Assignment following "The Raven" [575] and "Poet with His Face in His Hands" [578]

Questions:

1. How do the word sounds in "The Raven" create a particular mood?  Which words seem especially evocative to you?

2. Characterize the speaker of the poem. What sort of personality does he reveal to you?

3.  Explain how Poe's language produces suspense throughout the poem.

Connection to Another Selection:

Compare Poe's treatment [or attitude] of pain and suffering with Mary Oliver's in "The Poet with His Face in His Hands" [572] 

Apropos to Halloween and our study of poetry . . . "The Raven" and "The Haunted Palace"

"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe--things that might make this poem more understandable:

 Poe was fascinated by SOUND in poetry and in "The Raven" he set about to write a poem in which the reader becomes as "lost" as the speaker. The speaker of the poem is mourning the loss of a woman named Lenore, whom he has loved, but who has apparently died. [Poe, by the way, felt that the best subject for a poem was the death of a beautiful woman.] As the speaker recounts this particular evening and his experience with "the raven" his hold on sanity slips away. His imagination begins to play tricks on him; he has hallucinations; he imagines the bird from "night's Plutonian shore" has come to him with a dreaded message: he will never be re-united with his love, Lenore. That is enough to send him into a deep depression by the poem's end.  If  the reader approaches this poem and begins reading, he can easily get lost in the sound of the poem and have no idea what was said, what the story was, or what sense there was in the poem.  Sound surpasses sense.

Video Published on Jan 27, 2013

Writer/director Peter Bradley brings Edgar Allan Poe's classic horror poem,THE RAVEN, to chilling life in a faithful, word-for-word adaption. Seen in numerous festivals in seven countries, and used as a teaching aid in Drama and English programs in the U.S., Canada, and the UK, THE RAVEN is greatly inspired by German expressionist cinema of the 1920's. Based not completely in reality, but not completely in fantasy, one man's self-induced torture over the loss of his lover manifests itself and pushes him over the edge of sanity. This stylized piece captures the twisted, tortured world of Poe in a simple, yet highly detailed way that has to be seen and heard to be believed.

A more traditional rendition of "The Raven:"

Poetic Devices in Poe's "Raven:"

repetition -- WHY is it important?  What does repetition do?
alliteration-- Repetition of consonant sounds--usually the initial consonant sounds; e.g., "grim, gaunt, ghastly"
consonance--repetition of the sounds in the middle or ends of words--beguiling, smiling
assonance--repetition of the same vowel sound -- Lenore, nevermore
symbolism--literal and figurative meaning--e.g., the raven
rhyme--internal rhyme and end rhyme - exactly what it sounds like (pun intended)
rhythm--the stressed and unstressed syllables of carefully chosen words selected by the poet
formal diction--choice of words and the arrangement that suggests a proper person/situation, etc.
allusion--reference to the past, usually historical, religious or literary--e.g., Pallas (or with alliteration AND consonance, the "pallid bust of Pallas")
speaker--Poe's narrators are often emotionally unstable, which is the case in the speaker of "The Raven"

Terms, Poems and Suggestions for Understanding Poetry

PLEASE read the "Suggestions for Approaching Poetry" on pages 562 and 563

In order to write well about poetry, consider the questions on pages 581 and 582; be sure you understand the terms below in relation to the poems we read. WE WILL HAVE A QUIZ OVER THESE TERMS AND THE POEMS WE STUDY, AS WELL AS AN IN-CLASS ESSAY EXPLICATING A POEM.

QUIZ:  The week of November 10
                                             Both quiz and essay will be on the FIRST day of class that week.
ESSAY:  The week of November 17th

Terms--these are most likely NOT all--expect more to be added to this list:
These terms were taken from the questions posed on pages 581 & 582; definitions can be found in the back of your text. LOOK THEM UP.  We will be using the terms in class, and I will be explaining them as we read the poems, but often, people seem unaware that the explanation is not for my benefit, but theirs.  
Terms with an asterisk will DEFINITELY be on the quiz next week. 

