Thursday - 2.18.10

Today we studied a modern poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot. We began the period by going over the author's life, and reading about his accomplishments on pg. 716 in the literature book.

The poem is located on pg. 718. We listened to a recording of poem, noting the rhyme and rhythm of the poem. Before we began I went over a few key notes:

• This poem is a dramatic monologue...think like a soliloquy in a play (maybe Hamlet which is referenced several times).
• This is not free verse - there is a rhyme, although irregular. There is also a refrain that is repeated throughout.
• Eliot uses concrete images at the beginning of the poem, and then moves to abstract ideas.
• Tons of classical references throughout...beginning with Dante's Inferno, demonstrating how he is a lost man in the modern world.

After we listened to the poem, we answered the book questions together. Then students were given a handout to dissect the poem and its literary devices. This handout will be finished for homework and turned in tomorrow.

Don't forget - if you did not watch the video and comment yesterday, make sure you do so tonight!