Poetry.

Learning objectives:

Students will learn to interpret thoroughly and think deeply about the meaning of Moore’s message.

Grade level: 11th

“Poetry” by Marianne Moore is about learning to love something that challenges you. The heavy emphasis that is put on learning to change is crucial for the meaning of this poem. The strength and power that is behind Moore’s message is more important than just applying that poetry, but also life.

I too, dislike it: there are things that are important beyond
      all this fiddle.
   Reading it, however, with a perfect contempt for it, one
      discovers that there is in
   it after all, a place for the genuine.
      Hands that can grasp, eyes
      that can dilate, hair that can rise
         if it must, these things are important not because a

high-sounding interpretation can be put upon them but because
      they are
   useful; when they become so derivative as to become
      unintelligible, the
   same thing may be said for all of us—that we
      do not admire what
      we cannot understand. The bat,
         holding on upside down or in quest of something to

eat, elephants pushing, a wild horse taking a roll, a tireless
      wolf under
   a tree, the immovable critic twinkling his skin like a horse
      that feels a flea, the base-
   ball fan, the statistician—case after case
      could be cited did
      one wish it; nor is it valid
         to discriminate against “business documents and

school-books”; all these phenomena are important. One must
      make a distinction
   however: when dragged into prominence by half poets,
      the result is not poetry,
   nor till the autocrats among us can be
     “literalists of
      the imagination”—above
         insolence and triviality and can present

for inspection, imaginary gardens with real toads in them,
      shall we have
   it. In the meantime, if you demand on the one hand, in defiance of their opinion—
   the raw material of poetry in
      all its rawness, and
      that which is on the other hand,
         genuine, then you are interested in poetry.

Watch this short video for in-depth information about “Poetry.”

Discussion: 

1. What do you think it means to be a “literalists of the imagination” and a “half poet”?
2. What is the importance of this? 
3. As you can agree, not everyone gets what they want in this world. Why do you think it’s essential to accept the imperfections in life? 
4. Why does Moore use an extensive amount of quotations and references to other poets? What is she trying to prove? 
5. Do you think that there is a way to grow up without the influence of society? 

Activity: 

1. Write about a time that you did not understand something. Could you admire it still? Or do you believe that we can’t admire the things that we can’t understand?