ENG 3U Poetry Analysis Assignment
Name:____________
Write a five paragraph essay analyzing one of the following poems. Use any of the poetry notes on
analysis to help you. Type out the poem you will be analyzing and hand it in as part of your finished
work. Use MLA format and proper formal essay style.
*All of these are found in your textbook (Imprints 11). Select from the following list of poems:
“Writer’s Block In the Computer Age” by Peggy Krachun
“Crazy Times” by Miriam Waddington
“The Laughting Heart” by Chrales Bukowski
“Take Something Like a Star” by Robert Frost
“Hockey” by Scott Blaine
“Death of a Young Son by Drowning” by Margaret Atwood
“Ethics” by Linda Pastan
Learning Goals: I can write an essay analyzing a poet’s use of devices to reveal the nature of the poem. I
can use notes taken in class to help me understand the poem and discuss its meaning. I can write the
correct essay format using MLA style.
C. Checklist: Research and Write
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Research the poet – Remember, it is imperative to understand the poet in order to understand
the poem.
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Circle and define unknown words. Research any allusions.
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Use notes given in class to analyze poem
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If required, research elements of the poem – a Works Cited MUST be included with your paper
Answer the following questions to help in your comprehension of the poem. Include answers to these
questions in the introductory paragraph of your essay to ensure context:
1. Who is the person in the poem? Is there an explicit listener? Explain.
2. What are the circumstances in which it is spoken? What is going on in the poem?
3. What is the preceding history of the speaker, especially whatever explains the occasion of the
narrative? (Why was the poem written?)
4. What does the persona betray or reveal about his/her own character?
5. What is the author’s intended message?
6. What devices, elements, and concepts are used to reveal the message?
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Write your thesis in two sentences – be prepared to make adjustments
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Brainstorm ideas (free writing)
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Complete an outline – gather your thoughts together (PRINT handout from ClassNet)
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Type a discovery draft – establish the text
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Further drafts – revise and edit
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Final formatting – polished, high-quality paper
A thesis is used as roadmap or blueprint for your paper.
THESIS: Although the speaker of Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess” attempts to present himself as
polite, self-effacing, and wronged by his unappreciative wife, the reader ultimately perceives the
monstrosity of both his actions and his attitude toward women. Browning reveals the true nature of the
Duke through the poem’s controlled structure, word choice, and symbolism.
Note that while this thesis refers to particular literary devices, it does so in a way that gets
beyond merely saying there are devices in the poem and then merely describing them. It makes
a claim as to “what” the author is conveying (the monstrosity of both his actions and his attitude
toward women) and “how” it is being conveyed (controlled structure, word choice, and symbolism).
Remember… Success Criteria
 Formal language means absolutely NO use of contractions, NO use of personal
pronouns, and you MUST follow MLA format.
 If you use SECONDARY SOURCES, they MUST be referenced with in-text citations and be
referenced in the Works Cited. Failure to do so will result in PLAGIARISM.
 Works Cited is included as the last page of the polished copy.
 Analysis is free of all spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. There must be
thorough and comprehensive editing and revisions of written work.
 All rough work must be included with the final copy and handed in. The final analysis
will not be accepted without rough work included.
Hand in…
Polished, final copy with a Works Cited
 A copy of the poem
 All hand-written brainstorming and rough work
 Typed, rough copies with proof of the writing process
(prewrite, draft, revise, edit, publish)