Night Class Homework:

What to do for Week 3 (January 23^rd):

1.      Write two poems:

a.       one that is rhymed and maybe in stanzas (closed form);

b.      one that is open form or free verse: no rhyme or set pattern

2.      Quick reads: Read the remaining 24 poems on the list that I attached to the syllabus (#41-64). Read each one a few times and maybe out loud—maybe even taking the risk of moving around while reading (your knees want to read; so does your belly). After reading each one, take five minutes or so and write whatever comes to mind. When you’re done with all of this, decide which poem of all 64 rises to the top. Go to it, reread and re-experience it, and then do two things:

a.      Free draw whatever you want, but I suggest you try to capture the emotion going on within you as a result of this poem.

b.      Free write for another 15 minutes or so on this poem.

3.      Look closely: So far we’ve touched lightly upon 64 poems. Now let’s look closely at one of them: “Dulce et Decorum Est” (page 41). I want you to answer the many questions I’ve written in the syllabus (see “E” in the syllabus). This exercise will begin to introduce you to these terms: speaker, theme, paraphrase, diction (abstract and concrete), denotation and connotation, tone, setting, imagery, and the most common type of figurative language, the simile. Mainly, though, this exercise will help you to slow down enough to answer this significant question about poetry: How did the poet get you to feel that?

4.      Poetry in the home! Here’s a tiny thing to do that will show you how poetry is all around you in surprising places. Look around, and write down the names of at least 5-10 products in your house whose names, you think, were intentionally chosen to have some kind of emotional effect on you. (Example: “Crystal Geyser” spring water). These names can be real English words or even made-up words and sounds that suggest something. Look at cars, perfumes, razors, cigarettes, beverages, etc……..

5.      A reminder: memory!  Over the course of the next 7 weeks—oh, let’s set a deadline of March 1^st—I want you to come to my office and recite poems to me. You don’t need to set up an appointment; just pop in (a good time is the three hours before this class) and enthrall me. Here’s the deal:

·        80 points worth. Roughly, that’s 80 lines, though that differs from poem to poem. All the poems have to come from the book unless you clear it with me beforehand. Also, I don’t want you to recite poems you’ve memorized before. Ideally, I hope you choose poems that you want to live inside of you for the rest of your lives.

·        You can memorize one longer poem or a bunch of smaller ones. Teeka-teeka!

·        A memorizing tip: Write out the poem in sections on index cards.

·        I’m a nice boy, so I’ll make you comfortable and help you when stuck.

·        Yeehaa! It’s a huge challenge and one you can do! Bubbles for the victors!