WEEK 5
LITERARY PORTFOLIO ESSAY STIMULUS QUESTIONS
:
THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ARE TO BE USED AS A ST
IMULUS IN DEVELOPING YOUR WEEK 5
ESSA
Y
FOR INCLUSION IN YOUR FINAL
LITERARY PORTFOLIO. SEE THE FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
PORTFOLIOS UNDER RESOURCES ON THE COURSE HOMEPAGE. YOU WILL INCLUDE AN ESSAY FOR
EACH WEEK’S RE
ADINGS WITHIN YOUR
FI
NAL PORTFOLIO UPLOAD.
THE FINAL PORTFOLIO WILL
INCLUDE READINGS FROM EACH WEEK
, AS ASSIGNED,
SINCE THE MID
–
TERM PORTFOLIO SUBMSSION
DATE AND UPTO THE FINAL PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION DATE.
Select one question for each poem, for a to
tal of six questions. Write
a short paragraph for
each answer.
p
p
.
613
–
614
“To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell
1.
Do you think this “carpe diem” poem is hopelessly
dated, or does it speak to our
contemporary concerns?
2.
This poem is divided into a three
–
part argument.
Briefly summarize each section: if (lines
1
–
20), but (21
–
32), therefore (33
–
46).
3.
This poem is sometimes read as a vigorous but simple celebration o
f flesh. Is there more to
the theme than that?
p.
620
“Titanic” by David R. Slavitt
1.
What is the speaker’s tone?
Is “Titanic” merely a sarcastic poem?
Explain.
2.
What is the effect of the poems final line? What emotions does it elicit?
p.
6
25
“We Real
Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks
1.
What is the effect of the pronouns coming at the end of the lines? What other poetic
devices does the poet use?
2.
What is the persona’s attitude towa
rd the players? Is there a change in tone in the last line?
Explain.
pp.
642
–
6
43
“Green Chile” Jimmy Baca
1.
What is the difference between the images for the green and red chiles? What is the effect
of those images?
2.
What images are used to describe the grandmother’s preparation of green chile? What is
the effect of those images?
3.
What is the speaker’s (persona’s) attitude towards the old woman? Explain.
pp. 673
–
674
“Schizophrenia” by Jim Stevens
1.
What is the effect of personifying the house in this poem? Describe the behavior of the
people in the house. How does the house respon
d to them?
2.
Comment on the title. If the title were missing, what, if anything, would be missing from
the poem?
pp.
702
–
703
“My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning
1.
To whom is the duke addressing his remarks about the duchess? What is ironic about the
situa
tion?
2.
Why was the duke unhappy with his first wife? What does this reveal about the duke?
What does this suggest
