Poetic Questions

So what makes poetry teachable? What gives value to a poem? What makes a poem about the Iraq war more teachable than a poem about the blue sky? When Mr. Heidkamp started asking these questions today my thoughts came down to this:

The blue sky is there. We can see it every cloudless day. I know the blue sky. When discussing something like the sky, there isn't going to be much controversy. As far as I'm concerned, unless there is an extended metaphor or some journey in the poem there isn't much to learn. There is no question or perspective that can be reviewed or analyzed. No questions asked.

Whereas a poem about the Iraq war could have some discussable qualities. Someone may not agree with the viewpoint presented, some may. Some people's ideas may even change through the course of the poem. I think that a teachable poem has to ask questions, challenge ideas, have a more meaningful meaning.

I guess I'm not actually answering what gives a poem value, because I think a poem about the blue sky can still have plenty of value, the beauty of nature or what have you-- it is neither more or less valuable than the poem about the Iraq war, there is just less to say about it, less to discuss I guess. My idea is that the hypothetical blue sky poem is more likely to be a statement, whereas the Iraq war one is more likely to be a question. Teachers will teach what gets minds going and its always the question. Thats just my thoughts though, any others? 

Comments

[Theresa Y.]

hey kirsten!

ok, here's my response:

I think that every good poem, whether it be about something as inconsequential as a dewdrop on a leaf, or about something much more "lofty" like politics are all valuable as long as they elicit a feeling from us. When a poem can cause such great feeling, then it is worthwhile, no matter what the subject content. Any poem that can touch a deep chord in your emotions obviously connects with the human race somehow, therefore it has an intense meaning.

Some poems are merely good, others are profound. The same with movies. Pirates of the Caribbean is just about a universally loved movie, yet people (at least I don't) don't get much more than a superficial excitement from it. Other movies will stick with you, and cause you to THINK, as in deeply about something, whether it be about the small things in life (like a blue sky), or the wars that are raging around the world.

Any poem, regardless of its subject matter, is valuable if it can make us deeply feel very human emotions. Obviously, the poem has touched upon something meaningful in our lives, personally or collectively.

Yes, (Ok, sorry my post is getting kind of long)each person may have a different response to a poem, but it is legitimate to judge that certain poems do cause these feelings more than other poems. These poems are obviously the ones that should be taught.

[benjaminl]

Can I ask one question. What makes a good poem and who decides. Doesn't everyone have there own interpretations and meanings they draw from them. A drunk homeless man can spew out words and someone write them down is that considered a brilliant poem. What is a poem.

[Brett N]

At face value, I do not think the subject of the poem can be used to determine how much the poem can be discussed or taught. Simple poems can talk literally about a blue sky but with a complex statement or argument behind it. I do not think that we can say a poem about a serious issue can be discussed any less than a poem about a blue sky because the face value of the poem is often just a thin shell covering the complex issues inside the poem.

[Kirsten H.]

Ok, just to clarify I do agree with Theresa and Brett, the value of a poem has nothing to do with the subject matter. Often my favorite poems are explorations of the little things. I understand that a poem about the blue sky has the ability to project numerous meanings, and if it is an extended metaphor or allegory it’s a different story. But if it is a poem simply of description, such as Tennyson's "The Eagle", it’s not very discussable. Invoking experience, interesting to read, but not discussible. It is no less valuable, it can heighten awareness of nature, but a poem like "The Eagle" cannot induce debates and in depth discussions. At least I couldn’t talk about it for a great length of time. Maybe poems like “The Eagle” should be taught so students know they are out there, but as for trying to explicate it, good luck.