Pick 3 poems: “First Death in Nova Scotia” by Elizabeth Bishop “Manners” by Elizabeth Bishop “A Supermarket in California” by Allen Ginsberg “Follower” by Seamus Heaney
“Terence, this is stupid stuff” by A. E. Housman “To an Athlete Dying Young” by A. E. Housman “Aubade” by Philip Larkin “I knew a woman” by Theodore Roethke “Fern Hill” by Dylan Thomas
“Ex-Basketball Player” by John Updike “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by William Butler Yeats

The essay must be at least two pages in length. It needs a works cited page in MLA format, but no required amount of sources. The works cited page does not count as one of the two pages required for the essay length.

Answer each of these for each poem:

1. Paraphrase the poem

2. React and Respond to the poem by completing one or more of the following suggestions

comment on the author’s style, diction, imagery, subject
compare and contrast this poem with another
make a personal connection (with the speaker, the situation, the subject)
share a passage from the poem (either a passage that is descriptive (simile, metaphor, descriptive language, etc.) or a passage that is important (key idea, turning point, climax) )

3. Consider the following general questions and choose 6 or more to answer:

Who is the speaker and what is the occasion?
What is the setting in time (hour, season, century, etc.) and why is it important?
What is the setting in place (indoors or out, city or country, land or sea, region, country, etc.) and why is it important?
What is the central idea, the central purpose, or the theme of the poem?
How are symbols used in the poem?
Is diction important? Point out words that are well-chosen and explain why.
Is imagery important? What kinds of imagery are used?
Is sound repitition important? Point out some significant examples.
Is meter important? Why?
Does the poem follow a form or a pattern? Explain.
Does the poem use a metaphor, simile, or personification? Give examples

4. Explain in one paragraph or more why you chose this particular poem to share.