themes and summaries

• "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot


  Explores the inner turmoil and existential crisis of a modern man, Prufrock, as he contemplates his life choices and societal expectations
• Theme of "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

  • Alienation, indecision, and the search for meaning in a fragmented modern world
• "Poetry Makes Nothing Happen" by Julia Alvarez


  Discusses the role of poetry in society and its potential to inspire change despite seeming inconsequential
• Theme of "Poetry Makes Nothing Happen"

  • The transformative and unifying power of poetry in addressing social and political issues
• "Humanity 101" by Denise Duhamel


  Humorously explores human behavior and the absurdity of life's complexities through a series of scenarios
• Theme of "Humanity 101"


  • The poem questions and critiques human behavior and society's idiosyncrasies
• "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson


  Tells the story of a wealthy and admired man who unexpectedly takes his own life, highlighting the discrepancy between appearance and reality
• Theme of "Richard Cory"

  • The deceptive nature of outward appearances and the isolation that can come with success
• "Carp Poem" by Terrance Hayes


  Describes the speaker's connection to the world of fishing, weaving in reflections on race, history, and personal experience
• Theme of "Carp Poem"

  • The intersection of personal and collective history, and the complex relationships between individuals and their environments
• "My Father's Song" by Simon J. Ortiz


  Reflects on the speaker's relationship with his father and the lessons learned from him about respect for the natural world
• Theme of "My Father's Song"


  • The passing down of cultural knowledge and respect for nature through generations
• "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke


  Recounts a childhood memory of dancing with his father, revealing a mix of affection and fear
• Theme of "My Papa's Waltz"

  • The complexities of familial relationships and the influence of the past
• "Do Not Go Gentle into That Goodnight" by Dylan Thomas


  A passionate plea for his father to resist death with all his might, celebrating the struggle against mortality
• Theme of "Do Not Go Gentle into That Goodnight"


  • The inevitability of death and the human desire to fight against it
• "Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins


  Encourages readers to approach poetry with an open mind and experience it without overanalyzing
• Theme of "Introduction to Poetry"

  • The joy and discovery found in exploring poetry through direct engagement
• "Tell all the Truth But tell it Slant" by Emily Dickinson


  Suggests that truth should be revealed gradually and indirectly to make it more palatable
• Theme of "Tell all the Truth But tell it Slant"


  • The delicate nature of truth and the art of conveying it in a way that can be understood
• "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Speaks about the masks people wear to hide their true selves, especially in the context of African American experiences
• Theme of "We Wear the Mask"

  • The disconnection between outward appearance and inner reality, particularly for marginalized groups
• "Ballad of the Landlord" by Langston Hughes


  Tells the story of a tenant's struggle with an unjust landlord and the systemic racism they face
• Theme of "Ballad of the Landlord"


  • Social injustice, racial inequality, and the power dynamics between different groups in society
• "Harlem" by Langston Hughes

  Questions what happens to a dream deferred and explores the consequences of unrealized dreams
• Theme of "Harlem"


  • The frustration and potential explosiveness of unfulfilled dreams, particularly in the context of racial inequality
• "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost


  Follows the narrator as they choose between two diverging paths, reflecting on the significance of their choice
• Theme of "The Road Not Taken"


  • The impact of individual choices on the course of one's life and the inevitability of regret
• "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" by William Shakespeare


  Subverts traditional poetic comparisons by presenting a realistic portrayal of the speaker's mistress
• Theme of "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun"


  • Authenticity in love and the rejection of idealized comparisons
• "Rising 5" by Norman Nicholson


  Explores the passage of time and the process of aging, focusing on a child's anticipation of the future
• Theme of "Rising 5"


  • The tension between the present and the future, and the fleeting nature of youth