Choose one of the following pairs of poems and songs: •“The Lady of Shalott ” by Alfred Tennyson; song “The Lady of Shalott” by Loreena McKennitt
•“Because I Could Not Stop for Death ” by Emily Dickinson; song “Because I Could not Stop” by Natalie Merchant
•“Promises Like Pie-Crust ” by Christina Rossetti; song “Promises Like Pie-Crust” by Carla Bruni
•“The Two Trees ” by William Butler Yeats; song “The Two Trees” by Loreena McKennitt
Plan to read the text version of the poem and listen to the song version a few times to get a good feel for the rhythm of each of the two versions. Then, think about how it contributes to the feeling and meaning of the poem in both situations.
Write a short essay (200–400 words) comparing the two versions of the poem, considering the following questions:
•How does the meter of the poem change, if at all, when it is presented in song form?
•Does the original poem have a meter that lends itself well to song lyrics?
•How, if at all, is the poem changed or presented differently as a song?
•Why might the artist have made changes to the poem?
•Does the poem take on a different meaning in song form than in poetic form?
Structure your essay into an introduction, body, and conclusion. Make sure your essay focuses on a main idea, includes precise language to clarify ideas, and is written in a formal style. Use textual evidence, including scansion, to support your ideas.