You will write a (minimum) 1000-1250 word essay analyzing The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Since the words of a poem are significant, their definitions may help your analysis of the poem. Therefore, you must use a dictionary (online or book) to define at least 2 words from the poem, in addition to your regular research requirement. Overall, your essay should provide a thorough analysis of the poem.
Just a few ideas to get you going: You may choose to do an explication of the poem, where you really dissect and move through the poem (see page 1941 in “Writing”), or you may examine the poetic elements present (figurative language, imagery, symbolism, rhyme, etc), or the influence of the author/time period on the speaker and/or work, or the use of setting, purpose, theme and/or tone, or you may find your own combo of the above elements as you start your writing. Some of these poems really require you to just dive into the overall meaning of the poem and how it comes together
The object of this assignment is for you to find meaning in poetry. I will not judge your interpretation if you can give evidence from the poem and/or outside sources to support your analysis.
Minimum Quotations:
5 direct quotations from the poem
2 direct or indirect quotations from outside source (book/database) —- attached below
2 definitions from a dictionary.
Citations:
The format for quotations and in-text parenthetical citations for poetry are different! Don’t forget to use slash marks (/) to indicate line breaks and line numbers in the in-text citations
Sources:
In addition to the primary text (poem), you must use at least 2 outside sources. I’m not counting the dictionary definitions in this category. This source can be either a book or an article from an online database (the allowable sources are attached below).
As always, NO Wikipedia, SparkNotes, Enotes, 123helpme, Schmoop, Yahooanswers, etc. And even if I haven’t mentioned a site, but it’s similar to the previous list, you still can’t use it!
Don’t forget the your dictionary definition requirement.
So, you’ll have a total of at least 5 sources for this paper–the poem itself, 2 dictionary definitions, and 2 outside sources from a book or the databases (which are provided).
Works Cited Page:
Required, and may not count as part of the page/word requirement.
Reminders:
MLA Format
No contractions
Do not use the pronouns ‘I’ or ‘you’
Use proper quotation format/integration
Use proper parenthetical citations and poetry documentation format
Be sure to have an original title, a complete introduction with a thesis statement as the last sentence of your intro paragraph (full name of author and full title of work must be in the thesis) and a complete conclusion paragraph (no new info in the conclusion).
*Refer to the speaking persona in a poem as the speaker or the narrator, not the author, etc.
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