American Poetry Essays Examples For College & High School Students in PDF

1744 total results

Life and Literature by T. S. Eliot an American Poet (2519 words, 7 pages)

During his lifetime, Thomas Stearns Eliot, an influential American poet, investigated the thoughts and challenges of the Western mind. The events in his lifetime, and his own personal background, greatly influenced his works and created deeper content within them. Through T.S. Elliott's most influential poem, The Waste Land, the influence ... Read More

An Analysis of the Family Life in the Poems of Gary Soto (1318 words, 4 pages)

Subject MatterAs I was reading Gary Sotos poems I noticed standard themes of love, alienation, and choices. However, as I kept reading I noticed a few poems about family life especially that of his grandparents. I decided to read through the poems to find out the story of Sotos grandparents ... Read More

The Quests for Identity of Langston Hughes and Emily Dickinson (1645 words, 7 pages)

The Quests for Identity of Langston Hughes and Emily DickinsonThe search for identity is prevalent throughout the history of the human race, and Emily Dickinson and Langston Hughes are no exceptions. Dickinsons search is primarily revolved around the ways she views faith and a higher power, while Hughes focuses more ... Read More

Growing Up as the Core of Lucille Clifton’s Poem, Forgiving My Father (1372 words, 3 pages)

At its core, forgiving my father by Lucille Clifton, is a poem about growing up and the realizations that come with it, with some commentary on the complexity of financial welfare (again, something that is only understood with time and age). The daughter (the speaker) begins her narrative by framing ... Read More

Poem 742 by Emily Dickinson (539 words, 2 pages)

Dickinson Essay - Poem 742In 742 Dickinson writes about four trees that appear to be growing on an isolated acre without any specific purpose or reason. Throughout her poem, Dickinson explores nature by focusing on the trees and their surroundings, searching for a purpose in the trees growth. While she ... Read More

An Echo Sonnet by Robert Pack (604 words, 2 pages)

An Echo SonnetIn An Echo Sonnet, Robert Pack voices many questions which he answers with one-worded echoes. The voice of the echo guides him in his life of pain and struggles. Pack is questioning how to find happiness in his empty life, and thinks ending his life would solve the ... Read More

An Analysis of Literary Devices Used in a Poem (741 words, 3 pages)

When you are old and grey and full of sleep, And nodding by the fire, take down this book, And slowly read, and dream of the soft look Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep How many loved your moments of glad grace, And loved your beauty with ... Read More

An Analysis of Diction, the Speaker and Characters in Mother to Son by Langston Hughes (497 words, 2 pages)

Diction, the Speaker and Characters in Mother to Son by Langston HughesDiction refers to the poets choice of words. Poets differ than the readers in the sense that they are exceptionally careful with the words they use. They tell us more about the characters, events or the setting via the ... Read More

A Biography of Patrick Friesen a Former Winnipeg Poet (1013 words, 3 pages)

Patrick Friesen is a former Winnipeg poet whose deep and meaningful style is evident throughout his Poetry. Friesen uses weather in his poetry to express certain emotions within the readers. The theme of night is used in Friesens poetry to create certain settings and put the readers into the night ... Read More

An Analysis of Theme, Characters and Diction in Penelope by Dorothy Parker (402 words, 2 pages)

Theme, Characters and Diction in Penelope by Dorothy ParkerWhatever a poem looks like, however it tells what it has to tell, poems always deal with the issue of mankind. Some do it directly whereas others do it indirectly via usage of literary devices and hiding their message. Penelope by Dorothy ... Read More

An Analysis of Pragmatism in Mending Wall by Robert Frost (324 words, 1 pages)

Pragmatism in Mending WallPragmatism is defined by realistically considering the practical applications and results of an action. In Robert Frosts poem Mending Wall, the narrator exhibits a high level of pragmatism by questioning the purpose of the wall but deciding to still mend the wall with his neighbor.The narrator first ... Read More

An Analysis of Pity This Busy Monster, Manunkind, a Poem by E. E. Cummings (619 words, 2 pages)

Has man gone too far? This question comes up often in discussions about genetic engineering, elaborate cosmetic surgeries, and artificial intelligence. The sentiment behind the question is by no means new, however, and applies to many controversial developments throughout human history. Many argue that mankind's tendency to pursue its own ... Read More

When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer by Walt Whitman (379 words, 1 pages)

When I heard the Learnd AstronomerLike diamonds in the sky painted black, the stars are the treasure within the night sky. People often find stars calming and wondrous, in awe of their natural beauty. In Walt Whitmans poem, When I Heard the Learnd Astronomer, a student discovers the meaning of ... Read More

The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown (1031 words, 5 pages)

As the penultimate two pages, this double page spread marks the culmination of Margaret Wise Browns The Big Red Barn. This picture book depicts a day in the life of a family of farm animals, when the children are away and the animals play all day in the grass and ... Read More

Theme for English B by Langston Hughes (873 words, 3 pages)

Theme for English B ExplicationLangston Hughess poem, Theme for English B, emphasizes the lack of reasoning for segregation and prejudiced thinking by presenting the various characteristics that make the speaker human and deserving of equal treatment. The speaker describes how he gets to and from school, and that he is ... Read More

The Power of Perseverance in the Midst of Struggle (535 words, 2 pages)

