Something I did well:
- Pay attention to the isolated line, and how it is used as a turning point
- Deep insights
Something I would like to do better:
- Properly differentiating between “the speaker,” “the poet,” “persona,” and “his.”
- Giving convincing arguments for lineation and the intention of the poet (e.g. enjambment)
- More careful attention to small details
- e.g. quoting correctly and therefore interpreting a metaphor correctly
- More variation in terms of vocabulary
- Better presentation of ideas in general.
- What we choose to write about should act as a magnifying glass in order to show missed details about the poem.
- They should also be used to make details from the poem more clear, especially when metaphors or figurative language is used.
- We should not be simply paraphrasing lines from the poem.
NOT TO DO:
- Don’t just list techniques, explain how they are used effectively to support the deeper meaning.
- Don’t use two synonyms next to each other as it just adds words but doesn’t actually describe anything.
NOT TO DO:
- After embedding quotations write the line number next to it.
- Comment on the title – but not just the literal subject matter.
- Don’t rely on “connotation” or “imagery” to explain a poem.
- Unpack the image – how does it reveal a pattern of language? or reveal what is implicit?
- Mention voice.
- Recognise the tensions in the poem and the effects on its voice.
The Story of My Learning Starts Here
