Making Connections

Making Connections

  1. The Koch poem (p. 1111) is punctuated quite conventionally, while Williams’s poem (p. 1109) has no punctuation at all. Compare and contrast the effects of the punctuation choices. How do those choices affect each poem’s tone?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Making Connections: - The Koch poem (p. 1111) is punctuated quite conventionally, while Williams’s poem (p. 1109) has no punctuation at all. Compare and contrast the effects of the punctuation choices. How do those choices affect each poem’s tone?
  2. Compare the speakers in the two poems. As you compare, consider whether the speakers are men or women. What other qualities are revealed about them? How can you tell?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Making Connections: - Compare the speakers in the two poems. As you compare, consider whether the speakers are men or women. What other qualities are revealed about them? How can you tell?
  3. The Williams poem’s title is also its first line—“This is just to say” being a way we sometimes start notes or e-mails—while the Koch poem forgoes that nicety. How does that difference affect meaning in the two poems?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Making Connections: - The Williams poem’s title is also its first line—“This is just to say” being a way we sometimes start notes or e-mails—while the Koch poem forgoes that nicety. How does that difference affect meaning in the two poems?
  4. Do you think the Koch poem is more than just a parody? How do you think the speaker feels about Williams?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Making Connections: - Do you think the Koch poem is more than just a parody? How do you think the speaker feels about Williams?
  5. Compose a couple of your own versions of “This Is Just to Say.” Make one a straightforward “love note”; make another a parody.

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Making Connections: - Compose a couple of your own versions of “This Is Just to Say.” Make one a straightforward “love note”; make another a parody.