We discussed two poems today: “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy.” I was glad to hear that a number of you were familiar with Dunbar’s poem (from Jan’s class?), as the historical background helps clear up his references to the artillery and gear of a WWI soldier. The poem’s link above has explanatory notes if you are still unsure about a few things.

While the site I pulled the text from seems to be down at the moment, I did come across a video of Plath reading her poem:

Do you think of the poem differently after hearing the author read it?

I was greatly impressed by your interpretations today. This is a very complex piece, and it’s great to see that you are able to tackle it so early in the year.

We will continue our discussion tomorrow with hope that you will gain a better understanding of this misunderstood creature we call poetry.