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Learning Goals:
Implement a system/pattern for poetry analysis
Build a set of skills for presentations
Implement knowledge of context in analysis - ie time period, poet’s life, poet herself, etc
Develop a “critical eye” and be able think deeper
Learn about seeing with a “child’s eye”
What does it mean to see with a child’s eye and what does that have to do with Poetry?
What about the Human Brain?
two hemispheres
maybe our brains are MORE than we even think
brain is memory, brain is emotion, brain is personality, brain is SELF -
how is it possible that a five cup ball of mush can be you?
your brain is your ONLY ticket to reality - PERIOD
The brain is two main parts with a little thing in the middle called the CORPUS CALLOSUM.
Things that require activity from either side must go through this little pathway. This is a good model for thinking of any brain activity.
EVERY single thing you do is a system of activity - your brain is actually working like a team
SPEECH - memory - muscle movements - comprehension of words - formation of words - emotion - visual element - sound - etc
How does this SYSTEM form?
Babies are born ready to be structured by their experiences.
New things literally form new neural pathways. - Experiences literally create the brain.
Babies react to things in a very pure way. They haven’t got a reference for new things, so their response is natural and very much based upon their senses.
Free of preconception and judgment.
The brain is formed by the variety and differences to accept more and more and more stuff. More stuff, more experiences = more pathways = more growth and more abilities
If babies need new experiences, and if babies react very honestly and naturally and without prejudgment, then we could also suggest that poets need to approach reality with a child’s or a baby’s eye.
There is a part of our brain that is the opposite of a baby - there is a part of our brain that just behaves automatically.
The older we get, the more likely we are to follow patterns and routines and to follow this unconscious brain without reflecting upon it in any way.
This part of our brain just KNOWS stuff, it stops observing and it stops thinking.
A poet, a baby and Sherlock Holmes all should share the ability to ACTUALLY perceive and then the poet is able to describe.
Cliches - a repeated, often-used, trite (and now much reduced in interest and power) turn of phrase or idea or description (or anything)
A person who doesn’t observe is more likely to resort to cliche
You want to begin to value the way things really are. You want to begin to SEE for real. And hear for real. etc.
The Sense Challenge
Pick one or two or three of your senses that you like.
Do something that is socially acceptable that engages all of these senses.
Try to deeply engage in that sensual input.
Try to really think about what you’re sensing.
Really feel/smell/taste/see/hear/ESP exactly what’s happening.
THEN, try to describe it in as interesting a way as possible.
Example - FOOD of a complex nature.
Burrito Taste Adventure
avocado - soft, flavourless, fatty texture
cabbage - crunchy, sweetish, tinny flavour
coca powder in some kind of chili - beans, tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, lime juice, coriander, soy sauce or anchovy paste
chicken or pork - cook and shred into threads
hot peppers or hot pepper sauce
sour cream
strong cheddar
salsa
french fries down the middle
DO the crazy sundae - all kinds of candy and sweets and junk
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