What is the best way to structure Paper 2 poetry essays?
I always structure my essay into three thematic paragraphs (excluding an introduction and conclusion) using at least two poets I have studied and referencing at least three poems by each poet. For example, if a Paper 2 question were to ask "Discuss the importance of imagery in the works you have studied", I would create three paragraphs: one discussing how imagery is used to create contrasts, another to discuss how imagery creates emotional responses in the reader, and the last one to discuss how imagery is used to create symbolism in poetry to relay a social message to the reader. In each paragraph, I would refer to two poets I have studied in depth, for example John Donne and William Blake, and quote specific lines of their poems with reference to their poetic devices and functions.
In my conclusion, I would reiterate the key points I have made in my three paragraphs, making sure I have explicitly answered the question with signpost statements.
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