Writing a thesis on English poetry can be difficult because you need to analytically evaluate the poems before you start writing. You do not essentially have to become a writer or a poet after getting this degree, but you also get associated with other professions, as Forbes tells in a report:
“This major develops exceptional communication skills and an ability to think critically, which can apply in any number of fields, from law and medicine to technology and media.”
We have assembled the primary guidelines for you to follow when writing a thesis on the poetry of British literary works. Analyse how the poem works, interpret it and address every aspect of the work of literature you have chosen.
Also, you can get thesis writing help on English poetry from a professional writing company, which makes the research work easier for you.
What Are the Elements of the Best Thesis on English Poetry?
The multi-faceted nature of poetry expects you to know where you are aiming to go before you construct the arguments of your work. After you have analysed the topic well enough and have taken notes, you should start working on crafting the thesis on English poetry.
Here is how you construct your papers as a literary analysis of the poem in the best possible manner:
1. Formulating the Thesis Statement
When starting to write your thesis, you should review your notes and look for the best themes and patterns in it. Then, you should formulate the thesis statement that allows you to explain the relationship between different elements in the poem.
Keep in mind that your thesis statement must focus on proving a point instead of just saying that the poet uses certain poetic devices to entice the readers. For this, you do not essentially need to go into the details of the thesis but show the relationship between the argument and the poem you are discussing.
Considering the tone of language used in the selected piece of poetry is important, as described in the book The Rhythms of English Poetry by Derek Attridge. It helps the writer get to the gist of the poem he is working on.
2. Introduction
The first paragraph of your thesis on English poetry should make the reader comfortable with the poem and provide them with an insight into what the thesis is about. Provide them with a brief description of the poem and develop your argument by further limiting the subject.
You must not make abstract statements; always raise strong arguments that you can correctly link to the main body of your thesis. The more you focus on the specific points in your thesis, the sooner you will engage the readers.
3. Developing the Main Argument
When developing your main argument, the approach you take for organising your thesis will play a substantial role. Some of the main arguments make a linear presentation, while others need to be dealt with in a more rational manner.
For example, if you are working on the imagery in one of the poems by John Donne, you can show the reader how the image of a situation changes from stanza to stanza and relate it chronologically to the poem.
Some poems are to be explained in a non-linear manner: here, you have to organise the arguments by way of patterns that you recognise in the text. You will need to go through the poem over and over again to find out the points that strengthen your arguments.
The key is to make your argument clear and logical for the readers. It should be creative, as stated in the research paper Creative Writing Thesis: Poetry by Desmond Bonhomme, that endless methods can be employed to refine or re-establish the creative style of an author.
4. Using Distinct Paragraphs
Each paragraph of your work should be taken from credible sources and must be analytical and relevant to your thesis on English poetry. You must argue for a certain position and convince the reader of your point of view.
It will be different when you are reading the poetry from different eras of English literature. The content will be easier to relate to for the readers if it is from modern literature, but it would be slightly difficult to consider when it is from the 19th century. Needless to say, different aspects will be addressed when studying African-American literature.
This is because the work produced in modern times is easier to understand by high-school readers, as compared to comprehending the works of Ben Jonson.
The analysis of different ages of literature, as discussed in The Spirit of the English Language: A Practical Guide for Poets, Teachers & Students by John Wulsin, actively demonstrates the idea.
5. The Role of Strong Evidence
You cannot just create a compelling argument without having strong evidence to back up all your claims. The evidence that you use must be in the context of your main argument; merely linking a line of prose in your paper won’t be enough to make your argument convincing enough for the readers.
For instance, if you just write ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day’ without highlighting the context and elements incorporated in this line, the mere inclusion of the verse will be simply useless.
Make sure that the evidence is taken from strong sources and is directly linked to the central theme of your essay. Do not assume that any quotation of the English language will speak for itself; explaining it and linking it to the main argument is your job.
6. Citations
When citing your sources, make sure that you are referencing it correctly. Take care of all the citation requirements and ensure to refer to the thesis handbook when working on your reference list. That booklet contains all the information that you need to follow when referencing the authentic sources in your thesis on English poetry.
7. Conclusion
In the conclusion of your thesis, you emphasise the main ideas of your literary piece of work. Make sure that you do not introduce any new concept or idea at the conclusion of your thesis. The ideas you use in the thesis must be directly linked to the development of your main arguments. Also, there must be a natural flow in your main research objectives and the findings of the work.
8. Final Points
Once you are done writing your thesis on English poetry, you should check your thesis to eliminate all kinds of mistakes from it. The summary of the points discussed above is provided here:
- If you have a choice to select any among a list of given poetry thesis topics, pick a poem that you like the most.
- Once you are done with the selection of a poem, read it aloud. It is an established rule that your ears notice the things that your eyes miss.
- Then, you notice what the poem looks like on the page. Its form will reveal something about the way it should be analysed.
- Be careful while analysing the poem, and do not mix the narratives of different characters in the poem.
- Do not make vague interpretations of your work. Do not make unsupported assertions about the poem you are analysing.
- You must be selective about the evidence you use in your thesis. Do not add too long quotations in your work, and keep a considerable length of all the paragraphs.
Conclusion:
So, adhere to these guidelines while writing your thesis on English poetry, and you will be good to get an A+ grade. Poems are artistic pieces of literature that demand you to appreciate them first before you start explaining them.
However, once you start explaining a poem (or any of the poetry-based literary research paper topics), make sure that you cover each and every aspect of the analysis. Remember to ensure that there must be a natural and logical flow in your work.
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