The document outlines an assignment for a poetry explication due on 12/02/16, requiring students to analyze two contrasting poems not deeply covered in class. It emphasizes the need for a structured approach including an introduction, body paragraphs that detail literary techniques, and a conclusion that reaffirms the thesis. Guidelines on formatting, quoting, and the use of research to enhance understanding of the poems are also provided.

1. Poetry Explication
World Literature Poetry Explication Assignment
Due: 12/02/16 (end-of-day)
The Assignment:
Write a four-page explication of two short poems from our
assigned texts in Week 5 (research optional). Choose two
poems that you think will work well together, but offer contrast
on some levels (either in form or in content). Poems covered
deeply in class discussion are not eligible for this assignment.
Pick poems we did not cover in depth.
About Explication:
Explication is the unraveling of a poem (or story or play),
analyzing the poem word-by-word, line-by-line, or stanza-by-
stanza. In unfolding the poem, address any literary devices you
see: simile and metaphor, allusion, rhyme, rhythm, repetition,
onomatopoeia, form, and other techniques (see Poetry.org).
How do these all contribute to the overall message of the poem?
An explication is a way for you to slow down and focus on the
detail. Often, a poem that you find confusing will make sense
once you take some time to examine it piece by piece.
Cite all sources according to MLA and include a Works Cited
page.
Introduction: Include title (in quotation marks), author, dates,
brief background of the author if necessary and relevant, a brief
summary of the plot (situation), or literal level of the poem, and
your thesis, which is an interpretation (argument) of the
meaning you see.
Body Paragraphs: Systematically go through the poem showing
the techniques stated in your thesis and showing how they relate
to the poet’s argument. Brief quotes should be incorporated into
your sentences to clarify your point. Do not, under any
circumstance, quote the entire poem within the paper. If you
quote three or fewer lines, an inline quote, you should introduce
the quote with a signal phrase, and then quote the section of the

2. poem, indicating line breaks with a “/” and stanza breaks with a
“//”.
Author writes, “quoted line/quoted next line” (871).
To quote more than three lines, use a block quote. In either
case, follow the quote with a parenthetical reference of the line
number(s). And then, make sure that you follow the quote with
a close analysis/unpacking of the meaning. If you quote there
must be a reason, and it is your job to “unpack” what is inside
the quote—don’t expect readers to see your points only based
on the quote.
Conclusion: Here you pull the paper together and reaffirm your
thesis. You could discuss how the poem relates to real life
and/or use this paragraph to disagree with the poet’s argument
if you wish. Avoid, “I think…” or “I feel…” language. Be
specific with word choice and avoid vague words like unique,
interesting, amazing, etc.
Style: Keep your sentences focused on the poem itself. Include
transitions where appropriate to avoid jumping quickly from one
topic to the next.
Additional Style Tips: While the explication tends to be a
chronological progression, consider the organization of the
paper. How can you group your observations? This, as any other
formal paper, should be a multiple-draft project where your
initial observations are organized into main points, and these
main points are then focused with a thesis in the intro, with
topic sentences in the body paragraphs, and finished with a
conclusion.
Research: Use research to help you uncover questions about
history, cultural references, etc. You can also look for any
scholarly critical work on the works as well. Limit your
research; I am more interested in what you have to think.
Strategies:
· Use The Method to find repeating words, categories of words,
binary oppositions.
· Look for the story/plot of the poem as a basis, then work with
the details to see if they support that plot.

3. · Think about irony—perhaps the speaker of the poem is not
really meaning what he/she is saying. Be suspicious at times.
· Use the poetry glossary from Poets.org
· Find areas of comparison and contrast between the poems, find
linking ideas so that your essay does not seem like two separate
parts.
Guidelines:
· 4-5 complete pages plus Works Cited page
· 11 or 12 point font
· 1" margins
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Suggestions for Writing About the Genre of Poetry
WHAT IS THE POEM ABOUT? What is the theme of the poem?
Is it similar in subject or theme to other poems you have
studied? Could it be compared to/with them?
WHO IS THE SPEAKER OF THE POEM? Is the speaker
addressing a particular person (auditor)? On what occasion?
WHAT IS THE TONE OF THE POEM? Is it consistent or does
it change in the course of the poem?
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE LANGUAGE OF THE
POEM? Is it figurative or literal? Is the poet using figures of
speech? What kinds and to what effect? Does the poem contain
images? Can the poem be read in more than one way?
DOES THE POEM CONTAIN RHYMES? If so, what is the
rhyme scheme? Are lines end-stopped or enjambed (forced to
the next line)? How does the rhyme serve to emphasize the
meaning? The connections between certain words? What other
notable features are there about the sound of the poem?
IS THE POEM WRITTEN IN METRE? If so, what metre (the
rhythm of the poem)? Is it regular or irregular? What is its

4. effect? What is the effect of any irregularities? Is there more
than one way to scan the poem? What different meanings to
these scansions suggest?
DOES THE POEM CONTAIN ANY LITERARY ALLUSIONS?
Is it influenced by earlier poems? Can it be compared to other
poems you have read by the same poet or different poets?