Poem analysis essay

by

Humanities

Assignment:

Develop an open question about one or more of the poems we read this

semester. Your thesis should be a thoughtful answer to that open question. You will

support your answer with a detailed close reading. A close reading will require you to

explain the poem’s use of language and form as essential to the poem’s meaning.

Therefore, you will need to explain its use of figurative language (metaphor, simile,

personification, metonymy, and/or synecdoche), its tone, denotations, rhyme, meter, and

its overall poetic structure. Regarding the latter point, it is important to consider how and

why the poem begins, develops, and ends as it does. You should assume that the poem

has an organic unity: all of its words have meaning in relation to each other.

Make your answer as detailed as possible.

Your interpretation should be based on a close textual analysis of what the texts say. Use

the text as your proof.

Your interpretation needs to be argued, explained, and supported.

PICK ONE POEM AND QUESTION

Open questions & poems

Dreams – Langston Hughes

Why does the speaker think you cannot survive life without dreams?

Was the speaker’s dream ruined?

Did the speaker not go after his dream?

Are dreams essesntial to live?

Cross – Langston Hughes

Did the speaker accept his family members?

Did he hates his mom more? If so why?

Why does he feel resentment towards his parents?

Why use the title “Cross”?