Vaughan’s Poems

ENGL 520

Dr. Fike

There is more material on pages 872-85 than we can possibly cover in a single day, though you should read it all.  In class, we will focus on the four most important religious poems among the excerpts presented here: 

• “Regeneration”
• “The Morning-Watch”
• “‘They are all gone into the world of light!’”
• “The Night”

I will assign poems on e-mail.  Here is what you should do with your poem:

• Begin with a paraphrase of each stanza.  (You may want to do this in pencil in the margins of your book.)
• Then prepare to present your poem to the class by considering the following questions:
  • What is the main theme of your poem?
  • What images does your poem use?
  • What ideas do those images suggest? 
  • What concepts (especially religious concepts) do you find?
  • What biblical allusions appear in your poem?
  • How does the argument develop in the poem?
  • Can you make any connections between stanzas?
  • What seems to be the speaker’s spiritual condition?
• You may find that applying the elements of critical thinking helps you unpack your poem.  They are as follows:
  • Context
  • Point of view
  • Question at issue
  • Purpose
  • Assumptions
  • Implications and consequences
  • Information
  • Concepts
  • Conclusions, interpretations
  • Alternatives
• In any case, the above should help you get started on our poem.  Response papers are very welcome.  As for your presentations, a handout would be highly desirable.  These are difficult poems, and a visual aid would help your classmates follow along.  If we run out of time, you can still exchange handouts.