Confessional Poem Assignment

 

Pts. possible: 6
Draft due: Sept. 10th

Final version due: Sept. 17th

 

Write a well-developed confessional poem, at least 40 lines long. This kind of poem, with roots in the Romantic period of English literature, tends to do the following:

  • •Reveals something personal that is normally hidden or unspoken.
  • •Explores subject matter that isn’t usually discussed openly; challenges the line between acceptable and not acceptable, private and public.
    •
  • Often (but not always) focuses on personal life: family, personal relationships, childhood.
    •
  • Often (but not always) focuses on personal neuroses, personal “issues,” illness, fears, conflicts, loneliness.

 

For great samples of actual confessional poetry, click here.

PLEASE NOTE: you are obviously not required here to write about something which will truly make you uncomfortable. The idea is to see what you can write about—to find the line between what can and can't (or shouldn't) be said aloud. Where that line is located and how far you choose to push it is up to you.


Purpose: to practice writing your own poetry, to better understand the genres we’re studying through first-hand experience with the art, and to learn more about poetry generally. To gain a good understanding of the personal and expressive lyric impulse.

 

Audience: anyone interested in challenging, engaging, personal poetry.

 

Criteria: your poem should show lots of clarity, fresh language, and real images from your life and experience (or from whatever situation or things you are taking as your subject). It's especially important in this piece that your writing show plenty of good, interesting, concrete, specific details. If you don't know what a "concrete detail" is, now is the time to find out! Avoid clichés, sentimentality, and predictable sentiments or rhymes. Be sure to proofread your work. Be aware too of the dangers and drawbacks of this mode, as discussed in class. And, finally, be sure to proofread your work.

Very Good = A= 6 pts.. Meets all of the stated criteria and instructions exceptionally well. Excels in inventiveness, originality, and energy, relative to work produced generally in 222. Well-edited and proofed. Possibly publishable.

Good =B =5 pts. Meets all of the stated criteria and instructions, or meets several of them exceptionally well, despite a weak performance with others.. May be especially striking in spots, despite noticeable flaws. Very competent, but may lack originality or inventiveness, relative to work produced generally in 222. Good attention to style and mechanics. Clear attention to assignment.

Fair = C = 4 pts. Meets some of the stated criteria, or meets all of them only partially. Uninspired but minimally competent; or very inspired but lacking competence in key areas.. May show some inattention to, or misunderstanding of, instructions. Weak proofreading and editing.

Poor = D = 3 pts. Meets few of the criteria. May not not heed or understand instructions. May be sloppy, unproofed, unedited, and/or very perfunctory and uninspired.. An unsatisfying lyric, saved by at least minimal attention to at least one facet of the piece.

Unacceptable = F = less than 3 pts. Lyric either fails to meet any of the stated criteria, or demonstrates severe oversights or weaknesses in significant areas.


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