*speaker
*setting
*situation
*diction
*connotation
*denotation
*allusion
*imagery
*figurative language
*symbolism
*situational irony
*tone/mood
*onomatopoeia
*assonance
*alliteration
*metaphor
*rhyme
*repetition
*rythym

POEMS -- list may change:
NOTE:  the quiz over poetry WILL include all poems and terms with an asterisk; these are the works we will cover in class. Note that the list of poems has changed since it was originally posted. 

These poems will be on the quiz next week:

*p. 669- Edwin Arlington Robinson - "Richard Cory"
*Billy Collins  -  "Aristotle" 
Handout:  Robert Frost - "Out, out"

p. 575 - Edgar Allan Poe -- "The Raven"
p. 572 - Mary Oliver -- "The Poet with His Face in His Hands"

p. 1022 - Percy B. Shelley -- "Ozymandias"
p. 1026 - Walt Whitman --"When I heard the learn'd astronomer"

We will do a short study of Robert Frost; from the study of his poems your essay will be taken.

Poetry -- YAY!! (not)

Most people think that this is what poets do:

In reality, this is what poets do:

Not all poetry is as entertaining as Robin Williams makes it in DEAD POETS SOCIETY, but if you will put TIME and PATIENCE into the poems we read, make a conscious effort to understand them, then (at least) the study will be less noxious than you expect.

Perspective is Everything

RUBRIC IN PROGRESS -- the final rubric will be here SOON

 This will be in a more formal presentation next week. :-/

10 pts. = rough draft due the first day of class next week--all 3 pages, typed--and NO--you MAY NOT send this via email. - - - It will count as a portion of your FINAL grade for this paper

15 pts. = the works cited page will be available the second day of class next week--this needs to be in MLA format and handed in - - - It will count as a portion of your FINAL grade for this paper

? pts. = the final paper is presented on time, in complete MLA format, including the WCP and internal citations

? pts. = the introduction clearly and completely explains the topic

? pts. = the body provides accurate details and examples from the stories and research and explain how the information illustrates the point made in the thesis statement

? pts. = information is smoothly and skillfully incorporated into the body of the paper, maintaining fluency and organization

REMEMBER:  If a reference in listed on the WCP, then it must also be found in the body of the paper!!

The skill and difficulty comes in writing and incorporating information.

REMEMBER!!

NO internal citations = ZERO

NO Works Cited Page = ZERO

Student Submitted Quote #1

"The thing I’m most afraid of is me. Of not knowing what I’m going to do. Of not knowing what I’m doing right now."
_ Haruki Murakami

[In case you were wondering, here is my response: Good quote. I will definitely use it at some point--for either 1101 or 1102 or both.  That quote relates to almost everyone.  Many times, people think it just relates to them, when they don't realize that everyone around them is as uncertain as they are. And those that ARE certain, or think they are, are only one step away from "that room."

Thanks for the quote--and you do have a point added to your grade for the semester. Good job!]

The Nathaniel Hawthorne Research Essay

This post is NOT complete.  Check back periodically over the next couple of days for updates and information.

By Monday, October 13, students on the Macon Campus should have their topic chosen for their paper, and should have completed some preliminary reading.

Rough Hewn Topics (these may be polished in the coming days):

• Discuss Hawthorne's attitude toward his own self-imposed solitude and explain through specific examples how that attitude is reflected in at least two of the three works read and discussed in class
• Hawthorne referred to the writer's imagination as a place where the "Actual and Imaginary" may meet. What did the author mean by this phrase?  In what way do the stories we've read and discussed reflect this concept?  
• Hawthorne suggested that his stories be read "in the clear brown, twilight atmosphere in which it was written."  Discuss what Hawthorne meant in this regard and through the stories we've read give examples.
• Explore the term "dark romantics" in American literature. You may want to watch the video, the Introduction to the Dark Romantics, (approx. 6 min.). Once you have determined the primary characteristics, re-examine the works of Hawthorne that we've read. From specific examples in all three of his stories, explain why Hawthorne falls into this category.

