Poetry essay
Essay #3 – Poetry Explication
Directions: Write a 750-word essay on the ways in which three (3) of the following elements work to develop and reinforce the theme of one of the poems assigned this semester.
- diction and tone
- imagery
- figures of speech
- symbols
- speaker
- irony
- sound and rhyme
- rhythm and meter
- form
- setting and situation
You may choose any three of the elements listed above. Using the poetry explication PowerPoint, write a four-paragraph essay discussing the poem’s meaning – as you interpret it. Remember, a poetry explication does not have a formal conclusion. It ends after your 3rd body paragraph.
Some Things to Remember
- Refer to the speaker of the poem rather than the author or writer
- Separate lines of quoted poetry with a /
- Use the author’s last name and line numbers within your in-text citations (Ex. Frost lines 8-12) rather than page numbers
- Remember to introduce the poem’s title, author, and idea in the introductory paragraph
- Remember that your essay does not need a formal conclusion. (You can simple end your final paragraph. Though frequently writers leave sound and rhyme for the concluding paragraph.)
