Question

Comparing Text and Song Versions of a Poem

In this task, you will write a short essay that contrasts how a poem sounds when read in its original form to how that poem sounds when heard as a song.

PART A

Choose one of the following pairs of poems and songs:

https://contentstore.ple.platoweb.com/content/sharedmedia/Passages/English9/The_Lady_of_Shalott.html “The Lady of Shalott” by Alfred Tennyson; song “The Lady of Shalott” by Loreena McKennitt
https://contentstore.ple.platoweb.com/content/sharedmedia/Passages/English9/Because_I_could_not_stop_for_Death.html “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson; song “Because I Could not Stop” by Natalie Merchant
https://contentstore.ple.platoweb.com/content/sharedmedia/Passages/English9/Promises_Like_Pie.html “Promises Like Pie-Crust” by Christina Rossetti; song “Promises Like Pie-Crust” by Carla Bruni
https://contentstore.ple.platoweb.com/content/sharedmedia/Passages/English9/The_Two_Trees.html “The Two Trees” by William Butler Yeats; song “The Two Trees” by Loreena McKennitt

Plan to read the text version of the poem and listen to the song version a few times to get a good feel for the rhythm of each of the two versions. Then, think about how it contributes to the feeling and meaning of the poem in both situations.

Write a short essay (200–400 words) comparing the two versions of the poem, considering the following questions:

How does the meter of the poem change, if at all, when it is presented in song form?
Does the original poem have a meter that lends itself well to song lyrics?
How, if at all, is the poem changed or presented differently as a song?
Why might the artist have made changes to the poem?
Does the poem take on a different meaning in song form than in poetic form?
Structure your essay into an introduction, body, and conclusion. Make sure your essay focuses on a main idea, includes precise language to clarify ideas, and is written in a formal style. Use textual evidence, including scansion, to support your ideas.


PART B
Revise the draft of your essay before you submit it to your teacher. Use the following checklist to revise your essay:
HERES THE QUESTIONS
Does the essay have a clear and concise main idea?
Is this idea made clear to the reader in a thesis statement early in the essay (usually in the first paragraph)?
Is there a clear plan and sense of organization to the essay?
Have you included concrete examples from the poem to support the analysis in the essay?
Is each paragraph clearly related to the main analysis of the essay?
Is the main point of each paragraph clear in the essay?
Does the essay's conclusion emphasize the main idea and provide a sense of completeness?

Answer 1

We can see here that writing an essay comparing two versions of a poem involves several steps to effectively analyze and discuss the similarities, differences, and nuances between the texts.

1. Read both versions of the poem thoroughly, paying attention to the language, structure, tone, imagery, themes, and poetic devices used in each version.

2. Develop a clear and focused thesis statement that highlights the main points of comparison between the two versions.

3. Outline the structure of your essay, organizing the main points you'll discuss and the evidence you'll provide to support your comparison.

4. Include specific lines or stanzas from both versions to support your analysis. Use direct quotes as evidence to illustrate your points.