1. Modern American poetry

2. The Traditionalists

3. E. A. Robinson Form: traditional Content: pessimistic & modern
"Richard Cory" - 4 line stanzas like a ballad; content is pessimistic describing how people don't really know what other people are thinking or feeling; man character escapes through suicide
"Miniver Cheevy" - traditional form, but content is again about a troubled man who tries to escape through alcohol

4. Robert Frost
Uses traditional form and content

5. W. H. Auden Form: traditional Tone: pessimistic
Content: condemnation of modern society
"The Unknown Citizen"

6. The Experimentalists

7. Imagists and Imagist Poetry
Imagists - group of writers who revolted against forms of the past & desired to write poetry for aesthetic purposes
Aesthetic - pleasing to the eye

8. 6 Principles of Imagist Poetry
1. Use of common, exact language
2. Use of free verse - no rhyme or meter
3. Freedom in choice of subject
4. Use of particular details to "present an image"
5. Hard & clear poetry - no unnecessary words, no double meanings
6. Fewest words
No message - just present an image for aesthetic purposes

9. William Carlos Williams
"The Read Wheelbarrow"
Image: contrast b/t red, hard shiny surface of the wheelbarrow and the soft, fluffy white chickens
Setting is implied but details are not important to the single image he is portraying

10. "This Is Just To Say"
What makes this a poem?
What image is he trying to portray?
What words does he use to make us see (and maybe taste?)the plums?
Which principles of imagist poetry are portrayed in this poem?

11. Carl Sandburg From Illinois His writing used - non-traditional style
- slang
- unrestricted content
- free verse
Used his poetry to attack Christian principles/beliefs

12. "Chicago" Use of metaphor and personification
How does he tie the beginning to the ending of the poem?
Give an example of the slang used in the poem
What image of the city is Sandburg trying to portray?

13. "Fog" Metaphor: the fog is compared to ?
What is the image that Sandburg is portraying?
How is the city different in this poem as compared to "Chicago"?

14. "Grass"
Allusion : reference to something specific outside the work itself
What are the allusions? What is the purpose of the allusions? What does Sandburg want us to think about?
What is significant about the order of the allusions?
Who is the narrator?
Who are the other characters in the poem? What is their response to the images they see?
What is included in the word "all" in line 3?

15. James Weldon Johnson Lawyer Musician Secretary for NAACP
Literary critic
Novelist
Poet - helped lay foundation for Harlem Renaissance of 1920s
God's Trombone - series of 7 sermons in verse form

16. Anthropomorphism - attributing of human characteristics or behavior to God ( or a god)
Look for examples
What is the function of anthropomorphism in the poem?