POETRY ANALYSIS PROJECT
Due: April 3, 2020 - 100 POINTS TOTAL
INSTRUCTIONS: Complete each of the following tasks. Everything is due
Friday, April 3, 2020.
1. Analyze a Poem (30 points): Pick ONE of the following poems (see list of links below) and
analyze it. Explain, in ESSAY/PARAGRAPH FORM, why you selected this particular poem,
and what you liked about it. Be sure to explain any interesting symbolism or figurative
language that you saw in the poem. The essay must be in first person. Also use TPCASTT
to analyze your poem. TPCASTT stands for Title, Paraphrase, Connotation, Attitude/Tone,
Shift, Title, Theme. Essay must be submitted via Assessments in your SIS.
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Tattoo by Ted Kooser → Students usually like the straightforward nature of the poem, but also discussed the symbolic meaning of a “tattoo” and how our experiences are
unseen tattoos. Also, they discussed quite well the human tendency to pass judgment, talking about the perspective of the narrator in the poem.
Wheels by Jim Daniels → The idea of moving forward instead of staying stuck in the past is an idea that teenagers can get behind, especially teenagers who are eager to
say goodbye to their childhood and take on increasing responsibilities and freedoms.
Loud Music by Stephen Dobyns → Music = life, so this poem about how music is the universal human language is one they enjoy.
Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas → The rhythm of this poem focuses on centering around life vs. death.
Happiness by Jane Kenyon → Personification is used artfully in this poem because it is about happiness in search of human.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson → Emily Dickinson takes the abstract idea of “hope” and compares it to a bird, emphasizing that hope endures.
Honest Poem by Rudy Francisco → This is a quirky confessional poem that appeals to listeners because it is authentic. While this poem appeals at a gut-level, there is
also symbolic significance to a lot of the speaker’s confessions.
When Giving is All We Have by Alberto Ríos → This poem celebrates that people are united through generosity, making the world a better place.
Miracles by Walt Whitman → This poem has religious undertones as the author speaks to the fact that all aspects of creation are miraculous. Life is a miracle.
Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle → This poem is inspired by a real life girl who defied Cuba’s taboo against female drummers. It’s a poem that’s easy to read and
appreciate, to read and discuss gender and equality.
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou → This is a poem of empowerment, one that has rhythm and interest, that sets up tension between the speaker and the audience as the
speaker “rises” above obstacles and judgments.
Manifesto of the Lyric Selfie by Becca Klaver → This poem explores the impact of selfishness, suggesting that looking inward is unnatural and results in destruction.
The Facebook Sonnet by Sherman Alexie → Along the same lines as the last poem, this poem questions the value of social media, claiming that it pulls us into the past,
causes us to act fake, and blurs the line between public and private. Though most students don’t use Facebook, this poem is applicable to whatever social media is popular
for them.
America by Claude McKay → This poem is written in the form of a Shakespearean rhyming sonnet, with three quatrains and a couplet. It is interesting to consider the
author’s depiction of how he is in an abusive relationship with America.
Lies I Tell by Sara Borjas → This is a prose poem about the stories we like to tell ourselves. Truth is relative.
2. Write an Original Poem (40 points): Now that you have read and analyzed a famous poem,
you will be asked to write your own. Try to focus on topics that are important to you personally.
It could be about love, life, death, etc. BE CREATIVE! Use ONE of the following types of poem
forms, and create your own poem; PALINDROME, SONNET, FREE VERSE, BALLAD. Go
to OneNote, so you can see guides on how to write each. Be sure to also give your poem a
unique title.
3. Create a Visual of your Original Poem (30 points): Now that you have written your poem,
it is time to create a visual for it. You will have to do ONE of the two options;
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CREATE A POSTER: Create, either on paper or on the computer, a visual that shows your original poem.
Feel free to use any medium that fits your taste (Canva, Photoshop, etc., or simply use paper and art
supplies). See the example below.
CREATE A VIDEO: Film yourself reciting your original poem. Be sure to then email the link or the file of
your recitation to the teacher. Feel free to use costumes, colors, music, etc, in your recitation. Here are
some examples;
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https://www.poetryoutloud.org/competin
g/watch-recitation-videos/
https://youtu.be/tPx8cSGW4k8
https://youtu.be/aWbERIVc7BM
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https://youtu.be/lJBo9jdUJiY
https://youtu.be/es06TMmFsFA