Choose one of the following essay topics. Do not choose more than one topic. Write an essay.
1) Identify the three allusions made in The Bloody Sire and discuss their meaning.
What do they mean? What function do they serve in this poem?
How, in a simple and economical way, do these allusions help him make his point?
How are his three allusions symbols for the reasons humans wage war?
2) Read Whitman’s and Ginsberg’s poems about American and identify their tone.
Select five words from each poem that support your claim and discuss how they contribute to the tone of each poem.
Discuss why Whitman and Ginsberg have such polar views of America. Why do you think Ginsberg broke so radically away from a poet whom he loved so much in his youth.
3) Cummings is an excellent example of a Modernist poet. The poem “anyone lived in a pretty how town” is a study in apathy and indifference. In “pity this busy monster” we find a cynical voice commenting on humanities addictive dependence on progress.
Discuss whether or not the sentiments and Aesthetics of modernism has any relevance in today’s world of globalization, American consumerism, the wars in the Middle East, the decline of the traditional family, or the current pandemic. Use Elements from the poem to make connections between the past and the present.
4). Discuss the use of Iconic faces in Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel Maus.
Why does he draw his characters this way?
How does his use of animal faces bring insight into the relationships between different ethnicities and nationalities.
5). Apply a historical approach to Dorothy Parker’s poetry. You need to research Parker’s life by looking up biographies about her. As you do this you need to make connections with her poetry. As you do so you can look for the following.
Were there times in her life that may have been depressing? Are there things that could have caused her to think about suicide? How did this influence her topics? Does it give her poetry authenticity?
How did her relationship with men influence her attitude about them? Is this reflected in her work?
Is her activism reflected in her poems?
What was said about her personality, is this personality found in her poetry?
6). Using what you learned from Japanese Propaganda mini-lecture, write an essay discussing racial depictions today.
How does racial tensions play in an election year?
Can you apply the reaction of Japanese-Americans to minority citizenry of the United States?
