Approaches and tools for studying Poetry.
Assignment Brief
Write the essay of approximately 1.5 pages
Please use specific examples from the texts to support your answers.
At this point in the semester, what are some of the themes that you have noticed so far in the course readings? Have you noted common themes in the course readings so far? If so, what are the common themes that you have noticed? Please use specific examples from the course readings to back up your points. As always,
Towards the beginning of the semester, I introduced the three main Genres that we would be studying: Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. We have spent several weeks looking at approaches for studying Fiction. I would now like to look at approaches and tools for studying Poetry.
Issues and Limitations of Genre
One thing that can be problematic or a challenge when dealing with genre is to realize it is not a set or undisputed system of classification. What this means is there will be times when there will be disagreements on how the categories break down or disagreements as to which category a work fits in.
For example, if I take the first story we are reading The Necklace most would classify it as Prose as the main genre. As for the subgenre, many would say it is fictional, drama prose, while some might classify it as short story, naturalism.
The important thing is don’t worry so much about being absolute as to which subgenre a work fits in. Genre is just a way to help keep us (and scholars in general) organized as we study the literature. Just think about the genres and subgenres of literature as similar to the genres of movies, music, etc. and how we have ways of classifying those works to fit into categories
Sample Answer
Exploring Common Themes and Genre in Course Readings
As we’ve moved through the first part of the semester, several key themes have stood out across the course readings. Despite differences in genre, whether fiction, poetry, or drama, certain ideas seem to repeat and connect the works. Some of the most noticeable themes include class and inequality, identity and self-worth, and human suffering or sacrifice. These themes are revealed in different ways depending on the genre and style, but they continue to show up in the stories we`ve read so far.
One strong example of the theme of class and inequality is in Guy de Maupassant’s short story The Necklace. In this story, the main character, Madame Loisel, is a woman who dreams of wealth and luxury but is stuck in a modest life. She borrows a necklace to fit into a richer world, only to spend years in poverty paying for something that was never valuable in the first place. This shows how appearances can mislead and how social class pressures can shape and even destroy lives. The theme of class and desire for status is also found in other stories and poems we have read, showing how often writers use this issue to reflect human struggles and injustice.
Another common theme is identity and self-worth, which is deeply tied to how characters see themselves and how they are seen by others. In The Necklace, Madame Loisel believes she deserves a better life, but she lets her self-worth depend on material things and outside appearances. This leads her to make decisions that ultimately ruin her life. This theme may also appear in poetry, where writers often reflect on personal feelings and struggles with self-image or emotional expression. As we move into poetry, I expect we’ll see more examples of inner conflict and the search for meaning or belonging.
The theme of sacrifice or human suffering also appears in the readings. In The Necklace, Madame Loisel sacrifices her youth and health trying to repay a debt she didn’t need to pay. This speaks to a larger idea of how people can suffer greatly because of pride, misunderstanding, or social pressure. Literature across all genres often explores how characters deal with pain, hardship, or the consequences of their choices.
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