Paper #1: Ye Olde Close Reading (due September 29th by 5pm)

PART ONE

For your first paper assignment, I want you to focus on the power of words/poetry and how one passage can provide a “key” to reading an entire work.  With this in mind, I want you to choose a significant passage from either Beowulf or The Canterbury Tales of between 10-25 lines (no less, and probably no more than that).  This passage should underline some important element or theme in the work that either helped you understand the work as a whole, or that you feel illustrates the ideas of the author and/or one of the characters.  Any passage is legitimate as long as you can articulate why you feel it’s significant and how it affects the themes/ideas of the poem. 

In your paper, I want you to perform a ‘close reading’ of this passage, which means a focused analysis of how the words, images, metaphors, and perhaps even the sounds of the passage contribute to the overall meaning.  Try to avoid summarizing what the passage is saying, and instead, analyze how the words make us respond and visualize the characters, situations, and ideas of the poem.  To do this effectively, you must quote from the passage throughout as you discuss it. 

LENGTH: This paper should be at least 3-4 pages, double spaced.  Be sure to cite all passages according to MLA format (we’ll discuss this again in class).

PART TWO

Ah, there had to be a part two, didn’t there?  To help you analyze the passage and notice the nuances of the poetry, I want you to memorize this passage and recite it to me in my office.  The better you know the passage, the more you will see and understand about it.  Remember that the Beowulf poet had to memorize the entire poem, and Chaucer most likely performed his poem aloud as well (probably reading it, though). 

At some point before the paper is due, I want you to come to my office (either informally or by appointment) and recite your passage to me.  I’ll follow along in the book, and as long as you are 90% accurate you’ll get full points.  However, if you fail to appear or haven’t memorized it at all, you’ll lose 20 points off your final grade.  But don’t let this scare you; it really isn’t as hard as it seems, and poetry—especially older poetry—is designed to be memorized and recited. 

Please let me know if you have questions or difficulties in choosing a passage—I would be happy to help you.  The paper is due Monday, September 29^th by 5pm.  Remember that you have to recite your poem by this time as well, not afterwards.  Good luck!