REMEMBER:  This research essay counts 20% of your grade.  What I am most looking for in this essay [Rubric to follow]:

• That these stories have been read and studied thoroughly, with a focus on one of the above topics--no incorrect names, no confusion in characters and stories, no misspelled author or character name; no incorrect episodes; no story summary.
• The student's goal in the first portion of the essay is to convey an explanation of the topic--e.g., Hawthorne's attitude toward solitude; the importance of the "Actual and Imaginary" to all writers, specifically Hawthorne; the "twilight atmosphere" for the reader and writer;  what is meant by the "dark Romantics"
• next the student should exam each of the stories by Hawthorne that we read and using examples from each story, explain how said story illustrates the chosen topic
• students are expected to use research to help support their own analysis--do not expect the research to write the paper for you; the research comes after your own close reading and analysis of the stories
• use correct MLA format to cite information within the text of the paper--these are called internal citations--two references can help: MLA in-text citations and your textbook, page 1504, " Documenting Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism"

INTERNAL CITATION from the introduction to Hawthorne; this introduction was written by the editor of your book, Michael Meyer:

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s interest in writing stories that focus on the effect of isolation on the individual may have originated in his own “twelve years” that he spent in solitude, refraining from interaction with his New England community ("Nathaniel Hawthorne, Dark Romantic.").

INTERNAL CITATION which indicates that Michael Meyer is the author and thus eliminates his name in parentheses at the end of the sentence—note that the page number is still necessary:

In his introduction to Nathaniel Hawthorne, Michael Meyer relates that the author spent “twelve years” in solitude, uninvolved with his community (313).

• use correct MLA format to create a works cited page at the end of the paper; for help, see " Documenting Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism," page 1506 in your textbook or Works Cited: The Basics  and by all means use Easybib

 References--at least 5 should be incorporated into your essay:

• Each story covered in your essay should be a separate reference from which you draw relevant, specific examples, details and quotes to support your thesis statement.(at least 2 out of 3)
• In addition to each story, read the introduction by Michael Meyer closely, carefully selecting relevant information that can assist in the introduction or body of the your paper.
• Plan to use relevant information in at least one of the short letters or essays by Hawthorne that follow his stories in the textbook and integrate this into the text of your paper.
• Use at least one reference from the links below or from information you find on your topic.

NOTE:  I've read Spark Notes, Cliff Notes, 123helpme.com, and "Analysis of Three of Hawthorne's Works on Solitude and Isolation."  Please do not use these, cited or uncited. YOUR work is can be better and more accurate. In addition, using any these does not provide YOU with an opportunity to learn. (Yes, I know it can be painful, but I also know you are capable.)

Be paranoid in making sure ALL references are correctly cited; if I find any portion of your paper has been plagiarized, it's counts as two zeros, which means you fail the class.

Links that may help--these are not as scholarly as one would use in an American Lit. class focused on Hawthorne:

"The Solitude of Nathaniel Hawthorne" from The Atlantic 

A General Reference to Hawthorne

The Dark Romantics

There is a  portion of Bloom's book on Google play:  Writing About Hawthorne

Corrections Marks

Abbreviations for Correction Marks

SF = Sentence fragment

R-O = Run-on sentence

CS = Comma splice
AGR = Agreement error, which may be between a subject & predicate OR noun & antecedent
BW = Better Word needed here
VPR = Vague pronoun reference
WW = Wrong Word used
TR = Transitional word, phrase or sentence is needed to connect ideas
AWK = Awkward phrasing
EW = Exact wording is needed here
* spell out small numbers less than 100
* do NOT use conversational words such as "Okay" (or its abbreviation, OK)
* if you begin telling of a past experience in PAST tense, stay in past tense; do NOT switch to present tense
* if an essay opens in first person (whether it is first person singular, "I" or first person plural, "we"), stay in first person; do NOT switch to 2nd person ("you")
* should  you use a quotation to end a sentence, the period should come before quotation marks, NOT after quotation marks, as seen here: "If you're making mistakes, it means you're out there doing something."  ~ Neil Gaiman

 Neil Gaiman's quote is one of my favorite.  If you have a favorite quote, share it with me;   if I use it somewhere on the blog, you'll get a point added to your final grade. (NO MORE THAN 5 points can be accrued this way.)