Allusions-Icarus Reflections on Musee des Beaux Arts

Allusion, Artistry, and the Fall of Icarus

Reflections on "Musee des Beaux Arts"

Here you can reflect informally on the poem based on your first reading. Follow the directions for each writing space. You can use these notes as the basis for more formal writing later. Follow the directions under the first comment box for copying your writing to a word processor or use the Double Window or Writing Space method described on the Help page. Save the word processor file you create as alusnote (for allusions notes). Give each section a heading to remind you which writing space you were responding to.

Writing Your Reflections on "Musee des Beaux Arts"

First Response: After you have read the poem two or more times to form your general impressions, including reading it aloud or listening to a reading so that you can hear the sounds and rhythms, freewrite your initial response to the poem. Don't be concerned yet about the story of Icarus or about format or mechanics--just freewrite your thoughts about the poem.

Without closing your Web browser, open a word processor new document. Copy and paste your first response to the poem into a document and save it as alusnote (for allusions notes) but do not close the document since you will be adding to it. Give this writing a heading, First Response. You can toggle back and forth between your Web browser and your word processor (use ALT-TAB in Windows 3.0+) or set up a double window as described on the Help page. Save the alusnote file.

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Paraphrase: Now write a paraphrase of the poem: Write in your own words exactly what you think the poem is saying. Do not include your opinions about the poem here or what you think the poem "means." Instead, restate the situation of the poem as best you can. Don't hesitate to look up words in a college dictionary to help you.

Copy and paste your paraphrase of the poem into your document alusnote but do not close the document since you will be adding to it. Give this writing a heading, Paraphrase. Save the alusnote file.

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Questions: Now write one or more initial questions you have about the poem. Identifying these questions will help direct your further thinking and reading.

Copy and paste your questions about the poem into your document alusnote. Give this writing a heading, Questions. Save the alusnote file.

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Next you will read the legend of Icarus that inspired this poem and many other works of art.