Poetry Interpretation Essay: AP English

Prompt: Choose one of the more complex poem we’ve read this year and write a sophisticted, in-depth analysis. "The Whipping," "The Shield of Achilles," "Sestina," "There's a Certain Slant of Light," "Ars Poetica," "We Grow Accustomed to the Dark," or "Aquainted with the Night."

In this essay, you must use specific quotations from the poem in order to keep your interpretation focused and on target. Do not write generally about the poem. Tie your writing to specific lines. Strangely enough, this assignment may be easier if you choose a harder, less obvious poem. If the meaning seems obvious to you, it will be hard to write this essay. On the other hand, if you have absolutely no idea about the meaning of the poem, you should choose a different one.

Pre-writing: Steps to follow before you write your essay.

1. Read through the poem(s) a few times and think about what it means. Add to your notes on specific lines and stanzas.

2. Read through your notes and writing that you've already done on the poem(s) and jot down any good ideas you've already developed.

3. Choose two or three lines that you definitely want to refer to in order to write a good essay.

4. Cluster, list, or map your ideas on a separate piece of paper. During this process, decide what you want to focus on in your essay. Remember that it is more effective to write a lot about a few ideas in detail than to write about a lot of ideas briefly. Convert your brainstorm into an outline if you have not done so already.

5. Once you have answered these questions, you are ready to write your essay. When you structure your essay, remember that you need a strong opening paragraph that cites the poet, title, and has a clear thesis statement. In each body paragraph, make sure you refer specifically to the poem and use quotations. Make sure you have an interesting thought-provoking conclusion to your essay.Your essay should be at least three pages long, so write in depth.

Due Dates:

Pre-writing due Monday March 2nd

First Draft due Wednesday, March 4th
Second Draft due Thursday March 5th

Final Draft due