Section C
Okay. You remember that I’ve mentioned that it’s important to
read the (36) poems aloud, so you can develop an appreciation
of the sounds of the poetry: the rhymes, the (37) , the
repetition of words or sounds, and to get a sense of the interplay between the
sounds of the words and their meaning. This is really
(38) as we move into modern poetry, especially by writers
who place so much importance on sounds that the meaning becomes all
letter-relevant. Like this line by Gertrude Stein that I’d like to (39)
. Listen as I say the words. "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose."
(40) literally, this would seem to be an empty statement,
one which gives us no information. But the purpose of a poem need not be to
inform the reader of anything, but rather to evoke feelings. To create a sensual
as well as phonically (41) experience. Now Gertrude Stein
was better known for her prose than for her poems. But I’d like to quote this
line, because of its musicality, and because I think it helps open up our
(42) to the unconventional style of (43)
poets. You’ll see this in your homework tonight as you read the poetry of John
Ashbery, (44) , which I recommend you do. Poets like Ashbery
don’t rely so much on any formal rhyme scheme or meter as on the musical quality
of the individual words themselves. As I said, (45) . And now
I’d like to touch briefly on her essay entitled "Convention and Explanation".
(46)