Writing About Poetry

Writing About Poetry3-Paragrah and 5-paragraph responses to poetryWhat is Poetry?Wordsworth defined poetry as "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings;" Emily Dickinson said, "If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry;" Dylan Thomas defined poetry this way: "Poetry is what makes me laugh or cry or yawn, what makes my toenails twinkle, what makes me want to do this or that or nothing."

Step One: Analyze the PoemRead the poemRe-read the poem, highlighting interesting words and phrasesRead the poem again, with a pen or pencil, writing, circling, identifying anything you can about poetry analysis.Fill out a TPCASTT chart. If the teacher doesnt give you a chart, write TPCASTT on your paper and annotate it there.

Step 2 Set up a paper with an MLA headingNameTollison English Period___DateMother to Son Response to Literature

Step Three: Write the first paragraph/introductionMust haves:Title, author, genreParaphrase the poemTheme of poemThesis statement (Highlighted or Underlined)Example of First ParagraphLife is not easy, but giving up is not a good choice. In the poem Mother to Son, Langston Hughes expresses this theme through the voice of a woman whose life has been difficult, but who has not given up. She wants her son to learn that lesson, too. Hughes presents this theme of motherly encouragement through the symbol of the staircase of life and repetition of ideas.The second paragraph/body supportRepetition of phrases and symbolism help Hughes create the imagery of life in the poem. At the beginning and at the end, the mother states that, Life for me aint been no crystal stair (2 and 20-21). With this repetition Hughes creates the symbol of a staircase to represent life. The crystal stair would be an easy, beautiful life, but the mothers life has not been either easy or beautiful, yet she has persevered. He continues the symbol with the imagery of a battered, torn staircase, showing, Its had tacks in it/And splinters,/And places with no carpet on the floor-/Bare (3-7). This imagery of an old, worn, even painful staircase shows the son how hard his mothers life has been, and helps with her message of encouragement. Hughess repeated use of the symbol of the staircase presents his theme of life as a worthwhile journey that can be difficult.Step Four: Second Paragraph/Body of EssayTopic Sentence about the two/ or three literary devices/examples.Transition and quotation from the poem. (DONT FORGET PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS.)Two sentences identifying the literary device, why the poet uses it, and how it ties in with the theme.Transition and quotation from the poem.Two sentences identifying the literary device, why the poet uses it, and how it ties in with the theme.

Concluding Sentence: Repeat Topic sentence ideas with synonyms.Step Five: The ConclusionRestate the ThemeTell what it means to you and how you felt about how the poet wrote about it.Tell how other people (The World) could benefit from the lesson in the story.Step Six: Turn it InPoem with highlighting and annotationTPCASTT page filled outThree-Paragraph Response