Blog #2
Writing about poetry and writing poetry are very different processes. Writing about poetry requires interpretive skills to find meaning in the words that you are reading, while writing poetry requires you to make meaning through words. Writing about poetry at its core is about understanding, then explaining the conclusions you came up with based on the words in the poem itself. Writing poetry is all about creation through form and careful choice of words, which allow others to undergo the process of understanding, interpreting, and writing about poetry for your work.
Writing about poetry helped me understand word usage and form on a much deeper level since I was able to deeply analyze an already successful and beloved work. Being able to pay attention to how the poem was written and how complex ideas were expressed in so little words helped me practice finding the most important and key details to keep in the poem and what details weren't as important. Having written my own poems, it helped me understand the process of poem creation more intimately, which allows me to notice details I otherwise would not have. This helped me build skills in understanding how poems are structured and how they work to express emotions and ideas.
From this experienced, I learned how writing about something as well as writing that something firsthand goes hand in hand. In this example, I understood how writing about poetry and writing poetry both give unique insight in understanding poetry as a whole, and I think incorporating both in a general sense can give students a wider grasp on areas of study, which I find much value in. It can also spark more creativity and engagement, as well as interest, and I think this has helped open my mind to a lot of new potential ways of teaching.
Hello, Homura! When composing my own poetry, I too discovered the importance of both form and word usage; as I mentioned in my post, nothing in poetry is without purpose, and each word has been carefully selected by the poet themselves in order to properly convey their thematic intention. After this experience, I will say that I enjoy the process of writing poetry more than I do that of writing about poetry. There is a certain element of limitless freedom associated with the former, a chance to create something exciting and new, full of emotion. Writing about poetry, on the other hand, can be somewhat difficult, considering the sheer amount of research that must be done to comprehend the metaphors and references within. While this may be rewarding for some, I have always found it to be a tedious task. Having to complete additional work to simply understand what it is that the poet intends to say ultimately bogs down my ability to enjoy poetry, in my opinion. Nevertheless, I suppose I cannot say much, since we do the same when we compose our own poems, borrowing from various sources to enhance our work.
ReplyDeleteHi Homura!
ReplyDeleteI agree that writing about poetry can spark creativity. When writing my own, I was conscious of the elements I discovered in the poetry of others. This was helpful, but also intimidating to me a bit. Writing about poetry can be overwhelming, so when it came to writing my own I felt like I had to live up to some ideal I could not reach. I think we have to dispel the notion that all poetry is good poetry. It is ok to write the bad poetry, especially when learning. Teachers say this to students often, but for some reason I do not think it sticks in the mind. I think the more students get comfortable writing poetry themselves, the more comfortable they will get expressing themselves. Learning through the process of creation is valuable task. I think it teaches you about yourself and helps you push limits that would otherwise be a hinderance.
-Katanie