Grammar and Usage
Early in the school year, my students have difficulties writing simple and complex sentences. Before beginning the unit on poetry, I must make sure that everyone can effortlessly write and identify simple and complex sentences. Additionally, we will review types of sentences and parts of speech. I can then explain how poetry writing may deviate from some of the grammar and usage rules that generally apply. With that accomplished, I will paraphrase the following quote when I explain how poetry is written:
Poets are perfectly willing… to flout prescribed usages if it is necessary to the artistic success of the poem. If a poet is being ungrammatical or ignoring standard punctuation or is not using capital letters where capital letters seem to be called for, it is safe to say that the poet has a good reason for doing what she or he is doing. Notions of correct usage emphasize comprehension and poems want to be comprehended but that comprehension must occur on the poems' own terms. (Wormser, 79)
I will provide students with examples of poems to show them how to write in this way and explain why some of the grammar and/or usage rules have been ignored.
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