Compare and contrast the poems and/or poets within this week's reading. You may compare poems by the same poet, or poems across more than one poet.

Have a debatable, persuasive claim and focus on specific points of comparison, using the Lesson in week 7 to guide your structure. Please consult the MLA handbook if you are in doubt about citation form

Your essays should be in MLA Style and approximately 1625-1950 words, not including the Work(s) Cited page. Meeting the minimum word requirement makes you eligible for a C grade.

Meeting the maximum word requirements makes you eligible for an A grade. As with most academic writing, this essay should be written in third person. Please avoid both first person (I, we, our, etc.) and second person (you, your).

List of poems and authors you may use

Larry Levis, "Winter Stars

Larry Levis, "To a Wren on Calvary

Larry Levis, "signs"

Linda Pastan, "Why Are Your Poems So Dark

Linda Pastan, "the obligation to be happy"

Linda Pastan, "I am learning to abandon the world"

Linda Pastan, "a rainy country"

Sharon Olds, "The Planned Child"

Sharon Olds, "after making love in winter"

Sharon Olds, "still life in landscaping"

Sharon Olds, "first thanksgiving"