How to Write About Poetry: I Shall Forget You Presently

The video tutorial provides a structured approach to analyzing a poem, specifically 'Shall I Forget You Presently My Dear' by Edna St Vincent Millay. It outlines five steps: multiple readings, understanding every word, analyzing the poem's music, asking questions, and looking for patterns. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of understanding the poem's language, form, and themes to develop a well-supported thesis. Bonus content offers additional insights and connections to other works by Millay.

Why is it important to read a poem multiple times?

• To memorize the poem

• To better understand the condensed language

• To find rhyming words

• To compare it with other poems

What does the word 'ere' mean in the context of the poem?

• Before

• During

• Never

• After

What is the significance of the poem being a Shakespearean sonnet?

• It follows a specific rhyme scheme and meter

• It is written in free verse

• It is a narrative poem

• It has no significance

What role does nature play in the poem?

• Nature conspires against the love

• Nature is not mentioned

• Nature supports the love

• Nature is indifferent to the love

How does the poem explore the relationship between time and memory?

• By suggesting time stands still

• By highlighting the fleeting nature of time and memory

• By emphasizing the permanence of memory

• By ignoring the passage of time

What is the poem's stance on love?

• It presents love as eternal

• It portrays love as a simple emotion

• It views love as fragile and temporary

• It ignores the concept of love

What is a possible thesis for analyzing this poem?

• Millay creates a traditional love poem

• Millay subverts traditional love poetry by presenting a realistic view

• Millay writes a poem about nature

• Millay focuses solely on memory