“If I feel physically as if the top of my head
were taken off, I know that is poetry.” E.D.
Sound and Sense Assignments Chapter 5-end
For each chapter read the informative openings and a sampling of the poems beyond the intro.
Chapter 5 Figurative Language 1: simile, metaphor, personification, apostrophe, metonymy
Read and note intro stuff (67-78) especially the section on function and effectiveness of figurative
language, on page 75 from: “We said…[to]…can be enhanced” (77). Read the poems as you will with
special attention (and answer questions) to Plath’s “Metaphors” (70) and Marvell’s “To His Coy
Mistress”(84-85). [Later we’ll get to Donne’s “Valediction.”]
Chapter 6 Figurative Language 2: symbol, allegory
Read and note intro info (88-97); (includes commentary on “A Road Not Taken”)
Chapter 7 Figurative Language 3: paradox, overstatement, understatement, irony
Read and note intro info (109-119) Read and respond to “Ozymandias” (118) and “My Last Duchess” (127)
Chapter 8 Allusion
Read and note intro info (130-134) and “Leda and the Swan” (137) (and I’ll bring in two others from previous S&S editions)
Chapter 9 Meaning and Idea
Read and note 142-146. As with other chapters read a sampling of the poems beyond 146.
Chapter 10 Tone
Read and note 155-160; read and respond to Donne’s “The Apparition” (164) and “The Flea” (165)
Chapter 11 Musical Devices
Read and note 172-179; read and respond to Stafford’s “Traveling Through the Dark” (184)
Chapter 12 Rhythm and Meter
Read and note 187-193
Chapter 13 Sound and Meaning
Read and note 212-223;
Chapter 14 Pattern
Read and note 231-239; read and respond to “Death Be Not Proud” (241)
Chapter 15 Evaluating Poetry
Read and note 251-254; interesting question on (264)
Chapter 16 Evaluating Poetry 2
Read and note 265-266
From Writing about Poetry section:
Section III Choosing a Topic (294-297) single poem or comparison/contrast (297 for ideas)
Section VI Introducing Quotations (303-310)
Section VIII Style and Stance (315-318)
Section IX Grammar, etc. (319-320)