Reference no: EM133403386

Case Study: Below your passage, for each of five underlined keywords, write down the findings that added something new to your initial understanding of the word. Is there a definition that you did not know about but that now seems relevant and illuminating? Did the word's etymology reveal new information? Think of this as a kind of analytical glossary. Do not simply cut and paste the OED entries; some are quite long and may include definitions that are not relevant to your chosen passage. Do summarize and synthesize your findings, reflecting your careful reading of each dictionary entry. What did you initially think the word meant? How did the OED advance your understanding? If you choose to use specific phrases taken verbatim from the OED entry, those must appear in quotation marks. Do use the Etymology section in the OED entry. You might need to toggle "Show more" to see it in full. Keep in mind that the etymology (linguistic evolution or derivation) of a particular word and/or of its connotations may add layers of meaning that will need to be reflected in your glossary. Do make sure the definition(s) you use were current at the time of the poem's writing and make(s) sense in the context of the passage. Just because there is an additional definition does not necessarily mean that the connotation is relevant in context.

Go back to your chosen passage or stanza with your linguistic research in mind. Write one short response (five hundreds words) that offers a close reading of your chosen passage, showing how the linguistic work you have done influences your understanding of the significance of the passage and its function in the poem as a whole. Your response should be structured as an argument with a thesis statement and should draw on specific details both from your chosen passage and from your OED findings.

Questions: You might find some or all of the following questions helpful as a starting point for brainstorming your response:
a. What drew you to your chosen passage or stanza? Were there particular words or phrases that intrigued you from the start? If so, why?
b. How did your understanding of the passage or stanza change or shift as a result of the definitions and connotations you discovered? If so, how? Have you uncovered any puns, wordplay, unorthodox usages, or allusions?
c. If you have some experience analyzing poetry, consider including your observations about form, rhythm, tone, or literary devices to help support your argument. Does the form of the poem help illuminate the content?
d. How would you describe the function and significance of your chosen passage or stanza? (If your chosen lines are the whole poem, what do you see as the main point of the poem?) Did your work with the OED change, complicate, and/or deepen that interpretation?