On Your Marks...

It was great meeting all of you this week.

Here are a couple of reminders of what we chatted about.

We began to tackle the concept of critical analysis - a new way of looking at texts (remember what a text is?). I gave you three basic rules of performing a critical analysis in poetry:

1. WHAT is different or interesting about this poem?
   


2. WHAT EFFECT does this have on the way we read, hear or understand it?
   


3. WHY might it have been done?
   

Follow this approach and you'll be well on the way to writing amazing poetry essays!

We also chatted about three important 'tools' that poets use to create meaning.

FORM (very roughly, the way the poem is laid out on the page)

RHYTHM (the 'beat' of the poem - this may be regular or irregular, but it's always done for a purpose)

'SOUND EFFECTS' (things like alliteration, assonance and onomatopoeia).

Finally, I suggested that poems and songs are closely connected, which gave rise to some very unfortunate dance moves. Speaking of which, click on this link to have another look at Ani Difranco performing the magnificent 'Coming Up'. I prefer this simpler live version to the one I played you in class. If you like it, have a listen to Grand Canyon - another 'spoken song'. And, of course, check out her music too! (with Valentine's day just around the corner, you might enjoy this one).

FOR NEXT TIME...

Look out for a poem, song or lyric that you particularly enjoy this week and think about what makes it clever or interesting. Please bring it to class next time - I want to see what you enjoy....and why!