Honors Tenth Literature
POETIC SUMMARY ASSIGNMENT
A “shrinklit” is a short, poetic summary of a poem, short story, play or novel. The idea is to capture the
main plot, theme, or character elements in a few rhyming lines.
Reducing an entire novel to a 10 to 20 line poem might seem like a daunting task. To get started, write a
summary of the book in your own words. As you summarize, you can pay special attention to elements
like setting, character and conflict, as well as significant plot points and themes. Since the summary will
serve as a template for your poem, having more information to work with will make the writing process
easier.
Rhyme and Structure
Shrinklits are usually written in couplets, tercets, or quatrains, but if you want to be more daring, you
may choose to compose a sonnet. The poem doesn't have to be written sequentially; you can compose
them first, then order them later. After relating the events of the plot, you can also conclude with a
couplet that tells the theme of the story
Voice and Tone
In poetry, tone is the speaker's emotional attitude toward the subject matter. Humor, creativity and
even sarcasm can transform a shrinklit from a mere rhyming summary to an enjoyable poem. Even if
you're writing about a serious plot, your poem will be stronger if you don't resist the urge to be funny or
satirical as you work out your rhymes. A shrinklit's tone can often lighten the mood after reading books
with heavy, often sad content.
Your poetic summary should:




Be 10-20 lines long.
LOOK like a poem.
Use end rhyme.
Give a concise but complete summary of some aspect of the story. (You can choose to write
about one character, about a theme, or to give a summary of the novel.)
You may write your shrinklit on any of the major works we have read: Brave New World, The Book Thief,
A Doll’s House, The Metamorphosis, or Animal Farm.