Winter’s Bone Reading Journal:
In order to explore a central idea in a text, you need to deeply engage with the word
choice, syntax, and imagery within the writing that unlocks it; a precise study of
these three will help you unpack meaning/theme without becoming too broad in
your analysis. In order to help you do this with the passages you’ve selected, you
will be literally cutting up the text and extracting key lines, phrases, and words and
placing them back together in a way that helps connect the reader to a key
theme/themes within the text.
To prepare for creating a found poem, begin gathering evidence and examples you
might want to draw from. As you read, note patterns in imagery, syntax, and
figurative language. Copy these down word for word as you will be required to use
Woodrell’s phrases as they are to sculpt your poem. If you notice a central idea
you’d like to explore, start to tailor your evidence to it.
Be creative here—you might notice an idea that he never explicitly names but only
alludes to. Many phrases could work in various directions or connect with different
themes. You can be very specific here and still have a great deal to say about your
findings. You can also use literal objects or metaphorical ideas in the text to
jumpstart your connections. Ex.: the walnuts=literal object
Some ideas that might get you started (but there are many more!):
 Metaphors about decay (meat,
 Harshness of nature and/or
falling walnuts, stooped
beauty of nature
shoulders, images around
 Music
houses that are falling apart,
 Food, flavor, meat, etc.
drug use)
 Social rules/unspoken rules
 Houses/homes in the text
 Loyalty, relationships,
 Teaching/instruction: physical
friendships
and emotional, dialogue vs.
 Love vs. sex, signs of affection
inner thoughts
vs. signs of control
 Parenting
 “Square law” vs. “blood law”
 Exterior vs. interior of a
 Colors
character
 Winter/cold/weather
 Clothing, material items
 Transportation
 Contrast/juxtaposition—Ree’s
 Power structures
physical description
 Fate vs. free will, escape
 References to animals—
 Education
Mom=cat, Uncle
 Wealth
Teardrop=snakelike
 Isolation vs. community
 Scars: literal and figurative
 Drugs/drug use
(Uncle Teardrop, Mom)
 Fighting/violence
Winter’s Bone: Found Poem
Name:
In order to explore a central idea in a text, you need to deeply engage with the word
choice, syntax, and imagery within the writing that unlocks it; a precise study of
these three will help you unpack meaning/theme without becoming too broad in
your analysis. In order to help you do this with the passages you’ve selected, you
will be literally cutting up the text and extracting key lines, phrases, and words and
placing them back together in a way that helps connect the reader to a key
theme/themes within the text.
1) Decide upon a theme/guiding idea that is present.
2) Look over the passages you selected and marked up. List at least 10-15 lines,
phrases, and words that you feel connect with this theme/idea.
3) Rearrange your list to form a poem with a minimum of 10 lines. Be tactile
with this step: literally cut the lines out of your passage, and move them
around until you are happy with the phrasing and order. You may find you
don’t want to use every line you found, or that you want to shave off words;
this is good as it means you are only using lines with the most impact.
4) Rewrite or type up your finished product (with a creative title, of course).
Pay attention to line breaks and stanza organization; often these are as
impactful as the words themselves.
5) Write an artist’s statement where you clearly defend your choices--word
choice, syntax, imagery, organization/arrangement—and how they create
theme. This artist’s statement should be one paragraph long and include at
least three quotes from your poem that you use to set up your analysis. You
may use the first person as you write this artist’s statement.
Poem:
Artist’s Statement:
/10—15 lines, attention to detail, effect on reader
/20—use of quotes, clearly analyzed choices and
connection to theme.
Winter’s Bone: Found Poem Analytical Reflection:
Name:
In order to explore a central idea in a text, you need to deeply engage with the word
choice, syntax, and imagery within the writing that unlocks it; a precise study of
these three will help you unpack meaning/theme without becoming too broad in
your analysis. Once you’ve finished your poem, spend about two pages
analyzing your own poem and the devices/elements of Woodrell’s writing that
you used to expose a central idea in the text. What is your intended effect on
your reader?
This is not a summary of what you wrote; instead, it’s an analysis of it; therefore,
you should have a thesis statement connecting your intent with the result. Clearly
explain how the element of the text you selected—a pattern around
characterization, an idea attached to a motif, symbol, or metaphor, a thematic
juxtaposition, etc.—affects your reader and reveals a “so what?” idea. In your
analysis of your writing, you must include at least 5 direct quotes from your work
and you must unpack them to prove your thesis.
Format:
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12 pt. font
Times New Roman
Double-spaced
MLA heading
Creative title
Poem= roughly 15 lines
Analysis=at least 2 pages in length
Poem:
/10
15 lines, attention to detail, effect on reader
Analysis:
/15
Use of quotes, clearly analyzed choices, and connection to theme.