CRITICAL

APPLICATION PROJECT 1: HORACE, ARS POETICA

CL 121 Critical approaches to Literature I
Dr. Joel E. Mann

Part 1: Critical poem

Due date: Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Point value: 50


Instructions: choose a post-classical poem in which you have a sustained interest.
(Preferably, the poems aesthetic quality will have been the subject of some debate
among literary critics.) Your task will be to write a critical poem of at least 500
words that estimates the poems quality in the terms outlined by Horace in Ars
Poetica. The critical poem itself should conform to Horaces aesthetic guidelines.

Your poem will be graded according to the following rubric:

Construction (10): Is the poem well constructed? Does it pay attention to meter and
rhythm? Doe sit employ euphony? Above all, does it exemplify the qualities that
Horace recommends in Ars Poetica?

Creativity (5): Is there a creative spark to the poem? Does it contain something in
either form or substance that sets it apart from the rest, that makes the poem
uniquely your work?

Interpretation (10): How well do you understand and analyze the target poem? Is
your comprehension of its formal and substantive aspects merely superficial? Or do
you dig deeper to uncover layers of meaning and complexity?

Application (25): Do you correctly understand and apply the poetic principles
articulated by Horace? Is it clear from your poem how the target poem measures
up in Horation terms?


Part 2: Critical essay

Due date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Point value: 50


Instructions: you will exchange poems with another student, chosen at random from
the class. Your task will be to write a critical essay of at least 1000 words that
estimates the quality of your peers poem in the terms outlined by Horace in Ars
Poetica.

Your essay will be graded according to the following rubric:

Organization (10): Is the essay well organized? Does each of its parts follow
naturally from what comes before and lead easily into what comes after? Does the
reader always understand what topic is being discussed, what claim is being made,
and why?

Style (5): Does the language of your essay flow smoothly? Is it clear? Is it
grammatical? Is the diction appropriate and interesting?

Interpretation (10): How well do you understand and analyze the target poem? Is
your comprehension of its formal and substantive aspects merely superficial? Or do
you dig deeper to uncover layers of meaning and complexity?

Application (25): Do you correctly understand and apply the poetic principles
articulated by Horace? Is it clear from your poem how the target poem measures
up in Horation terms?