For a Freshman Reader (Masterplots II: Poetry, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Donald Justice
- First Published: 1966
- Type of Work: Lyric
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric poetry
- Subjects: Politics, Schools or school life, Poetry or poets, Nazism or Nazis, Students or student life, Time
The Poem
“For a Freshman Reader” is a poem of twenty-two lines divided into eleven un-rhymed couplets. The poem is exemplary of syllabic structure; each line is precisely seven syllables long. While the syllabic form may seem restrictive, each line achieves the naturalness and fluidity of speech. This poem creates a particular tone and cast to the speech of its narrator. In the first person, the speaker directs comments to those present—listeners, readers, disciples, pupils—as in a dramatic monologue. One does not hear the responses to the poem. The voice, however, is...
[The entire page is 1565 words long]
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