British Literature IV: Exercise 5
The purpose of this exercise is to give each student in the class a chance to analyze a major Victorian
poem before we read it in class; the student will then be primarily responsible for explaining this poem
to the class when we get to it.
After reading the poem you are assigned, write an essay of at least four full paragraphs explaining
in depth what the poem means, what you learn about the poet from this poem and how its themes
and ideas connect to the Victorian literature you have read or seen thus far (A Tale Of Two
Cities, Carmilla, Jane Eyre ((for those who read it last year)) ). Support your contention with
evidence and quotations from the poem.
Structure:
1. Begin with an introductory paragraph that introduces the poem and the poet. I will be providing
you with some background material, but you are encouraged to do some research of your own. Just be
sure to cite anything from which you glean information. As you will be drawing conclusions about
the poet, the more you know about him/her, the easier this will be. Indicate the type of poem it is
(narrative, lyric, dramatic monologue) and its main theme. End by indicating how the poem fits in with
other Victorian literature (your thesis statement).
2. Paragraph two should explain the poem IN DETAIL. This may be a very long paragraph. I want
you to basically go sentence by sentence to explain what each part of the poem means. (Don't go line
by line unless the lines equal sentences.) Support this with quotes to show which phrases are
significant. Be sure to use parenthetical notes to show line numbers in a poem.) Six sentences won’t
accomplish this, so be sure to go into major detail. Be sure to sum up the paragraph at the end.
3. Paragraph three should discuss what we learn about the poet from this poem. You have just
explained what the poem means, but now explain how it enlightens us about the character and
philosophy of the poet. To do this, explain the tone of the poem, providing evidence about it, and how
this poem fits in with the biographical material you have about the poet. Use specific evidence to
support this. If you are using outside sources, please be sure to cite them. End the body paragraph
with a restatement of its main idea.
4. Close the essay with a concluding paragraph that summarizes the significance of the poem and
what it tells us about the author and then demonstrates how this poem fits thematically and/or
philosophically with other Victorian literature that you have read this trimester (or some other
time). This must be a full paragraph.
Schedule:
Due: Thursday, October 15 by 9 a.m.
Revision is due by Monday, October 26 by 9 a.m.
I am giving you Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Green Tea to get a head start, but
this poem is your basic reading for the week. For those doing two essays (due to
an extra essay), try to get the first in by Tuesday to save a horrid Wednesday
night.
Any revisions or re-revisions up through exercise 5 must be in by October 22 if
you hope to earn credit this trimester. This is a strict credit deadline. See me
ahead of time if you need revising help.
Exercise 5 assignments
Student
Poem
Spencer
Emily
Eleanor
Julisse
Hollie
Eleanor
Noah
Noah
Emily
Jocelyn
In Memorium (excerpts)
Ulysses
Tithonus
Break, Break, Break
The Eagle
The Charge of the Light Brigade
The Passing of Arthur (from Idylls)
Crossing The Bar
The Prisoner
Stanzas
To Imagination
The Curse
The Cry Of The Children
The Best Thing In The World
My Last Duchess
The Bishop Orders His Tomb. . .
Rabbi Ben Ezra
I Am
Dover Beach
God’s Grandeur
Author
A. Tennyson
A. Tennyson
A. Tennyson
A. Tennyson
A. Tennyson
A. Tennyson
A. Tennyson
A. Tennyson
E. Bronte
E. Bronte
E. Bronte
E. Barrett Browning
E. Barrett Browning
E Barrett Browning
R. Browning
R. Browning
R. Browning
J. Clare
M. Arnold
G. M. Hopkins
All of these poems are in the packet I am providing. Do NOT research them on-line.
I want to know what YOU think they mean. There is biographical information in the
packet about each poet, which is more than sufficient.
Please try to interpret these poems for yourselves rather than use canned descriptions,
but if you do use ideas or words from a source, you MUST cite it. I’m telling you not
to go to any sources.
If I catch you not citing a source, whether you change the words or not, you will
not earn credit for the class. There will be no second chances on that.
If you need help with your poem, see me well before the deadline so we can spend time
discussing it.