Just a Sketch

Intro

- In this section I will introduce my text (Elizabeth Alexander's Ars Poetica #100: I Believe) and give my claim. Current Thesis: Although E.A. effectively redefines poetry to her students, her asides make the intended audience of her poem confusing; in fact, the asides would strengthen her argument. I think it does because of the allusions and such. But I have seen her perform it without those, so I am confused about that. Additionally, I am not entirely sure if I can make the argument solid enough to be that explicit.

Section 1

- This section will explain that Elizabeth Alexander actually is effective with her definition of her poetry through her use of metaphors (examples are the pocketbook and clam flats, like in the picture). The metaphors help her to show details and show the nitty-gritty of poetry besides love and death. Her use of form is also effective. Her doublets as a statement until she ends with a single line: a question. This is cause for reflection.

Section 2

- This section explains that the asides (or parenthetical phrases) are confusing. They have allusions. They refer to a separate audience besides students. So who is the poem actually for?

Section 3

- This is where I prove that her intended audience is not in fact her students but actually poets and academia. The fact of the matter is that it is more effective when she performs it for the poets with the asides because asides contain more irony and add to the effect she is trying to portray.