8 A.P. poetry essay prompts to test your writing skills!
1. Hormonal: Contrast the attitudes in the poems “The Passionate Shepherd” by Marlowe and “The Nymph’s Reply” by Raleigh. Consider the style and theme.
2. Romance: In an essay, analyze how poetic devices convey the meaning of the poem in Sonnet 75 by Spenser.
3. Rejection: Write an essay in which you analyze the extended metaphor in Sonnet 30 and explain how it reveals the poets/speakers attitude.
4. Twisted: Sonnet 130 was written by the world's preeminent dramatist, William Shakespeare. After reading the poem, write an essay analyzing the extended metaphor in Sonnet 130 and Explain how it reveals the speaker's attitude.
5. Origins: Each of the the two stories, Ecclesiastes and Psalms, is concerned with life. Discus how the way of life is revealed. Make sure to include the theme and tone.
6. Chivalry: In what ways does the chivalry portrayed in Richard Lovelace’s poem, “To Lucasta, Going to the Wars”, reflect that of Arthurian tales. In what ways is it different?
7. Loss: After reading “On My First Son ” by Jonson, taking into consideration the title of the poem, use specific references from the text to show how the use of language reveals the speaker's attitude towards his son’s death.
8. Metaphysical: Given “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” and “Holy Sonnet 10”, discuss what elements make one poem better than the other.
2. Romance: In an essay, analyze how poetic devices convey the meaning of the poem in Sonnet 75 by Spenser.
3. Rejection: Write an essay in which you analyze the extended metaphor in Sonnet 30 and explain how it reveals the poets/speakers attitude.
4. Twisted: Sonnet 130 was written by the world's preeminent dramatist, William Shakespeare. After reading the poem, write an essay analyzing the extended metaphor in Sonnet 130 and Explain how it reveals the speaker's attitude.
5. Origins: Each of the the two stories, Ecclesiastes and Psalms, is concerned with life. Discus how the way of life is revealed. Make sure to include the theme and tone.
6. Chivalry: In what ways does the chivalry portrayed in Richard Lovelace’s poem, “To Lucasta, Going to the Wars”, reflect that of Arthurian tales. In what ways is it different?
7. Loss: After reading “On My First Son ” by Jonson, taking into consideration the title of the poem, use specific references from the text to show how the use of language reveals the speaker's attitude towards his son’s death.
8. Metaphysical: Given “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” and “Holy Sonnet 10”, discuss what elements make one poem better than the other.
Some helpful tips*
-Make notes in the margins!
-Do you know what the prompt is asking?
-Make sure you answer the question.
-Cite specific details.
-Do you know what the prompt is asking?
-Make sure you answer the question.
-Cite specific details.