From Puritan Plain Style to the Fiery Pits of Hell

We're learning about the Puritans in English 3. We read some of Anne Bradstreet's "Puritan Plain Style" today. Notably, Bradstreet's Plain Style uses literal poetic lines to teach a lesson or moral, known as didactic poetry. The only metaphors she employs are used to reference Heaven and Hell in a "Sin-that-must-not-be-named" way. The only way to talk about Hell and sin is through metaphors because naming sin brings you too close to the actual sin (according to this Puritan, anyways).

We will now begin "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,"  Johnathon Edwards has no qualms about sharing his opinion on our salvation! We will soon be creating drawings of the illustrative details of hellfire and damnation as embodied by the Puritanical belief of predestination/predetermination.

Check out this PowerPoint on the history and background on the Puritans!

The Suitor, Death

Today, we have finished looking at Whitman and Dickinson. I have attached some awesome extra stuff here on the blog if you want to study some more and practice analyzing poetry a little more.

If you are looking for more in-depth Emily Dickinson, check out this excellently thorough, line-by-line analysis of "Because I could not stop for Death."

Or, you can also check out this parody that uses modern cartoon gags to spruce up this traditional poem.

To review our thoughts on "I heard a Fly buzz," check out this college-level course lesson review. The professor thoroughly and accessibly identifies the main ideas and analysis of this death poem.

Remember your Whitman and Dickinson test is tomorrow. That means you need to make sure your Whitman and Dickinson handout and rotation is complete! You may even get to use it for reference!

Dashes, Short Lines, and Soul-Talk

Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman discuss similar topics of souls, nature, and the everyday life. Yet, each has a very distinctive voice and structure to their poetry. Comparatively, Whitman is much more descriptive and connective, while Dickinson expresses a literal and metaphorical meaning in very short lines and words. Check out the poems below to compare each poet's literary style.


Check out Emily Dickinson’s spider poems after the jump!
R. W. Franklin 1998 Edition

Connecting with Walt Whitman

So far, we have read the connectedness, nature, and American pride in Walt Whitman's various poetry. Monday, we will continue our Whitman and Dickinson worksheet with a foyer into Emily Dickinson's poetry. You will find that their themes and meanings are very similar even though their unique writing styles are extremely different.

After we read about Whitman's literary devices, we created poems in the style of Whitman. Here is a copy of my poem in homage and style to Whitman's "Song of Myself" (after the jump)

Happy Halloween! Emily Dickinson's Spider Poems

Emily Dickinson’s Poems

R. W. Franklin 1998 Edition

 

"Song of Myself" Walt Whitman

We're beginning Whitman and Dickinson studies--two of my favorite poets! I hope you will be as excited as I am about them!

Here's the handout: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByVKpn2OdpFAZXhSOGVLOTVfVTQ

The excerpts to complete your homework from "Song of Myself" are after the jump!