Close Reading 1 LCS 370 Poetry Writing Workshop Fall 20

Close Reading #1 LCS 370 / Poetry Writing Workshop / Fall 2020 Instructor: Eric Paul Final Draft Due: 10.20

Choose one of the following poems: “I Can’t Swim’ by Heather Christle, “Dawn of Man” by Max Ritvo, “Tonight, in Oakland” by Danez Smith, “And Then it Was Less Bleak Because We Said So” by Wendy Xu, “Another Elegy” by Jericho Jones, “Home Wrecker” by Ocean Vuong, or “Tonight” by Ladan Osman. Write a 3-4 page close reading analyzing the poem, focusing on significant details, patterns, form, craft, meanings, and sound.

Examine both the meaning of the poem and the poet’s strategic choices, utilizing the vocabulary of poetry such as stanzas, enjambment, end-stopped lines, line breaks, closure, couplets, and metaphors. Refer to the PDF “A Glossary of Poetry Terms” if needed. Use MLA citation if outside sources are used, including in-text citations and a Works Cited page. Lastly, proofread for grammar and style.

Use the following questions as a guide:

• What is the theme of the poem? What is the poet trying to communicate? What is the emotional core?
• What happens in the poem? Are conflicts or themes introduced or resolved?
• Who is the speaker? What is the point of view or perspective?
• What is the setting? How does physical description create mood?
• Are there key lines or symbols indicating meaning? Are there recurring motifs?
• How do sound and language contribute? Does rhythm, diction, or wordplay affect meaning?
• Are there cultural, historical, or ideological references?
• What emotions or qualities does the poem evoke? How does it affect you?
• What imagery, metaphors, or figures of speech are used?

Sample Paper For Above instruction

In Heather Christle’s poem “I Can’t Swim,” the theme revolves around vulnerability and the struggle to communicate personal pain through metaphor and formal control. The poet’s strategic choices, particularly the use of enjambment and simple language, intensify the emotional effect and underline the sense of suffocation and helplessness. Through a close analysis, one can see how Christle's form and diction work together to evoke a profound sense of being overwhelmed by internal conflict.

The poem’s structure is composed of short, broken lines that mimic fragmented thoughts and feelings. The frequent use of enjambment pushes the reader forward, mirroring the ongoing, unresolved emotional turmoil experienced by the speaker. For instance, the line “I can’t / swim” is isolated and repeated, emphasizing the inability to cope or escape. The line break itself acts as a visual metaphor, illustrating the divide between desire and reality, control and chaos. The poem’s minimal diction, with phrases like “not enough” and “drowning,” employs metaphors that evoke physical and emotional drowning, reinforcing the theme of suffocation.

The speaker appears to be grappling with an internal crisis, possibly relating to mental health or personal trauma. The perspective is introspective, yet there is a shared universality in the feelings expressed, allowing readers to connect with the sense of vulnerability. Christle’s choice to use simple, unadorned language strips the complexity of the speaker’s emotions down to their raw essence, making the poem accessible yet profoundly affecting.

The poem makes use of recurring symbols, such as water, to symbolize both emotion and danger. The motif of drowning recurs subtly in phrases like “I can’t swim,” and “the water is over my head,” which serve to underscore the speaker’s sense of losing control. The sounds of the poem, characterized by soft consonants and gentle line breaks, contribute to a mood of quiet desperation, working in harmony with the themes.

Historically, the poem resonates with contemporary discussions of mental health, emphasizing the struggles of vulnerability in an often indifferent world. Culturally, it reflects ongoing conversations about emotional openness and the stigmatization of mental health issues. The emotional impact is palpable, as the reader senses the speaker’s isolation and longing for relief.

Visually, Christle’s sparse imagery complements the poem’s theme. The physical metaphors of water and drowning evoke visceral reactions, immersing the reader in the speaker’s inner world. The use of metaphors and controlled line breaks creates a rhythm that mirrors the ebb and flow of emotional tides, illustrating how form enhances meaning.

In conclusion, “I Can’t Swim” exemplifies how strategic poetic choices—simple language, enjambment, recurring motifs—serve to deepen the emotional resonance of the poem. Christle’s craft demonstrates how form and content intertwine to portray vulnerability, making the reader both feel and understand the depths of internal struggle.

References

• Christle, Heather. “I Can’t Swim.” In Selected Poems, 2015.
• Ritvo, Max. “Dawn of Man.” New York Times, 2020.
• Smith, Danez. “Tonight, in Oakland.” Poetry Magazine, 2018.
• Xu, Wendy. “And Then it Was Less Bleak Because We Said So.” Harvard Review, 2019.
• Jones, Jericho. “Another Elegy.” Poetry Foundation, 2020.
• Vuong, Ocean. “Home Wrecker.” Boston Review, 2017.
• Osman, Ladan. “Tonight.” Gulf Coast, 2016.
• Blackburn, L. & Graham, G. “Poetry Terms Glossary.” University of Chicago Press, 2012.
• Lehman, D. “Analyzing Poetry: A Guide.” Routledge, 2015.
• Johnson, M. “Contemporary Poetry and Its Craft.” Cambridge University Press, 2019.