Write a review paper on September Elegies by Randall Mann.A critical literary analysis explains a work of literature through the reader’s interpretation of the text. The goal of such an analysis is to deepen your understanding of the literary work.
Choose one of the assigned poems to critically analyze. Your essay should contain a clear introductory paragraph with a thesis statement, several body paragraphs, and a clear concluding paragraph. In the introduction, be sure to include the author’s name, the title of the work, and the date of publication. You may also include any relevant background information such as the historical context in which the poem was written. It is a good idea to focus on a few literary elements or devices and how the author uses them in his or her work.
For example, you might focus on an author’s word choice. Are the words simple or sophisticated? You might focus on structure. Does the author use a formal framework or just prose? Are there any rhyme schemes? If so, what patterns do you detect? You might focus on the rhythm of the poem. Does the author use metered verse or free verse? To what effect? You might focus on the narrator of the poem. Is it the poet speaking or an invented persona? You might focus on all of these.
Begin by doing an in-depth examination of the text. Try to answer the following questions for yourself:
What is the title? What does it suggest about the poem? What is the geographical, historical, and/or social setting? How does this affect the poem? Who is the speaker of the poem? What is the poem’s point of view? How many lines does the poem have? Are there stanzas or strophes? Is it lineated or a paragraph of prose? Does each line contain an equal number of syllables? Are there syllable patterns? What is the longest line of the poem? What is the shortest line of the poem? Are there any interesting line breaks? Can you summarize the author’s meaning in a single paragraph? In one sentence, can you state the theme of the work? Can you identify any symbols or metaphors? Is the author’s word choice formal or casual? Is there an identifiable structure (sonnet, villanelle, haiku, sestina, golden shovel, etc.)? Why do you think the author used this structure? What does the structure say about the poet’s subject?
Next, you must prove that your interpretation of the poem is correct. Find examples in the text to support your argument. Cite any quotes you use from the text with a parenthetical citation “like this” (Author’s Last Name Page #). You are required to use at least one secondary source for this essay, such as a published critical analysis of the poem. If you have a hard time coming up with an argument, then take a look at what other writers have said about the poem you chose to analyze. Do you agree or disagree with their analysis? Can their analysis support your argument? Make sure to properly document the poem and the secondary source both in the text and on the Works Cited page.
The essay must be between 2.5 and 3 pages long, double-spaced, in 12 point Times New Roman Font, with 1 inch margins. Use MLA format.
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