Commentary Information

[ike]

English 3U7: Assignment Description

Written Commentary on Poetry Selection

Task Description: Students will be asked to write a commentary, in-
class in week 5 of Unit 1, on a poem in the Unit 1 poetry selections
folder. Please bring to class a copy of the poem you will be using for
the writing of your commentary. You may also bring ONE page of notes
with you to class on the day of the written commentary summative.

Expectations: You will have 60 minutes to write the commentary on
paper distributed to you in class. You may choose ONE of the
following topics to explore in your commentary:

heroic stature
heroic education
the continuity between the natural and supernatural worlds
elevated style
panoramic sweep/catalogues
sense of lament about a diminished present
invocation
lofty subject matter
military struggles
the conquest of the feminine

The point of the commentary is to:

1. identify the archetypal pattern of your topic’s presentation (for
example, how does The Odyssey present the concept of heroic stature?);

2. explore the ways either the modern epic or mock-epic adapts this
pattern (for example, how does Alexander Pope both invoke and toy with
the concept of heroic stature in “The Rape of the Lock”?); and,

3. consider the effects of this adaptation (what do you think Pope is
trying to suggest?)

Evaluation: Written Commentary Rubric (see attached)

[Ravi Datar]

nice

[Henry Li]

I made a page for this so this stays on the front page without getting
pushed into history (older pages).

[o e]

nice