MODERN POETRY

Poetry should.....

achieve freshness, vitality,

and genuine emotion that sharpens our perspectives of

life

KEY INTO UNDERSTANDING MODERN VERSE

Stock responses are: predictable, conventional

reactions to:a) language b) charactersc) symbolsd) or situations

Clichés are: ideas or expressions that

have become tired and trite from overuse; they tend to:

a) anesthetize readers b) instead of alerting to the possibility of fresh

perspective

CONSIDER: STOCK RESPONSES, CLICHÉS, AND

SENTIMENTALITY

Sentimentality : cons the reader response because it tends to:

a) exceed what the situation warrants b) it’s like cotton candy -

momentarily sweet but wholly insubstantial

Sentimentality is considered a pejorative term - or a worsening

irony, not sentiment, which would be synonymous with emotion or feeling

Clichés, Stock Responses, and Sentimentality are considered hallmarks of weak writing

Modern Poetry - or maybe all poetry - achieves freshness, vitality, and genuine emotion that sharpen our

perceptions of life

MORE DEFINING

1. Consider the first stanza of the following Modern Poem.

2. Do you recognize any clichés, stock responses, or sentimentality? 3. If so, why? If not, why?

MODERN POETRY

I was bruised and battered and I couldn't tell

What I feltI was unrecognizable to myselfI saw my reflection in a window I

didn't knowMy own faceOh brother are you gonna leave meWastin' awayOn the streets of Philadelphia.

STANZA ONE

Notice references to the human spirit?

I walked the avenue till my legs felt like stone I heard the voices of friends vanished and gone At night I could hear the blood in my veins Black and whispering as the rain On the streets of Philadelphia

STANZA TWO

Find any clichés?

Ain't no angel gonna greet me It's just you and I my friendMy clothes don't fit me no moreI walked a thousand milesJust to slip this skin

Find any stock responses?

STANZA THREE

The night has fallen, I'm lying awakeI can feel myself fading awaySo receive me my brother with your faithless kissOr will we leave each other alone like thisOn the streets of Philadelphia

Notice speaker's view

of time?

STANZA FOUR

Get a copy of the lyrics from Mrs. Baran

PLEASE—AT THIS POINT

Characterize Philadelphia - what sort of life is described by the speaker? Which images seem especially evocative to you? Why do you feel the author limited punctuation in this verse? How do you make sense of the lines in the absence of conventional punctuation? What kind of mood is evoked by the language of these verses? Explain whether you think this poem can be accurately termed a narrative. Is this poem a true modern classic, or is this poem a mere play on your emotions to evoke a stock response?

Directions: Answer each question with thought provoking words

Did you hear of or view the movie Philadelphia starring Tom Hanks and Denziel Washington? This biographical movie chronicled the life of a Philadelphia lawyer who contracted AIDS and was subsequentially fired from his job. He was a very competent and valuable member of the firm until his illness became known. The young lawyer decided to sue his firm for discrimination. Not one lawyer in the 'city of brotherly love' was willing to take the case. Maybe these issues provoked Bruce Springsteen's telling lyrics.

DID YOU RECOGNIZE ANY ASPECTS OF THIS POEM?

DID ANY LINES SOUND FAMILIAR?

Part OneKnowing the circumstances for the poem, explain whether or not your life perceptions have changed.

Part TwoNow, consider the character of Miss Emily. What is the quality of life she faced nearly every day of her life?How did you make sense of the storyline with the element of flashback? What kind of mood is evoked by the language of this story?

ASSIGNMENT

Part ThreeNow compare Miss Emily to the speaker of the poem: consider time references, the human spirit, and the fear of being utterly alone.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Hyperlink to watch the video:http://10.1.1.13/SafeVideos/Video.aspx?id=4z2DtNW79sQ&redirect=true