The Power of Perseverance in the Midst of StruggleLangston Hughes uses descriptive poetry to illustrate the struggles of being an African-American living in Harlem. Hughes uses imagery in his poem, Mother to Son, to convey a theme of perseverance in his description of a mothers life and her actions in ... Read More

A Biography of Mary Oliver an American Poet (327 words, 2 pages)

Mary Oliver "America's Finest Nature Poet" Mary Oliver, the contemporary American poet, was born on September10, 1935 in Maple Heights, Ohio to Edward William Oliver, a teacher, andHelen M. Vlasak Oliver. Even as a child, this Pulitzer Prize winner waskeenly aware of her natural surroundings. According to Think TV Network,Oliver's ... Read More

The Immanence of Nature in Greek Era (1029 words, 5 pages)

The Immanence of Nature As all things are wont to do, poetry as a genre has evolved since itsinitial conception in the ancient Greek era. Oral tradition dictated thatpoetry was to be passed down by word of mouth, as it anteceded the writtenverse. In today's world, however, modern poetry has ... Read More

An Analysis of Mother and Child in The Author to Her Book (680 words, 3 pages)

Mother and Child Poet Anne Bradstreet compares an author's relationship with her bookto that of a mother and her child by utilizing a controlling, extendedmetaphor in order to express the speaker's complex, volatile feelings oflove, frustration, affection, and dismay. The speaker in the poem "The Author to Her Book" initially ... Read More

A Biography of Donald Hall, an American Poet (816 words, 4 pages)

Donald Hall Messenger of LifeDonald Hall, an American Poet, takes his personal experiences and perspective of life into his poems, establishing a deeper meaning into each word. By bringing together emotions of life and death, Donald Hall creates surrealistic images in his poems to develop a powerful connection with the ... Read More

An Analysis of the ‘Heart’ in Storm Warnings (572 words, 2 pages)

Turbulence of the Heart The title of the poem "Storm Warnings" is significant in both itsliteral and metaphorical connotations. On the surface, such a title denotesturbulent weather and impending doom however, the poem itself conveysmeaning through its emotionally-charged scene of strength and anxiety. PoetAdrienne Rich employs literary devices such as ... Read More

An Analysis of Time in Canto 45 by Walt Whitman (1447 words, 4 pages)

Walt Whitmans Canto 45 speaks to the narrators belief that time is something that can not be stopped or paused. Time continues to go on and slip through our fingers whether we like it or not and there is simply nothing that we can do to prevent it, however the ... Read More

A Biography of Kenneth Fearing a Poet (738 words, 3 pages)

Kenneth Fearing Essay Kenneth Fearing was a poet, novelist, journalist, and editor thatlived in New York for the majorityof his career. His writing style tended to be extremely vague, abrupt, andpessimistic, however, he didhave a few poems that included some humour and contemporary jargon. Hewrote about crime, currentpolitical and social ... Read More

An Analysis of the Conversations in An Echo Sonnet by Robert Pack (370 words, 1 pages)

An Echo Sonnet In "An Echo Sonnet," Robert Pack uses an echo to create aconversation in his sonnet, discussing death. The echo serves to makemeaningful responses or remarks on the poet's questions or statements. Thepoet cleverly positions words at the end of lines to create an appropriateresponse as he questions ... Read More

An Analysis of a Father and Son Relationship in A Story by Li-Young (429 words, 2 pages)

"A Story" Essay In Li-Young Lee's "A Story," the poet presents the relationshipbetween a father and his son, told in the perspective of the father. Thefather worries about many things, including his lack of stories to tell inthe present and his son growing independent and leaving in the future. The ... Read More

An Analysis of the Poem LXIX by Emily Dickinson (362 words, 2 pages)

LXIX WriteKevin Jesubalan 5Emily Dickinson was a poet filled with many insecurities and issues, and in her poem LXIX she describes these to us. Dickinson writes that oneself can be much scarier than the dangers that we typically worry for.Opening her poem, Dickinson starts with a metaphor comparing the thoughts ... Read More

A Literary Analysis of a Free-Verse Poem in Sonnet by Billy Collins (452 words, 2 pages)

SonnetBilly Collins Sonnet is a free-verse poem on the making of a sonnet. While describing the process Collins also makes note on various qualities of sonnets which he doesnt use. Collins choice in his form, imagery, and language all portray an attitude of ease to writing a sonnet.Collins starts out ... Read More

The Use of the Generation Spectrum to Portray the Importance of the Balance in Life in Not Without Laughter, a Novel by Langston Hughes (738 words, 2 pages)

While making ones way through the maze of life, the most important thing is to keep balanced and be prepared for whatever obstacles life may put out. In order to succeed, one must learn from the past, keep in touch with the present, and not lose sight of the future. ... Read More

An Analysis of the Poem Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening (889 words, 3 pages)

Stopping By woods on a snowy eveningThe poem I chose to analyze was stopping by woods on a snowy evening by Robert frost. The first time I read this poem I didnt know exactly what it meant. I had to go over it a couple of times and slow down ... Read More

How Ordinary Occurrence Can Stimulate a Deeper Realization of One’s Life in Robert Frost’s Poem After Apple Picking (938 words, 4 pages)

After Apple Picking AnalysisRobert Frosts poem, After Apple Picking, demonstrates the way in which a ordinary occurrence can stimulate a deeper realization of one's life. Frost utilizes a myriad of devices and vehicles which contribute to the poem's overall dramatic effect on the reader. Frost's seemingly banal scene of picking ... Read More

American Poetry Essay Examples