Week 61: College Reading and Writing: Philip Larkin

Week 61: College Reading and Writing: Philip Larkin

  

Philip Larkin: Annotating, Summarizing, Analyzing, Imitating 

  

to annotate: to make notes on something to help you understand it better 

to summarize: to put something in your own words 

to analyze: to consider a question on the text, providing supporting examples from the text 

to imitate: to create an original piece of writing based on something you have read 

  

Exercise: Read and annotate 

  

1. Read the poem out loud and underline any words you need to look up 

2. Write any questions you have in the margins or in your notebook 

3. Put tricky parts into your own words in notes in the margins or in your notebook 

  

Exercise: Questions for comprehension of the poem    

  

1. How does sound work in this poem?

2. What kind of words are used?

3. What does the title teach the reader?

  

Exercise: Summarize the poem 

  

Write a paragraph summarizing the poem with quotations, in-text citation, and a Work Cited Page. 

  

Example too-short summary, incorporating quotation and in-text citation: 

  

Brenda Hillman’s poem “The Family Sells the Family Gun” tells the story of siblings getting rid of their father’s gun after “his ashes...were lying” (87). The speaker questions what it means to own and get rid of a gun in America, saying, “[w]e couldn’t take it to the cops even in my handbag” (Hillman 88). 

  

Work Cited Page (for today’s poem) 

  

Larkin, Philip. “This Be The Verse.”Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, 2019, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48419/this-be-the-verse

 

Exercise: Analysis 

Question for analysis: This poem is about the cycle of intergenerational relationships. I think the rhyming and swearing make this difficult topic very funny. What do you think? Remember to use quotation and citation as you support your points.

  

Exercise: Imitation 

Write a funny rhyming poem about family. It can be about your mom making your favorite food, your little brother following you around, your cousins or friends who are like siblings. It can be something you love, something you hate, or something that makes you smile.  It can be based on an event, just the way they are, or what you always dreamed about. You are the expert on you.  Use elements from Larkin’s poem  that you admire to make your own story stronger. 

Homework: 

            

1.     Summary of Poem                    

2.     Analysis of Poem           

3.     Imitation of Poem          

  

About this class: 

Your notebooks belong to you; you can write first drafts in them, and make notes for yourselves.  To turn in homework, revise your work in a blue book or sheets of paper you can get from your instructor. In this class, you are welcome to submit homework for a grade. If it’s not strong enough to earn an A, I’ll give you some comments to help you revise it, and let you do it over again. You have as many chances as you want to complete and perfect the work in this class, and you are welcome to do more than one week’s worksheet for homework at a time; ask me for sheets you’ve missed. Students who complete 15 weeks of graded assignments and a longer paper can qualify for college credit. When you get close to completing 15 weeks, I’ll help you get started on your longer paper.

This Be The Verse

BY PHILIP LARKIN

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.  

        They may not mean to, but they do.  

They fill you with the faults they had

        And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn

        By fools in old-style hats and coats,  

Who half the time were soppy-stern

        And half at one another’s throats.

Man hands on misery to man.

        It deepens like a coastal shelf.

Get out as early as you can,

        And don’t have any kids yourself.