Poetry Essays
What is a poetry
essay?
• A poetry essay is an argument based on a topic
which proves that a poem sends a particular
message using certain poetic devices.
• You need to use your knowledge and analysis of the
poem to guide your argument and (like a literature
essay) use quotes from the poem to prove your
opinion.
• You will usually be told which elements to include
in your essay.
Step 1: Read the question
Read carefully and establish which poem you will be discussing, the message
it sends and which poetic devices you have been asked to use.
Eg:
“He wishes for the clothes of heaven” by WB Yeats is an expression of how
vulnerable love can make us. Critically discuss this statement in an essay of
150-200 words by making close reference to diction, imagery and tone.
Step 2: Introduction
Your introduction needs 4 things and will nearly
always sound the same.
(Poet’s name) uses _______, _______, and
_______, (poetic devices) in (title) to
(illustrate, convey, reveal, or show) (message
and keywords).
Step 3: Body
You need one paragraph for each poetic device.
Each body paragraph needs ONE QUOTE to prove
the device is used.
Each paragraph will sound almost the same.
(Poet) uses (device) to show (message). This is
seen in (EVIDENCE), which means (Explain). This
shows that (message).
Step 4: Conclusion
You conclusion is a summing up of your argument
and is basically rephrasing your intorduction.
Eg:
Therefore, (Poet) uses (device with evidence),
(device with evidence) and (device with evidence) to
(show, illustrate, convey) that (message and
keywords).
Full example:
WB Yeats uses diction, imagery and tone in “He wishes for the clothes of heaven” to show how vulnerable love
can make us.
Yeats uses diction to show how vulnerable love can make us. This is seen in line 6 when the speaker says “have
only my dreams” which shows that the speaker is offering his most valuable and intimate possession to the
women he loves. By offering his dreams he shows how vulnerable love can make us.
Yeats uses imagery to show how vulnerable love can make us. This is seen in the image of “heavens
embroidered cloths” when the speaker wants to show his love by offering night sky and all the riches of gold
and silver in the world to the woman he desires. This offering shows how vulnerable love can make us.
Yeats uses tone to show how vulnerable love can make us. The tone of the poem is vulnerable and gentle, shown
by the request to “tread softly” in the last line. The speaker is asking his lover to be gentle with his dreams
because they are all he has but he is still offering them to her. This shows how vulnerable love can make us.
Therefore, WB Yeats uses diction in the line “only my dreams”, imagery of the “heaven’s embroidered cloths”
and a vulnerable tone seen in the last line of “tread softly” in his poem “He wishes for the clothes of heaven”
to show how vulnerable love can make us.
ENGLISH HL: RUBRIC FOR MARKING THE POETRY ESSAY
SECTION A: Exceptional Skilful Moderate Elementary Inadequate
Assessment rubric for 8-10 6-7 4-5 2-3 0-1
literary essay: Poetry
(10 marks) Criteria
CONTENT -In-depth interpretation of - Shows understanding - Fair interpretation of - Unsatisfactory -No understanding of the
Interpretation of topic. topic and has interpreted topic topic interpretation of topic. topic
Depth of argument, -Range of striking well. - Some good points in - Hardly any points in -No reference to the poem
justification and grasp of arguments; extensively - Fairly detailed response support of topic support of topic. -Learner has not come to
text. supported from poem -Sound arguments given, - Some arguments - Inadequate grips with genre and
7 MARKS -Excellent understanding but not all of them as well supported, but evidence is understanding of genre poem.
of genre and poem motivated as they could not always convincing. and poem.
be. -Basic understanding of
-Understanding of genre genre and poem
and poem.
STRUCTURE AND -Coherent structure -Clear structure and
-Some evidence of - Structure shows faulty - Poorly structured
LANGUAGE -Arguments well- logical flow of argument structure planning -Serious language errors
Structure, logical flow and structured and clearly -Flow of argument can be
- Essay lacks a well- - Arguments not logically and incorrect style
presentation. Language, developed. followed structured flow of logic arranged
tone and style used in the-Language, tone and style -Language, tone & styleand coherence. - Language errors evident
essay mature, impressive, largely correct
- Language errors minor; - Inappropriate tone &
3 MARKS correct tone and style mostly style
-Virtually error-free appropriate
grammar, spelling and
punctuation
MARK RANGE 8-10 6-7 4-5 2-3 0-1
NOTE: If a candidate has ignored the content completely and written a creative essay instead, award a 0 mark for both Content and Structure and Language
Your Turn
Wilfred Owen expresses his view that war
causes unnecessary deaths in his poem
“Anthem for doomed youth”. Critically
discuss this statement by giving close
reference to imagery, diction and structure
in an essay of 150-200 words.
