Sample 1st Assignment

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Poetry is the clear expression of mixed feelings.--W.H. Auden

Read and study W.H. Auden's poem "Musee de Beaux Arts." Find a painting and derive your own poem, like Auden's, from your observations in and off the painting.

1. Read all of the following directions before you click anywhere, link anywhere, or do anything.
2. Print this assignment.
3. Go to http://poetrypages.lemon8.nl/life/musee/museebeauxarts.htm. There you will find both Auden's famous poem and the Brueghel painting from which the poem derived. Study the poem, the painting, and the commentary about each that are on the web site. A smart thing to do would be to print the webpage where these appear.
4. Then go to the WebMuseum at http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/ and find a painting that inspires you. Think of paintings and artists that you like and look them up first. If you don't have any favorites, browse the collection until you find something that catches your fancy.
5. Write your poem, make it at least 20 lines long, and submit it by the deadline date/time posted on the Course Calendar for Assignment 1.
6. Have fun.

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