4.+Critique+This+Poem

X Instructions- Notice how the annotations respond to the eight steps of critiquing a poem.  o 1 Read the poem shown below and then re-read it 2 to 3 times. Read it out loud as well; this will give you a better idea of the 'flow' of the poem. My Grandmother's Sweater The crispness of the morning **2. Free verse** awaken the sleeping robins. The sun peeks out from the horizon as I put on my grandmother's sweater. **3. First person point of view / narrative** I turn and face the body wasted of life tired eyes looking back **4. plot / granddaughter mourns her grandma** full of pain. **theme / Keepsakes from our love ones comfort us.** The other day my sister asked me, **mood/ sad; emotions / fear, concern, peace** "Which way does the grass grow?" **5. Meaning is obvious because of the references about the sweater.** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt 62.25pt;">Down into the ground, I think <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt 62.25pt;">as I snuggle deeper into my grandmother's sweater. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt 62.25pt;">"What's life all about?" she asked me next. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt 62.25pt;">Love. Death. Pain. I think, **6. Symbolism: sweater, crosses Form: enjambment** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt 62.25pt;">as they lay her into the ground. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt 62.25pt;">I feel nothing **7. Voice is consistent; lots of imagery: ground, sun, crosses in row** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt 62.25pt;">as the sun shines down <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt 62.25pt;">upon the crosses in a row **8. Gist: This poem reflects the longing for answers about life.** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt 62.25pt;">only comfort in my grandmother's sweater. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 15pt 0.5in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 22.5pt;">2 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Determine what style of poetry it is. For example, is it free-verse or rhyming? (for more styles, see the Resources section). Along with this, look at the structure, punctuation and pauses of the poem. Certain forms have limits on the amount of syllables on each line (i.e. Haiku-three short lines; first line contains five syllables, the second line seven syllables and the third line five syllables). <span style="line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 15pt 0.5in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 22.5pt;">3 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Determine what voice is being used (i.e. is it first person or third person?). Is it descriptive or narrative? <span style="line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 15pt 0.5in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 22.5pt;">4 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Determine the theme and mood of the poem. What is the poem about? What is the mood of the poem or the mood that the poet is trying to portray? Read the poem again and make note of the emotions you feel (a good poem will evoke an emotion in its readers). <span style="line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 15pt 0.5in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 22.5pt;">5 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Look at the meaning of the poem. Is it underlying or obvious? <span style="line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 15pt 0.5in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 22.5pt;">6 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">What techniques did the poet use, if any? For example, does the poem contain symbolism, irony, metaphors, and/or similes? <span style="line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 15pt 0.5in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 22.5pt;">7 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Break it up. Look at each verse separately and determine if everything (i.e. form, voice) is consistent throughout them all. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 15pt 0.5in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 22.5pt;">8 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Put it all together. Now you should be able to write a critique of the poem starting with the basics (i.e. voice, style, flow), then moving on to the nature of the poem, the emotions it evokes and finally, whether or not it has been put together properly (and successfully). **Your critique should be two to three paragraphs.**
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 22.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt;">Read the following article. Choose a published poem of your choice to annotate and critique according to the instructions. You may choose a poem from Poetry Out Loud. **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 18.75pt;">Include the annotated poem and critique in your journal. **