Making Connections

1. The speaker in the poem both describes and interprets Homer’s painting. Which are the literal descriptions; which are interpretive?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Making Connections: - The speaker in the poem both describes and interprets Homer’s painting. Which are the literal descriptions; which are interpretive?
2. How would you describe Trethewey’s attitude toward Homer’s painting? Is she critical? Appreciative? Admiring? Ironic? Nostalgic? Ambivalent?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Making Connections: - How would you describe Trethewey’s attitude toward Homer’s painting? Is she critical? Appreciative? Admiring? Ironic? Nostalgic? Ambivalent?
3. In his announcement of Trethewey as U.S. Poet Laureate in 2012, James Billington, the librarian of Congress, said that the language of her poetry “reminds you that the experience of great art, of great poetry, is something that stretches beyond the frame it comes to you in.” In what ways does “Again, the Fields” stretch beyond the frame of Homer’s canvas? Discuss to what extent you think it fair to hypothesize or point out what is not included or addressed in a work from an earlier time period.

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Making Connections: - In his announcement of Trethewey as U.S. Poet Laureate in 2012, James Billington, the librarian of Congress, said that the language of her poetry “reminds you that the experience of great art, of great poetry, is something that stretches beyond the frame it comes to you in.” In what ways does “Again, the Fields” stretch beyond the frame of Homer’s canvas? Discuss to what extent you think it fair to hypothesize or point out what is not included or addressed in a work from an earlier time period.
4. An elegy is a tribute to, lamentation for, or serious reflection on the dead. Compare and contrast Homer’s painting and Trethewey’s poem as elegies.

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Making Connections: - An elegy is a tribute to, lamentation for, or serious reflection on the dead. Compare and contrast Homer’s painting and Trethewey’s poem as elegies.
5. Imagine that Homer could read “Again, the Fields.” What might his response be? Research Homer’s participation in the Civil War; then, in his voice, write a letter to Trethewey.

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Making Connections: - Imagine that Homer could read “Again, the Fields.” What might his response be? Research Homer’s participation in the Civil War; then, in his voice, write a letter to Trethewey.