Choose 1-3 poems by Gwendolyn Bennett, T.S. Eliot, or Langston Hughes and make a single, thesis-driven argument about the meaning or effect of the work. What have other people said, or what might they assume, about your chosen poem(s)? What is your opinion? What are your reasons for holding this opinion? What are the implications of your argument?
Your essay SHOULD NOT be a series of answers, but the following questions might help you to get started.
- In what way does the poem, or set of poems, reflect the time period when it was first published? Does it reflect or criticize social or cultural norms?
- What theme is most prominent in the work(s)? How does the author convey this theme?
- Does the author employ any symbolism in the work(s)? How does the use of symbolism impact the overall meaning(s)?
Your essay should be approximately 1,000-1,800 words long. You must refer to at least two examples of the poet(s) utilizing ANY of the following: figurative language (such as simile, metaphor, or irony); specific rhetorical strategies (such as diction, allusion, analogy, or repetition); rhyme (or lack thereof); or sound or sound patterns (such as assonance, consonance, alliteration, or onomatopoeia).
You must incorporate analysis of direct quotes from the poem(s) as your evidence. You must cite any words, facts, ideas, or details from the poem and any other sources using in-text citationsLinks to an external site. as well as a Works Cited pageLinks to an external site.. Please preserve line breaks by using a slash (/).
Here are some poems you might want to look at: