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MODERN
POETRY
IN
THE
CLASSROOM
657
GrossmontHigh School
Grossmont,California
A study of the ballad "O What Is
That Sound?" by W. H. Auden can be
used to help sophomores realize how
much poetry lends itself to individual
interpretation and to show how a poet
can adapt a traditional verse form to
suit his purposes. The material may also
stimulate a composition assignment.
The first step in the study is an oral
reading of the poem by two students
to show the effect of the dialogue. This
is followed by a similar reading of "Lord
Randal," previously studied, to show the
similarity of tone, theme, and structure
in the two ballads. A review of the
characteristics of the ballad form fits in
well at this point. For example, both
poems have the four-line stanza with
alternating rhyme, the four-stress line,
and the refrain. There seem to be some
variations such as the two-stress final
line in each stanza of "O What Is That
Sound?" and the same rhymes in every
stanza of "Lord Randal." The refrain, so
obvious in the old ballad, is an interesting contrast to that in the modem one
where the refrain is in thought rather
than form, except for the beginnings of
lines. Both poems use dialogue to develop the action; both present a tragic
situation simply. The violence common
to ballads is present; and physical courage and love, those common ballad
themes, are also found.
After this review, the teacher asks
each student to consider the mood this
poem has left with him and to write a
brief description of that mood and keep
the note for future use.
Then, a composition assignment for
the next day might be made, asking the
students to do some thinking and writing about "O What Is That Sound?"
without using other books but using just
658
THE
ENGLISH
except the last become an insistent demand as the terror mounts. This repetition added to the speed and sudden
stop create a breathless,harried feeling
that reaches a peak in the next to the
last stanza."And now they are running"
picks up the speed until the gentleness
of the "No, I promised to love you,
dear"is almost lost in the haste of "But
I must be leaving."Then, the last stanza
is panic, detailupon detail,heavy-footed,
slow, deliberate.Throughout the poem,
the short, simple words, many of them
with harsh military sound and flavor,
the dialogue, the short ballad stanza
broken in pattern-all these help Auden
create the mood the class has felt.
This discussionleads naturally to the
question, "What is the panic about?
What is there to fear?"Studentsare invited to volunteer their interpretations,
and the discussiontakes a new direction.
The poem is about war or violence of
any kind such as earthquakeor hurricane.
"No," says someone else, "it is a love
poem, and the world comes to take away
her true love and she cannot keep him."
Another thinks the poem is about the
JOURNAL
EnglishEducationConference,March28-30
The first NCTE-sponsoredconference on English education,for specialistsin
the teachingof Englishin the secondaryschools,will be held at IndianaUniversity, March 28-30. Among major speakersare Robert C. Pooley, John C. Gerber,
G. Robert Carlsen,and David H. Russell. Consultantsinclude Dora V. Smith,
Lou LaBrant,J. N. Hook, Lennox Grey, and Louise M. Rosenblatt.
A series of discussion groups will consider six topics: the methods course;
researchin English education;graduateprogramsin English education;preparation of junior high school English teachers;English educationprogramsin small
colleges; liaisonbetween departmentsof English and departmentsand schools of
education.
The conference planningcommitteeincludes:Dwight L. Burton,FloridaState
University, chairman;Ingrid Strom, IndianaUniversity; William H. Evans, University of Illinois;William E. Hoth, Wayne State University; Sister M. Sylvia,
Mount Saint Joseph Teachers College; M. Agnella Gunn, Boston University;
R. C. Simonini,Longwood College; G. Robert Carlsen,State University of Iowa;
and JamesR. Squire,Executive Secretary,NCTE.
Those planning to attend the conference who wish housing in the luxurious
IndianaUnion must register before January 1. Registrationforms may be requestedfrom Robert Hogan, NCTE, 508 South Sixth Street, Champaign,Illinois.