Notes for practice exam

Question: 

5. Patterns, aimed at the mind, the heart or the ear of the reader, are used by poets to 
achieve their purposes. In the work of at least two poets you have studied, examine various patterns and their effects.

Outline: 

• Introduction
• Thesis: Poets can use different patterns to emphasize the points they want to show. Emily Dickinson follow the patterns on form, like repetition and rhyme, while Naomi Shihab Nye wrote more cultural connections, like figs and Palestinians. 
• First Paragraph: talk about the form of Blood, and the background of Naomi Shihab Nye. (Pattern-- free verse, Palestinian) She mentions Palestinian culture, figs, and grandma in every poem. 
• Second: analyze the sentences. Especially connection to 911, terrorists and true arabs. 
• Third: form of Hope is the thing with feather. repetition, rhyme, and dashes. Mention that Emily Dickinson always follow rules, and the patterns actually make the poem sound great. Also talk about the division of sentences. (one period) Also talk about personalize abstract things. She always talked about nature. 
• Fourth: talk about the contents. analyze the poem sentence by sentence. Remember to talk about the two ways to look at the poem. (positive: hope is around and free, negative: hope never comes). 
• Conclusion

Quotes may use: 

Hope is the thing with feather:

1. I’ve heard it in the chillest land - 

And on the strangest Sea - 

Yet - never - in Extremity, 

It asked a crumb - of me.

2. And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - 

And sore must be the storm - 

That could abash the little Bird 

Blood: 

1. A true Arab knows how to catch a fly in his hands,”   

2. True Arabs believed watermelon could heal fifty ways.   

3. Years before, a girl knocked,

wanted to see the Arab.

I said we didn’t have one.

4. “Shihab”—“shooting star”—

Once I said, “When we die, we give it back?”   

He said that’s what a true Arab would say.

5. Homeless fig, this tragedy with a terrible root   

is too big for us. What flag can we wave?

I wave the flag of stone and seed,

table mat stitched in blue.

6. I drive into the country to find sheep, cows,   

to plead with the air:

Who calls anyone civilized?

Where can the crying heart graze?

What does a true Arab do now?