MOD - Modernist Poetry Lesson
Modernist Poetry Lesson
As you've discovered, Modernism was a movement that transformed all types of art. In this lesson, we will examine some famous Modern poets and attempt to understand what Modernism looks like based on their poetry.
As you read each poem, look for Modernist themes and forms. Additionally, you should answer the questions in the Modernist Poetry Reading Guide, linked below. You will not submit answers to these questions to your teacher, but they will help you understand the poems and prepare for a future assignment.
Modernist Poetry Reading Guide Links to an external site.
Robert Frost (1874-1963)
Learn additional information about Frost by viewing the presentation below. Click the > to advance slides.
Reading Assignment: Robert Frost
It is now time to read the poetry of Robert Frost. You will read the following poems, all of which are linked below: "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," "Acquainted with the Night," "'Out, Out: ' "and "Mending Wall." While Frost was not as experimental as other Modernists, he did believe that poetry should try to capture the common's man's voice and experience. As you read, pay attention to the everyday events Frost describes, the simple language in which he writes, and the descriptive imagery he uses to capture life in New England.
"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" Text Link Links to an external site.
"Acquainted with the Night" Text Link Links to an external site.
"'Out, Out: '" Text Link Links to an external site.
"Mending Wall" Text Link Links to an external site.
Carl Sandburg (1878-1967)
Learn additional information about Sandburg by viewing the presentation below. Click the > to advance slides.
Reading Assignment: Carl Sandburg
It is now time to read the poetry of Carl Sandburg. You will read the following poems, all of which are linked below: "Chicago," "Fog," "Grass," and "Choices." As one of the Chicago Poets, Sandburg was interested in depicting the lives of the working class in industrial America. As you read, pay attention to imagery - the sights, sounds, and smells - of city life, personification of elements of this life, and the faint hint of hope glimpsed through lines of exhaustion and despair.
Carl Sandburg Poems Text Link Links to an external site.
William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)
Learn additional information about Williams by viewing the presentation below. Click the > to advance slides.
Reading Assignment: William Carlos Williams
It is now time to read the poetry of William Carlos Williams. You will read the following poems, all of which are linked below: "The Red Wheelbarrow," "This Is Just to Say," "The Widow's Lament in Springtime," and "The Great Figure." Of the poets in this lesson, Williams is the best example of Imagism. Though his popularity was eclipsed later in his life as T. S. Eliot and his devastating version of modernity grew in popularity, Williams remained true to Imagism. As you read, look for descriptions of everyday objects and events in simple, short, powerful lines. Don't let yourself be fooled into thinking Williams just liked to paint pictures for his reader's mind. These pictures also serve as symbols for greater truths about life that the poet has recognized and would like to share.
"The Red Wheelbarrow" Text Link Links to an external site.
"This Is Just to Say" Text Link Links to an external site.
"The Widow's Lament in Springtime" Text Link Links to an external site.
"The Great Figure" Text Link Links to an external site.
Marianne Moore (1887-1972)
Learn additional information about Moore by viewing the presentation below. Click the > to advance slides.
Reading Assignment: Marianne Moore
It is now time to read the poetry of Marianne Moore. You will read the following poems, all of which are linked below: "Poetry," "Silence," "In Distrust of Merits," and "The Fish." Moore is known for her attention to detail and wit. As you read, pay attention to statements that may not mean exactly what they seem to mean at first. She also frequently juxtaposes two thoughts to make a point about them without stating her message directly, so read her poems as many times as you need until you start to understand her real message.
"Poetry" Text Link Links to an external site.
"Silence" Text Link Links to an external site.
"In Distrust of Merits" Text Link Links to an external site.
"The Fish" Text Link Links to an external site.
e. e. cummings (1894-1962)
Learn additional information about cummings by viewing the presentation below. Click the > to advance slides.
Reading Assignment: e. e. cummings
It is now time to read the poetry of e. e. cummings. You will read the following poems, all of which are linked below: "l (a," "anyone lived in a pretty how town," "i carry your heart with me," and "old age sticks."
Of the poets in this lesson, cummings is the most experimental, playing with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, parts of speech, word order, organization, etc. As you read, keep your mind open to this experimentation and keep your eyes open to notice how the way the poem looks on the page contributes to its meaning. Cummings's poetry has provided many students with their first understanding of how poetry can express so much more than the words on the page, and they have come to love his writing! So take some time to dig into his poems, and you may come to feel the same way!
"l (a," Text Link Links to an external site.
"anyone lived in a pretty how town" Text Link Links to an external site.
"i carry your heart with me" Text Link Links to an external site.
"old age sticks" Text Link Links to an external site.
RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.