must Die

Avoid the Following:

  • Avoid Pronouns: I, it, you, me, we, us
  • Avoid Troublesome language. Do your best to avoid the following words: it, these, this, those, kind of, almost, seems, maybe, like, then, later, eventually, basically, so, many, a lot, things, due to the fact (or any variations of the fact that), in reality, very, really, forms of the verb “to be”
  • In the intro, nix all book-review commentary—i.e. “is fascinating, interesting…”
  • Contractions
  • While I am not suggesting that you avoid all modifiers, you certainly should be conscious of how you are using them. Yet, definitely avoid the likes of really, basically, very, excellent, terrible, etc.
  • Avoid misspelling proper nouns!

Due 10/5: Confessional Poem

September 30, 2016 By

1. Upon your return from the break, you should have a draft of your confessional poem. Confessional Poetry–The linked reading is quite brief, yet gives us a sense of the nature of confessional poetry. Read it closely please in preparation for your own confessional poem.  

Requirements:

  • Honest and Authentic
  • Free verse is fine
  • You must use stanzaic form
  • Pay attention to sound as you write
  • You must employ “painterly language” and literary devices (i.e. vivid imagery, metaphor, symbolism, motifs, etc)
  • Write from the inside out

Heading (UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER):

Name
Poetry Seminar
Date
#2: Confessional Poem

HW due 3/10: Confessional Poem

March 9, 2016 By

1. Confessional Poems due tomorrow! Typed!

Requirements:

  • Honest and Authentic
  • Free verse is fine
  • You must use stanzaic form
  • Pay attention to sound as you write
  • You must employ “painterly language” and literary devices (i.e. vivid imagery, metaphor, symbolism, motifs, etc)
  • Write from the inside out

Heading:

Name
Poetry Seminar
Date
#4: Confessional Poem

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