[Stylist] Advice on how to critique a poem

[Jacobson, Shawn D]

Bridgit

Thanks.  I also wonder how to critique poetry.  I write some, but what I try to do is to be evacative and colorful when I can.

Once again thanks.

Shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Stylist
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2020 9:22 AM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List' <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter <bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Stylist] Advice on how to critique a poem

It surprises me that your instructors do not provide guidelines for how to workshop and provide feedback to peers. Poetry has a specific structure depending on the type of poem, but you provide feedback the same way you do with prose. What works and what doesn't, referring to specifics in the poem.
Line breaks, diction, syntax, structure, use of metaphor/imagery, etc. What did you take away? Years ago, an instructor of mine told us that to truly understand a poem and be able to provide feedback, we had to look at it as a whole, similar to abstract art. If you look at it merely section-by-section, it won't completely make sense; but once you step back and look at its entirety, you can make all the sections come together and make sense. This helped me better understand poetry and better appreciate it. Think about word choice, what imagery is the poet going for and. Just respond to what speaks to you in a poem.? Do the line breaks add to or take away from the sense of the poem, etc. Hope this helps.

Bridgit


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