dwalker

I’ve been reading “The Long Goodbye”, and I have been struck by how many of the class have written about “active” reading, that sort of reading where we engage with the work, in effect converse with it in order to make sense of it. Many of the class suggested that most of their high school English career has been passive, to one degree or another. It has been a sort of waiting for the text to speak, the way a shy or apparently disinterested person waits to be asked to dance. The fact is we need to figure out what to ask the text and then go after the answer. We must not be apprehensive or disinterested. We need to be forward and insistent. At the end of the day, we can all agree that there are more questions than we could have possibly imagined, and the answers lead us to all kinds of meaning. We need to remember that meaning is personal, too, that what is true for me is not necessarily true for you. What is most important is that meaning be rooted in and supported by the literature. As long as you can trace back to the poem, your expression will have integrity. So what about the questions? What do we ask the text? Where do we begin, particularly if the literature is difficult? Begin with the words. Which surprise or shock or lull or cradle you? Why? What do they mean to you? What place and import do they have in poem? It sounds simple, rudimentary, but simple is usually the best way to build a lasting impression/meaning. Poetic language is concerned with compression. The poet looks for words that are compact with emotion and power, and it is likely that the words you land on will be potent. Consider their emotional import. Ask about the images as well. What are they saying to you? What are the essential comparisons? Why this comparison? Understanding/feeling the parts may lead you to a stronger sense of the whole image. As you get of feel for the diction of the piece look to style as well. How does the poem build tension? Repetition? meter? the stacking of verbs or adjectives or longer images? structure? syntax? allusion? We can usually see all these on the page. We need to ask them what they are doing there, what they hope to accomplish. More often than not they are ready to have that conversation with you. They will lead you to meaning.

C and D, Here’s the plan. C is reading Billy Collins, and D is reading Pablo Neruda. As you continue on keep an eye out for poems to which you want to respond in your blog - you should do three a week. When you are ready, get on your weblog and respond/discuss. Your posts should include analysis (diction, syntax, figurative language, etc.) and response.

In addition to your regular posts, you need to include some biographical highlights, author style (be comprehensive here), and at least three links to sites devoted to the writer.

As we have discussed, some of this stuff we will do together, particularly the more research oriented stuff. For now, post three times a week.