War, Trees

Here's something to consider. In the poets we've studied over the last two weeks, it seems that relatively ordinary events produce complex, ambiguous mental and emotional responses, leading to profound insights (these can be critical insights into conflicts in our society or culture, questions about the relation of art to life and the purpose and value of art, etc.). How do you see this in Frost's "Birches" and/or "After Apple Picking" and Komunyakaa's "Facing It"?


Also, on the sixth set of  More Blogs from Previous Classes (select a blog, then scroll down to "older posts" or click on the year to get the full semester's postings):

Please see Richard Capozzi's blog on "Facing It"  and my comments on his blog; also, see discussions (esp. my comments) on Norlynn's and Olya's blogs.

For Frost, see discussions on Diana A's, Margarita Laris's, and Rosemarie's blogs.

See also Heru Craig's blog and my post (the second set of More blogs from Previous Classes).

Don't forget to read my comments on blogs, and review study sheets and exercises (on Blackboard) before writing about the poets.

Olds, Gallagher, Lee, Ansel

If you're writing about Olds, be sure to check the study sheet on Bb, which will set you off in the right direction. Secondary sources for Gallagher and Lee: check the Literature Resource Center in the KBCC databases. There is an interview with Lee at the Poetry Foundation site, which may be useful. There are critical biographies of all three poets on PF, which include quote from various critics, commenting on aspects of the poetry, which may also be applied; if you cite these, note the critic's name, and the source as Poetry Foundation (poetryfoundation.org).   For Ansel, check the Lit Resource Ctr: there is a brief review under "critical articles" that should prove useful; also, the link on the syllabus to the poem "Glaze" includes the poem and a critical article about the poem, which can be cited in your essays, but is also a good model of close reading/detailed analysis.  Also in BB, under the "primary sources" tab, you may also read more of her poetry--and I will say, she is a very interesting poet...  (remember--you must have your ID validated to access the KBCC databases; this may be done at the library circulation desk.   If you have checked out a book at some point, you should be good to go).

Also check More Blogs from previous classes (6th set): For Olds, see my comments on Andrea's, Rosemarie's, Richard's, Allen's, Florina's, Steven's, and Shadora's blogs (see Richard's blog. as well); for Gallagher, see my comments on Margarita, Olya's, Stephen's, William's, Amanda's and Gna's blogs; for Lee, see my comments on Chante's and Michael's blogs, and Sylvia's blog and my comments.

GL on essays!

Bishop, Williams

Hi All--

You've reached the class blog for English 42. Always check here for announcements and updates.

Always read my posts before writing essays.

You may also add your own voice, by either posting a blog of your own, or choosing a blog from one of your fellow bloggers (list to right; more names will appear as blog URLs are submitted) and adding your two cents (or two bucks--adjusted for inflation--)

Remember: if you are writing a blog, post only blog comments on the blogs; exercises should be emailed, and journals uploaded to TII

BTW--please don't leave comments for me here--though you can email w/questions...

* * * *

Bishop and Williams:

See my comments on More Blogs from Previous Classes at right (6th set). For those of you writing about Bishop, esp. Richard Capozzi's, Stephen Martinez's, and Michael Curro's blogs in blogs from previous classes. Although most writers blogged on Bishop, William Lane wrote a blog entry on WCW on which I briefly commented.  My comments are posted under "tl."

To access older posts on the blogs from previous classes, scroll down to and click on the year, appearing either in the right or left frame. Clicking on "2010," for eg., will bring up all the posts for the year; then, scroll down to find earlier posts.

Also, be sure to review the study sheet for Bishop and Williams, posted to Blackboard, for insights into the themes/concerns of poems for both poets. The quotes on the study sheets are excerpted from articles on MAP and LRC (see course syllabus); search for the complete articles in these databases.

Look over the exercises on Blackboard, as well, which can provide additional guidance and practice in literary analysis.

Katie Ford's essay on Bishop, "Visibility Is Poor..." (Poets.org), is also insightful (esp pars. 3, beginning "Imagery that repeats itself..." through 8, beginning "Bishop's challenge...), esp regarding the self-questioning tendency of much of her imagery and its "challenge to... fixity" (see par 8, esp. Michael Sells distinction between "apophatic" and kataphatic" imagery); several image modulations in "The Fish" demonstrate a lack of "fixity."  To find the essay, on poest.org [official site], enter her name in the search field, click the search icon, "then scroll down to find Katie Ford's then click on  the title.

For Williams, but for image-based poetry in general including several of the poets we will read this semester: urthona.com, as noted on the Williams study sheet in assignments; read the essays on the “Red Wheelbarrow” and on free verse—“The Nymphs Departed”

Again, for all poets we read this semester, always review my opening blog comments, as well as my comments on current and previous blogs before writing journals; the combination of blogs, study sheets, exercises and critical articles will provide an analytical framework for your journals.

Ready? Good blogging...or at least, reading....