Exercises -- Week 4

Exercise 1: Paraphrase

Paraphrase William Blake's "A Poison Tree".

Exercise 2: Symbolism

• Identify the symbolism in William Blake's "A Poison Tree".
  
• Is it an example of metaphor or simile?
  
• Interpret the symbolism.

Exercise 3: Comparison & Discussion

Compare William Blake's "The Lamb" with "The Tyger" and discuss in groups.

• Make a list of the differences between the poems and discuss them.
  
• Is the rhythm in these poems the same or different? What does this indicate?
• Find the intertextual reference in "The Tyger" to "The Lamb". What is the implication of this reference? How would you answer the speaker's question?

A Reading of William Blake's "A Poison Tree" with a musical tribute, an interpretative video, and a discussion on symbolism

Exercises & Assignments -- Week 3

Exercise 1: Meter

Determine the meter in William Blake's "The Tyger" and "London".

Exercise 2: Scansion and Meaningful Variation

What is the significance of the change from an iambic to a trochaic rhythm in line 4 of "London"?

Exercise 3: Scansion

Perform scansion on the poem "Song" by William Blake.

Exercise 4: Combine Imagery, Symbolism, Apostrophe, Personification and Rhythm

Do a short analysis of "Song" and "A Poison Tree" by William Blake.

Exercise 5: Writing a Paraphrase

Paraphrase the poems "London" and "Song" by William Blake.

Assignment: Interpretation

Interpret the poem "Song" by William Blake.

Exercises & Assignments -- Week 2

Exercise 1: Imagery, Symbolism, Simile, Metaphor, Apostrophe and Personification

William Blake's "To the Evening Star"

Mark all the examples of imagery (and their types), symbolism, simile, metaphor, apostrophe and personification.

Exercise 2: Imagery (and apostrophe and personification)

William Blake's "The Tyger"; "London"; "Song"; "The Lamb"; "A Poison Tree"

Identify and discuss the imagery in these poems. Also identify examples of apostrophe and personification.

Exercise 3: Denotations & Connotations

William Blake's "The Tyger"; "London"; "Song"; "The Lamb"; "A Poison Tree"

What is "said" (denotations) and what is "suggested" (connotations)?

Assignment: Symbolism

William Blake's "The Sick Rose"

Discuss the symbolism in this poem.

• Is the poem about England that is corrupted by politicians (the "worm")?
• Is the poem about a prostitute that is infected with a sexual transmitted disease?
• Is the poem about a virgin, that lost her virginity, maybe through rape?
• Do you have another interpretation?

Motivate your answer.