“How Does a Poet Make Meaning?”

*Poet: Greek for maker; a person who has the gift of poetic thought, imagination, and creation, together with eloquence of expression. *Poem: a piece (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. of writing in which the words are carefully (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. chosen (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for the images (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and ideas (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. they suggest (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., and in which the sounds (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. of the words when read (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. aloud (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. often follow (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. a particular (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. rhythmic (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. pattern (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. *Poetry: writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm; the art of exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts. *Poetic: having an imaginative or sensitively emotional style of expression; having a beautiful or graceful quality. We’ve been close reading poems since the quarter began, and have talked about poetry and how poets create meaning. We will continue to do this in the coming weeks, but as a first step to the final essay I’d like you to define / explain as much about poetry as you can at this point. You have the four dictionary definitions above to refer to, but you also have our class discussions, the Edward Hirsch reading, and the Kenneth Koch reading. Your definition / explanation needs to be specific: don’t just repeat the dictionary definitions above; instead, use them as a starting point to explain more. For example: How do images suggest ideas? How does the sound of language create meaning? How does a poet create specific emotional responses? Etc. The draft should be 500 words (2 pages) minimum.