Lecture Notes Review: Poetry and Lyrics

General review of poetic themes, literary devices, and song lyrics discussed in the lecture notes.

“So you want to be a writer?”

A poem by Charles Buckowski that cautions readers not to write unless they have an overwhelming passion, otherwise the work will be boring and forced.

“The Poet”

A poem by Jane Hirshfield that highlights the process and setting of a writer and discusses poetry as a necessary form of self-expression.

“Introduction to Poetry”

A poem by Billy Collins where the author expresses a desire for readers to feel, see, and understand poetry rather than just analyzing it for a specific answer or tearing it apart.

“You, Reader”

A Billy Collins poem that highlights different perspectives between the reader and author, using imagery such as the reader being near hydrangeas while the author is near a bowl of pears.

“I met a genius”

A poem by Charles Bukowski noted for its use of stacked word structure to highlight and emphasize certain words, giving more character and meaning to its elements.

“Barbie Doll”

A poem by Marge Piercy that uses the metaphor of a girl dying and the symbol of a fan belt to emphasize the pressure of social beauty standards.

“Those Winter Sundays”

A poem by Robert Hayden about a girl’s empathy and appreciation for the unrecognized work her father did to provide for the family.

“Still I Rise”

A Maya Angelou poem where she compares herself to physical objects like gold mines, diamonds, and a strong black ocean, expressing resilience as "the dream and the hope of the slave."

“The History Teacher”

A Billy Collins poem about the dangerous consequences of protecting the innocence of children by not telling the truth, which creates a cycle of violence and ignorance.

“Paper Bag”

A song by Fiona Apple featuring musical devices like assonance and internal rhyme, expressing a craving for reciprocated love where "hunger hurts."

“Dove of hope”

A symbol used in Fiona Apple’s “Paper Bag” where hope is associated with a bird, specifically representing dying hope because doves are usually symbols for death.

“Hannah Hunt”

A Vampire Weekend song about a road trip with a couple experiencing dying love, lack of trust, and differing views on their relationship.

“Cath..”

A poem about a woman in an unwanted relationship who wears a fake smile to avoid making things worse; the title's ellipsis and the term "hand me down" suggest she is unsure or untrue to herself.

“Shes American”

A song by The 1975 that criticizes stereotypical American teenagers, highlighting unrealistic societal standards, gun violence, and the attraction to superficial things.

“American Teenager”

An Ethel Cain song with a southern view on the American teenager that encapsulates "TV" teenager culture, including drinking, football, and a disconnect from religion.

“Do it for dale”

A reference to southern racing culture found in Ethel Cain's “American Teenager.”