Outlining

1. Outlining • Option 1: • Analyze the first poem in relation to the topic • Then analyze the second poem • Finally, discuss both • Option 2 • Analyze both poems in relation to the topic through 1 literary element • Do the same for another LE • Remember to look for • literary terms/elements, and explain • what the author does with it, • how he/she does it and • why he/ she does it

2. 9A Helen Essay Samples: What Todo

3. Body Paragraph 1 • He uses imagery to help describe her beauty. Some examples of this type of imagery are “Hyacinth hair, the classic face,” and “How statue-like I see thee stand.” These examples of imagery create a picture in the reader’s mind of a beautiful woman so perfect that she is like a statue with hair as soft and beautiful as a flower. The speaker uses this type of imagery to appeal to the reader’s senses, such as smell and sight. By comparing her hair to a flower, a connection is created in the reader’s mind because when most people think of flowers, they think of beauty.

4. In line 4, the alliteration of the “weary, wayworn wanderer” makes the line stand out for the reader. The speaker wants to make it clear that he is comparing himself to a tired, lonely sailor who misses his native homes and longs to see his love.

5. Body Paragraph 2 • “The lustre of olives” is being used symbolically. The speaker is making reference to Greece because the country is known for its olive trees. Olives are often used as a symbol for the goddess Athena, who was the goddess of war. Therefore, the speaker is trying to relate this description in the mind of the reader to the Trojan War.

6. The speaker consistently uses white symbolically throughout the poem. This color is used as a cold, unfeeling tone to describe Helen. • By using the words “hate” and “revile”, strong negative feelings toward Helen are created in the mind of the reader.

7. Body Paragraph 3 The speakers of the two poems have contrasting views of the character of Helen of Troy. In the first poem, the narrator extols Helen for her unbelievable beauty and sees her as an otherworldly being. On the contrary, the speaker of the second poem has a negative attitude towards Helen, condemning her for her actions. Poe’s speaker articulates Helen’s heavenly beauty in a praising tone. Her attraction is double-sided, as it is physically and spiritually immense. Helen’s “hyacinth hair” and “classic face” are striking, though it is her ability to move the speaker through time, and place him on the majestic shores of the early world civilizations that is momentous. Therefore, the speaker applauds Helen of Troy for her mystifying authority and compares her to the innocent goddess Psyche. The speaker has a positive attitude toward Helen, seeing her as one who can do no wrong. The narrator the “Helen” maligns Helen of Troy, putting all the blame, guilt, and responsibility on her.

8. Option 2 Sample • The speakers of each of the 2 poems create an image of Helen to convey their perspective of her. They both portray an image of Helen herself, and an image of their surroundings. The narrator of “To Helen” describes Helen’s hair as being “hyacinth”, a type of flower, and her face as being “classic”. This creates an image of Helen as being beautiful with flowing, long hair. In this poem, Helen is also described as being statue-like. This emphasizes that the speaker thinks Helen has very beautiful structural features. Overall the image of Helen is [beatific]. The narrator of “Helen” creates a very different image of her subject. A cold image of Helen is created to support his/her hateful view. Helen is described as having “still eyes” and a white face and hands. The speaker diminishes Helen’s physical features. Her feet are also described as “cool” and her knees as “slender”. The entire image the speaker creates is a cold, hard, and unfriendly one. Aside from the pictures created of Helen herself, an image of the speaker’s surroundings is also created. When Poe’s narrator describes the seas, he/she describes them as having a perfumed scent. This description paints a gorgeous picture of the seas and gives them a delightful smell. The speaker of “Helen”, however, creates practically the opposite image. The description of “white ash amid funereal cypresses” paints a depressing, cold and dark picture. • The next paragraphs also discussed the 2 poems together via diction/tone

9. Here, Helen is the fault of all that is wrong with Greece. Helen’s white, intense beauty actually compelled Paris to trail her. She chose to abscond to Troy out of selfishness rather than utilizing her sneaky, “slender” legs. The speaker’s view of Helen is completely negative. She supposes that if Helen were to die, no distress would take place. Unlike the speaker of Poe’s poem, this one does not praise Helen.