How to Appreciate Confessional Poetry
Read the particular poet's biography., Look at the poet's family history., Read the poem more than once., Analyse the technical merits of the poem., Consider the poem in the context of the collection that it originally appeared in., Read reviews of...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Read the particular poet's biography.
Every poem ever written has somehow been affected by the writer's life, but this is even more so with confessional poetry.
The whole idea behind the movement is for the poet to honestly express his or her life stories as poetry, with little or no limitations. -
Step 2: Look at the poet's family history.
Since everyone's been influenced by their family (like it or not), most confessional poets have probably referenced their family, friends, and life events, along with the general family history. , After you have a good understanding of the poet as a person, interpreting the poem should come to you much more easily.
Not only will you have an idea of where the poem came from, but you'll also have an idea of the poet's intended audience and the emotion that they're trying to express. , Confessional poets didn't just spill their guts onto paper and call it a day.
They still paid careful attention to craft and construction.Look for metaphors, rhythm, and other poetic tools.
See How to Analyze Poetry. , Many times the arrangement of a poetry collection isn't random or a coincidence.
Usually, the organisation of the collection is meant to show a particular period of the poet's life, from beginning to end.
Knowing this will give you an idea of what other poems in the book could be about, and therefore help you appreciate the poem that you've focused on the most. , Reviews aren't meant to dictate your opinion of a particular work.
Instead, they're meant to help you shape it, usually by revealing information that you may not have known or by bringing a different viewpoint that you may not have considered. , You'll find that it's not easy to reveal your most personal thoughts and feelings.
Read How to Practice Radical Honesty and give it a shot.
You'll be amazed at how people react, and you may gain a new respect for confessional poets because you may have a better understanding of what they might have faced for being so open. -
Step 3: Read the poem more than once.
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Step 4: Analyse the technical merits of the poem.
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Step 5: Consider the poem in the context of the collection that it originally appeared in.
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Step 6: Read reviews of both the poem and the book.
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Step 7: Write your own confessional poetry.
Detailed Guide
Every poem ever written has somehow been affected by the writer's life, but this is even more so with confessional poetry.
The whole idea behind the movement is for the poet to honestly express his or her life stories as poetry, with little or no limitations.
Since everyone's been influenced by their family (like it or not), most confessional poets have probably referenced their family, friends, and life events, along with the general family history. , After you have a good understanding of the poet as a person, interpreting the poem should come to you much more easily.
Not only will you have an idea of where the poem came from, but you'll also have an idea of the poet's intended audience and the emotion that they're trying to express. , Confessional poets didn't just spill their guts onto paper and call it a day.
They still paid careful attention to craft and construction.Look for metaphors, rhythm, and other poetic tools.
See How to Analyze Poetry. , Many times the arrangement of a poetry collection isn't random or a coincidence.
Usually, the organisation of the collection is meant to show a particular period of the poet's life, from beginning to end.
Knowing this will give you an idea of what other poems in the book could be about, and therefore help you appreciate the poem that you've focused on the most. , Reviews aren't meant to dictate your opinion of a particular work.
Instead, they're meant to help you shape it, usually by revealing information that you may not have known or by bringing a different viewpoint that you may not have considered. , You'll find that it's not easy to reveal your most personal thoughts and feelings.
Read How to Practice Radical Honesty and give it a shot.
You'll be amazed at how people react, and you may gain a new respect for confessional poets because you may have a better understanding of what they might have faced for being so open.
About the Author
Melissa Jimenez
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow lifestyle tutorials.
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