Sp08-250-Group4

="Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins lines 9-11= =("I want them to waterski / across the surface of a poem / waving at the author's name on the shore")=

Group 4: Mallory, Rachel, Elizabeth, Elena
Facilitator: //Elizabeth// Polisher: //Elena//

__Expert move #1: identifying the figurative language__
"...Waterski/ across the surface of a poem" is an image, because it presents to a reader a vivid picture. It is also a metaphor that describes studying poetry. "Waving at the author's name on the shore" is an image (a reader can vividly see it) and a metaphor that describes a reader's relationship with the author.

__Expert move #2: exploring denotations__
Waterskiing "across the surface of the poem" immerses a reader into a sunny day, big lake or ocean, thrill of adventure, drops of water on the face, happiness and joy. Waterski do not move on theit own, there is a force that pulls a skier accross the water. Collins did not use surfing in his image ( the activity in which waves carry a person), but waterskiing. What is this force in studying poetry? What pulls a reader? The autor's intentions, or a reader's developing understanding of a poem, or both? "Waving at the author's name on the shore" makes a reader feel that someone is waiting for him/her, someone (even though being far) is interested in a reader's activity. A readers leaves the shore (and the author) to explore the poem on his own, and to eventually return to the shore and the author with new understanding of the literary work. The waterskiing ias activity is associated with overcoming the fear, entertainment and enjoyment, dare and thrill. Waterskiing, as a metaphore for reading, is comparing reading to a leasurly activity. Reading is being shown, like waterskiing, as somthing that one does for entertainment and enjoyment. "Waving at the author's name on the shore" is a metaphore for the author's relationship to the work. The author's is seperate (on shore) from the person waterskiing.

__Expert move #3: unpacking the figurative and connotative meanings__
Waterskiing "across the surface of a poem" is the image that conveys to a reader the freedom and lightness of moving on water skis and yet a force that pulls a skier. Waterskiing is an activity one chooses freely, as opposed to activity one being forced to do. The metaphor suggest the approach to studying poetry: freely chosen activity that reader enjoys, allowing the forces hidden in the context to determine his/her directions. It is also a metaphor for non-destructive approach to understanding poetry: as waterskiing does not damage the water and does not live a trace, a reader's interventions should not alter the meaning of a poem. Besides, waterskiing is a "superficial" activity in realtions to the depth of the water. In this stanza, Collins does not want a reader to dive deep inside the poem, but see what is on the surface, what is obvious. In "waving at the author's name on the shore", a reader is alone in the lake or ocean, but feels the connection with the author. It is quite significant that a reader waves not to the author as a person, but the author's name. There is a subtle hint that knowing the author as a person is not necessary for undestanding of the author's work; everything the author wanted a reader to know is in a poem. The author could be long gone, but the name remains, the author's thoughts and emotions remain. The metaphor conveys the distance and, at the same time, the connection between the author and a reader. "Waving at the author's name on the shore" also metaphorically desribes the process in which reading a poem changes a reader who will return to the shore with a new understanding. "I want them to waterski accross the surface of a poem" represents the author's desire for the reader to read the poem freely and out of desire to learn about the poem. Reading is being compared to a leasurly activity that they are doing out of personal desire and enjoyment of the poem. Waterskiing is somthing that is fun and that excites people. I think the author is trying to say that he wishes people would read out of desire instead of necessity (treating the poem like work). "Waving at the author's name on the shore" may represent the author's relationship to the poem. To me it seems like the author is being depicted as seperated from the reader. Maybe "waving at the author's name on the shore" represents the author being seperate from the reader's interpretation of the poem. I thought Elena's interpretation of waterskiing not damaging or leaving a wake and "the reader's interventions" not changing "the meaning of a poem." The reader's interpretation of the poem does not change what the poem means, and likewise the author's intention is seperate from the reader's interpretation of that same poem.

__Expert move #4: recontextualizing within the whole poem__
I think its kind of like trying to find out who you really are. We try to find the meanings of poems, and in order to do so you have to look at if from many different angles. And I think its also like trying to get to know someone. I think this poem is showing a person becoming someone new. Like they are digging deep in themselves to find their true self. Thats all I got so far, still trying to figure this one out! "Introduction to Poetry" presents a reader with many metaphorically described ways of studying poetry. Visual and auditory images created by Collins juxtapose a gentle and non-destructive to studying poetry to dissecting a literary work. Lines 9-11 contrubute to the poem the images of free, daring, and enjoyable exploration of a poem's material with regards to the author's intentions and ideas. This poem shows the author's desire to see people treat poetry with more enjoyment and interest. He wants the reader to investigate and be interested in poetry instead of treating it like a problem to be solved. These three lines add images of fun and excitment to the poem and help the reader consider the significance of the author's intent.

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