Name: ______________________________________________________ Hour: ____ Date: _______________________
Group Poetry Presentation:
O Me! O Life
Annotate the poem.
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Identify and label the rhyme scheme.
Define unfamiliar words. Summarize each stanza. Write questions about the poem.
Identify and label imagery, diction, and interesting syntax. Identify and label symbols.
Analyze how the imagery, diction and syntax create a specific tone. Highlight those elements in a certain color:
Analyze how the imagery, diction and syntax create a specific theme. Highlight those elements in a certain color:
O Me! O Life!
Walt Whitman
O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring;
Of the endless trains of the faithless--of cities fill'd with the foolish;
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light--of the objects mean--of the struggle ever renew'd;
Of the poor results of all--of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me;
Of the empty and useless years of the rest--with the rest me intertwined;
The question, O me! so sad, recurring--What good amid these, O me, O life?
Answer.
That you are here--that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.
Compose an original poem emulating the style of Herrick’s poem.
Your poem should meet these requirements:
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Whitman argues that while life can seem devoid of meaning, one must take comfort in knowing that he or she
has a purpose. Your poem should make a similar argument, which means that you must provide a contrast
between what life appears to be and what life is. However, for this poem alone, if you are tired of writing
uplifting poetry and would like to write a poem about how life really is as it seems (bad), then you can.
Whitman asks a series of questions in his poem to create a certain effect and build his theme. You will also ask
two questions somehow in your poem.
Whitman also uses repetition in his poem. You will also use repetition in your poem. It can be repetition of a
word, phrase, or entire sentence.
There is a tone shift before the last two lines. You must also have a significant tone shift in your poem.
There should be one or two stanzas, although you may want to break it up in a more interesting way, like
Whitman did. There should be approximately ten lines.
Write a draft of your poem on your own paper.
After you write your poem, go through the checklist below. READ IT. Make changes as needed.
Poetry Checklist:
My poem makes an argument about life. Either I am providing a contrast between how life sometimes seems and
how life really is (like Whitman did in his poem), or I am writing about how life really is awful and devoid of
meaning.
I have given a footnote after the title stating the theme of the poem in my own words.
I have included at least two questions in my poem to create a certain effect and build the argument of my poem,
similar to how Whitman asks a series of questions in his poem. I do not need to include footnotes for these.
I have used repetition of a word, phrase, or sentence in my poem. The first time I use the word, sentence, or
phrase, I have included a footnote labeling it as what will be repeated.
I have included a significant tone shift somewhere in my poem. At the line or lines where the shift occurs, I have
included a footnote that identifies what the tone was before the shift and what it was after the shift.
My poem is approximately ten lines, but I have formatted the stanzas how I want.
I have given my poem a creative title. I have included a footnote after the title that tells which of the original
poems inspired this poem.
I have used at least one kind of figurative language in my poem. I have included a footnote where this figurative
language is in my poem.
I have typed my poem in size 12 font, either Times New Roman or Cambria.
I have proofread for any grammatical errors, including punctuation. If I have included any grammatical errors on
purpose, I have included a footnote for each one in which I explain the specific reason for the error.
My poem is completed and printed out, ready to be turned in, on Tuesday, November 26.
After you have edited your poem, type it in MLA format and be prepared to turn it in on
Tuesday, November 26. Staple the rubric to the top of your poem.