William Avila

English 112B

Professor Warner

April, 30, 2007

Annotated Bibliography

Expression through Poetry and Drama

If you saw a butterfly how would you describe it? In the world of

poetry there is an ability to capture images and stories simply by

manipulating words. Similarly Dramas invest heavily in word play to

help strengthen characterization and convey deeper meanings into a

story line. The diverse range can go from statements to musical

compositions on a subject. Rather than simply state the facts words

can be altered changed and exaggerated to create a much more

meaningful world. This allows the imagination to capture so much more

for the reader. The purpose of this focus on poetry and drama is to

show works that serve to capture a vital part of the imagination.

Although Poetry can convey more to a reader it can also frustrate the

reader by becoming abstract in it's meaning. This causes anger leading

to the young adult to completely abandon poetry altogether. To avoid

this it is better to look at how the poem impacts the reader. That is

the whole purpose of any form of creative writing is to invoke some

reaction in the reader. If that communication is lost the poetry

itself loses all it's substance. The focus therefore should begin a

focus on wording that is more understandable and to then build from

there. Shakespeare's dramas particularly use double meanings along

with foreshadowing to build the story. As this is demonstrated it

helps the reader further understand the importance of wordplay.

For the young adult reader the idea of creative writing such as

poetry is threatening because they can be wrong in their

interpretation. While interpreting the poem is an important part being

able to get something from the poem is far more important. The

ability of poetry is to convey something to the reader beyond it's

words. By reading different poems and dramas the reader gets insight

into many different world views and philosophies. By allowing the

reader to invest in poetry rather than force it can help a reader

expand their on perspective on reality. The idea is to make reading

compelling enough that it is not a chore.

Ogden, Maurice. Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human

Behavior. Facing History & Ourselves. Natl 1994. 204-206.

The Hangman is a prose poem dealing with the arrival of a mysterious

executioner in a quit town. It portrays the villagers submission to

this gaunt man expecting him to leave once his job is complete. The

hangman explains his job is to hang the one who has served him most

faithfully. However the Hangman continues to lynch more and more

villagers never explaining if they are the "one". A great story

drawing parallels from the holocaust, The hangman establishes

wonderful atmosphere as well as rhyme to capture reader's attention.

Alighieri, Dante, and Pinsky Robert. The Inferno of Dante: A New Verse

Translation, Bilingual Edition. New York: Farrar, Straus and

Giroux. September 1, 1997.

Dante 's Inferno is the first part of the famous italian poem The

Divine Comedy which depicts the author's travels from hell to heaven.

Dante's Inferno is the long journey the poet makes through the various

layers of hell. Surreal and fantastic Dante is guided by the poet

Virgil into the various depths. Utilizing a variety of images and

clever dialogue the story of his adventure is always exciting.

Furthermore the use of philosophy in the book is extremely interesting

and can easily attract readers. Lucifer for instance is depicted as a

beast frozen in ice struggling to break free. He is three headed and

in each of his mouths is a traitor to a lord most notably Judas

Iscariot. The symbolism of each layer of hell helps illustrates what

Dante considered absolute depravity.

Shakespeare,William. Macbeth. New York: Washington Square Press. July 1, 2003.

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most famous dramas involving the fall

of a man by following his greed over his morality. The story tells the

story of macbeth, thane of Glamis, who meets three witches who

proclaim that he will become king. The prophecy excites Macbeth's wife

who convinces Macbeth to follow through by seizing the prize at any

cost. The play utilizes duality throughout the story to invoke more

about the philosophical choices of it's characters. The very first

line macbeth states is "so foul and fair a day I have not seen" which

embodies the duality of the play. For every obvious truth the

character witnesses there is a cruel irony that really exists.

Moore, Richard. No More Bottom. Orchises Press, June,1991.

Richard Moore's poem, A Deep Discussion, details the confrontation

between a giant squid and a sperm whale. The poem shows the debate

between a sperm whale and his prey a giant squid concerning honor. The

squid is cowardly in the whale's eyes for using it's ink as

underhanded. The poem is a debate between what is honorable and what

is not. Ultimately concluding with the whale having to swim up for air

falling. Essentially showing the whale's arrogance being his undoing.

Swift, Jonathan. Jonathan Swift, the Complete Poems. Connecticut: Yale

University Press. March 1983.

Jonathan Swift's a Maypole is the satirist and poet's way of

expressing dominion. The pole being merely an extension of power over

all those around it. The many colors it wears are the colors of

nations that control the love of nature. However at one point in the

poem the maypole is taken down. However "Jovial Cavaliers" come and

restore the maypole. Further the king, the church and the maypole are

restored as they are all one singular entity. What swift is expressing

is that rule brings no true nourishment to it's subjects and that it

rules on high above them.

Poe, Edgar Allan. Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. New

York: Doubleday; Reissue edition. August 15, 1984.

Edgar Allen Poe shows a depth of understanding of human cruelty

suffering and philosophy. Poe is also a shining example of a dark

romantic which can further expand the world of poetry. The Raven,

capture the imagination with the fear of the unknown further stressing

philosophy. The poem's focus is on the protagonist being overwhelmed

by the loss of a beautiful woman. He soon is plagued by paranoia and

is filled with terror over the unknown knocking he hears on his

chamber door. Poe's poetry is easy to approach, enjoyable and

demonstrates one particular form of romanticism.

Frost, Robert. Robert Frost: Selected Poems. New York: Gramercy. March 20, 2001.

Robert Frost, one of America's most infamous poets his works deal

with moral and philosophical choices. His most notable poem two roads

diverged in a yellow wood which deals with choices in life. His lines

"I wish I were one traveler and could travel both" are powerful ways

to express the totality of choice. That Frost's life was simply

changed by the fact that he could make the decision to take the path

less traveled. It is for this reason that frost has such high regard

because he can grab the very gut of the subject.

Dickinson, Emily. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Boston: Bay Back

Books,1976.

Emily Dickinson was an active poet in the nineteenth century one of

her poems a bird came down is particularly powerful. In this poem the

narrator watches a bird go about it's daily business. While it could

simply be described the author creates an atmosphere to capture the

moment instead of telling it. She is able to depict the bird's journey

through the day as well as the emotions of the animal. Demonstrating

how poetry can convey more communicative power then prose can in

certain cases.

Blake, William. The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake. New York:

Anchor.1997

William Blake a poet who features his own religious views into his

poetry. Two poems that hold particular reverence are the poems The

Tyger and The Lamb. These poems illustrate the idea of questioning

one's origins as well as place in the universe. Further the two poems

are connected together by showing the strength of the lion being made

by the same creator as the lamb. The fearful hand or eye of god is

also the maker of the little lamb. Showing the diverse belief system

that blake has

Donne,John. John Donne's Poetry (Norton Critical Edition) .New York: W.

W. Norton. November 19, 2006.

John Donne was a British poet who focused on sexuality, love and

death in his poetry. In particularly to Death be not proud a poem that

highlights how death is not as almighty as it seems. Death in this

poem is presented by being inescapable but at the same time that one

day it would die. That death is merely a small part of the universe's

design and therefore is really very inconsequential. That man kind

puts such reverence in death in this poem is laughable in fact. Death

not being absolute oblivion but merely a step towards a higher plane

of existence.