Part I: The poets chosen for this week are among the leading poets of contemporary American literature; however, there are many others. Locate and read four poems by a Postmodern American author of your choice from the included list. How do you see this author as fitting into post-modernism? Be sure to connect with the poems you selected. Doing some biographical research may also be helpful. Be sure to share the link(s) to the poems you read.
Part II: One contemporary trend in poetry is known loosely as the “confessional mode,” in which the poet’s own life becomes an important element of the subject of his or her poetry. The three assigned poets clearly work in the confessional vein to some extent. How do they keep their poems from being merely about themselves?
Part III. You probably know John Grisham better from his novels (The Firm, A Time to Kill) than from his journalistic essays. His essay presents an empathetic view of homeless people he meets in an effort to shed light on a social issue that is often dismissed or swept under the rug. What reaction did you have to his essay? Did it change your view of the issue in any way or cause you to reconsider your feelings in any way?
