Poetry Analysis Essay
You will write an essay analyzing the poetry of American Romanticism. You will choose three poems by
three different American Poets to research and analyze.
You may search any online website, your textbook, or library resources to find poems which interest you.
The poem must be one we have NOT studied in class. For each poem, you may either print from the
website or photo-copy from the textbook or library book. You will turn in the poems along with your final
draft of the essay.
Your essay will be approx. 3 pages (1 per poem) typed, double-spaced. For the analysis of each poem, you
must:
1. Explain the meaning of the poem
2. Explain why the poem is classified at Romanticism
3. Identify which literary devices are used and how their usage contributes to the poem’s
meaning
- Rhyme – What is the rhyme scheme? What is the effect of the rhyme? Is the rhyme only
at the end of the line or is there internal rhyme?
- Rhythm/Meter (stressed and unstressed sounds/beats per line) – When you read the
poem aloud, how does it sound? Is there a pattern you can hear? How does reading the
poem aloud help you understand it?
- Figures of Speech - simile, metaphor, hyperbole, etc. Which ones are used and why are
they used? What is the effect of the comparisons?
- Imagery – what images are created in the poem? Why do you think the poet included
them?
- Diction – How does the poet use diction (specific word choice), connotation (association
beyond literal meaning/emotional quality of word) and denotation (literal meaning of
word) to achieve meaning? Why do you think certain words were chosen?
- Structure - how poem is organized? (Stanzas, Free Verse, etc.) What effect does the
organization have on the poem’s meaning?
4. Identify the mood (predominant emotion) and tone (poet’s attitude) and explain which
words led to your conclusions.
5. Identify and explain the theme. Why do you think this poet wrote the poem? What can you
message can you take from reading the poem?
In addition, explain why you chose each poem for analysis. What about the poem intrigues you? Does
this poem make you want to read other works by the poet? Why/why not? If you were a teacher, would
you make students study this poem in school? Why/why not?
American Romanticism Poets
Oliver Wendall Holmes
John Greenleaf Whittier
James Russell Lowell
Lydia Maria Child
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Edgar Allen Poe
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Rose Terry Cooke
William Cullen Bryant
Lydia Sigourney
Elizabeth Oakes Smith
Sidney Lanier
DUE DATES:
Mon. Feb. 3 – In Computer Lab R-106 for research
Tues. Feb. 4 – VOCABULARY TEST Units 7-9
Wed. Feb. 5 – Hard copy of 3 poems due in class (daily); Analysis of 1st Poem
Due at the end of the period (quiz)
Thurs. Feb. 6 – Analysis of 2nd Poem Due at the end of the period (quiz)
Fri. Feb. 7 – Analysis of 3rd Poem Due at the end of the period (quiz)
Mon. Feb. 10 – Fri. Feb. 14 – Meet in Computer Lab R-106
Mon. Feb. 10 - Tues. Feb. 11 – Type Rough Drafts
Tues. Feb. 11 – Finished and printed Rough Draft due by end of class (quiz)
Wed. Feb. 12/Thurs. Feb. 13 – Revise and edit Rough Drafts
Thurs. Feb. 13 – Revising/Editing sheet due (daily)
Fri. Feb. 14 – Peer Editing in Google Docs (daily)
Mon. Feb. 17 – No school!
Tues. Feb. 18 – Back in classroom; any further editing done for hmwk
Wed. Feb. 19 – Final essay due in class (test) and on www.turnitin.com (daily)