Essay 1 Strategy
Where to start, how
to get organized and
how to write your
paper
Step 1 – Deciding on your poem
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As you choose your poem, make sure you pick
one where there is a strong speaker or strong
statement of theme.
Oftentimes, it is easier to identify speaker in a
poem with a strong “I” presence.
Consider a poem that has meaning to YOU.
Step 2 – Reading and Notetaking
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Mark parts of the poem that are important with
a highlighter or jot down notes in the margin as
you read the poem.
Notes areas where the same types of figures of
speech, symbols or other elements of poetry
are being used (such as the nature references
in “The Farmer’s Bride”)
Your notes in your text will help you when you
begin writing your essay.
Step 3 – More Reading
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Don’t be satisfied with one reading of the
poem. Read it again and again.
Spend some time away from the poem
Read it again.
Step 4 – Breaking it down
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This essay is an analysis, which comes from
the Greek “breaking up.” How do the elements
of the poem help to reveal the speaker or give
meaning to the poem?
Use the questions in the text (397-398) to help
you when analyzing the elements of the poem.
Step 4 — Breaking it down
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Consider the different approaches to
interpreting literature listed in the appendix of
our text beginning on page 1090
For the most part, this essay assignment calls
upon a formalist analysis of the poem because
no outside sources are used. Ask how the form
gives the poem meaning, but consider other
approaches as well.
Step 5 – Deciding on a thesis
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Sum up your controlling idea, your thesis, in
one sentence. Usually, this sentence will be
placed at the end of the introduction.
Don’t just write down a lot of random
impressions about the poem. Give your
impressions shape and form. Make one point
strongly.
Stick to ideas that are related to your thesis.
Step 5 – Thesis
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Consider a thesis similar to the ones in the
textbook for Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s
Waltz.”
Study the three sentences on page 406.
Each could be supported in a convincing
essay.
Consider YOUR interpretation.
Step 5 -- Thesis
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A similar thesis could be constructed for Mew’s
“The Farmer’s Bride.”
–
Mew’s farmer shows his true character through the
depiction of his relationship with his wife, figures of
speech and imagery.
Step 5 – Thesis
You also could use the elements of poetry in this
thesis:
–
Through the situation, word choice and imagery, the
reader understands the farmer’s feelings of
confusion and frustration.
Step 6 – Creating an outline
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Use your thesis to help you create an outline for
your essay.
Your body paragraphs might be shaped around
characteristics of the speaker or elements of
poetry and what that elements reveals about
the speaker or theme.
The outline you turn in should have a complete
sentence thesis and phrases for the major
headings.
Step 7 – Writing your essay
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Create an original title that either uses the
name of the poem and author or suggests what
the essay will be about. Titles should be
centered.
–
Longing in “The Farmer’s Bride”
Step 7 – Writing
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Mention the author and the title of the poem early in the
introduction.
– Sometimes people are confused about situations in
their lives. They long for something different, but
they seem unaware of how to reach their goals. In
“The Farmer’s Bride,” Charlotte Mew paints a picture
of a man who is unhappy with his life. The poem,
written in the early 1900s, develops the character of
the speaker, a farmer, who describes his young wife.
Through the situation, word choice and imagery, the
reader understands the farmer’s feelings of
confusion and frustration.
Step 7 – Writing the essay
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Do not use “I” in your essay. The essay comes
from you, so unless otherwise noted, the
reader assumes that the essay is your opinion.
You also should avoid using “you” in essays.
“You” is considered familiar and, therefore, has
no place in a formal essay. Formal essays
should use the third person (see Hacker).
Step 7 — Writing the essay
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Avoid confusion between the speaker and the
author.
For example, while Langston Hughes is an
African-American poet, the writer cannot
assume that he is the speaker in “Theme for
English B.” Attribute the words and ideas to the
speaker in the poem.
Step 7 – Writing the essay
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Present tense is used when discussing
literature. The farmer compares
When discussion historical events or incidents
in the author’s life, though, use the past tense.
Step 7 – Writing the essay
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Use frequent references to the poem itself to
support your thesis and topic sentences.
Use MLA style to document where you have
used the poem in your essay.
Step 7 – Writing the essay
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Make sure your conclusion effectively wraps up
the essay. Avoid just restating your
introduction.