Hope you all enjoyed the snow day!

1. Reading–Read and annotate the first three letters from Letters to a Young Poet. Also, read and annotate To My Dear and Loving Husband by Anne Bradstreet. Again, always bring the readings into class the next day.

2. Writing–(Poetry Journal) Write a quatrain featuring the use of alliteration, assonance, and/or consonance. Theme–solitude.

1. Poetry Seminar Packet–This is a very long packet, so print out poems when assigned. I would strongly encourage you to download the file to your computer. The first 48 pages have already been given to you! Be sure to bring that to class every day (you can store it in a folder). This weekend review closely pages 15-17 (stop with verse forms).

2. Reading–Read and annotate the three Shakespearean sonnets on pp. 50-51. Note: you should print all assigned readings and bring them into class. On any given day, I will collect the poems and grade the annotations.

3. Writing–Excerpt from Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet (Letter 6):

I don’t want you to be without a greeting from me when Christmas comes and when you, in the midst of the holiday, are bearing your solitude more heavily than usual. But when you notice that it is vast, you should be happy; for what (you should ask yourself) would a solitude be that was not vast; there is only one solitude, and it is vast, heavy, difficult to bear, and almost everyone has hours when he would gladly exchange it for any kind of sociability, however trivial or cheap, for the tiniest outward agreement with the first person who comes along, the most unworthy. But perhaps these are the very hours during which solitude grows; for its growing is painful as the growing of boys and sad as the beginning of spring. But that must not confuse you. What is necessary, after all, is only this: solitude, vast inner solitude. To walk inside yourself and meet no one for hours – that is what you must be able to attain. To be solitary as you were when you were a child, when the grownups walked around involved with matters that seemed large and important because they looked so busy and because you didn’t understand a thing about what they were doing.

This weekend, a two-pronged writing activity. Find a place where you can be at peace, alone and take a walk “inside yourself.” What do you see there? Who is there? What’s going on there? No need to give shape and form to this; so feel free to list here!

Second prong: Write at least 6 lines of verse capturing a bit of that journey inward. That is all the guidance you get here… at least 6 lines of verse. This can be completed in your poetry journal.

4. Be sure to bring Letters to a Young Poet into class for the first couple of weeks. (I will let you know when you can leave it at home.)

1. Letters to a Young Poet–In-Class Essay

In this essay you will discuss Rilke’s treatment of one of the primary themes explored across the ten letters. For instance, Rilke explores solitude in a few of the letters. If you chose this theme as the subject of your essay, you would discuss his view of solitude.

You need not have an introduction! The thesis for this essay will be an articulation of Rilke’s view of your chosen theme. Then, in the body of the essay, develop that thesis. As stated in class, this should not be a critical discussion of Rilke. We will have time for that during class discussions down the road. The number of body paragraphs is up to you. You must quote the text in your essay.

While not mandatory, I strongly encourage you to outline your essay tonight. If you have questions, email me.

Remember, class begins at 11:27 tomorrow! So, be on time. You will need the entire period to complete the essay.

Till tomorrow…

1. Letters to a Young Poet–Read the 10 letters from Letters to a Young Poet. Annotate as you read. Annotate only what resonates with you. Think of excerpts that you would like to discuss in class.

2. Rainer Maria Rilke–Read the bio on Rilke.

3. Poetry Journal–Write verse over the break. Practice with rhyme and meter, but feel free to also write in free verse… Number of lines and stanzaic shape are up to you. Just write!

3. We will share sonnets upon return from break!

Again, ensure that you have registered for the website! I am closing the site at 8 p.m. You should see all of the crazies who have registered!!!

1. Excerpt from Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet (Letter 6):

I don’t want you to be without a greeting from me when Christmas comes and when you, in the midst of the holiday, are bearing your solitude more heavily than usual. But when you notice that it is vast, you should be happy; for what (you should ask yourself) would a solitude be that was not vast; there is only one solitude, and it is vast, heavy, difficult to bear, and almost everyone has hours when he would gladly exchange it for any kind of sociability, however trivial or cheap, for the tiniest outward agreement with the first person who comes along, the most unworthy. But perhaps these are the very hours during which solitude grows; for its growing is painful as the growing of boys and sad as the beginning of spring. But that must not confuse you. What is necessary, after all, is only this: solitude, vast inner solitude. To walk inside yourself and meet no one for hours – that is what you must be able to attain. To be solitary as you were when you were a child, when the grownups walked around involved with matters that seemed large and important because they looked so busy and because you didn’t understand a thing about what they were doing.

Tonight, a two-pronged writing activity. Find a place where you can be at peace, alone and take a walk “inside yourself.” What do you see there? Who is there? What’s going on there? No need to give shape and form to this; so feel free to list here!

Second prong: Write at least 6 lines of verse capturing a bit of that journey inward. That is all the guidance you get here… at least 6 lines of verse.

2. Letters to a Young Poet–Please purchase by the end of next week!