The topic is whats in the “Paper instructions”
You are to write an essay comparing two poems—”All-American” by David Hernandez (p. 491-492 in the textbook) and “America” by Tony Hoagland (p. 524—525). Your essay should first present your “reading” on one poem and then add various outside sources from the internet that comment on the poem. After completing this part of the essay (let’s call it Part One of the essay), you will discuss the other poem and add outside commentary to this other poem’s discussion (Part Two of the essay). The third part of the essay—the conclusion—will mingle discussion of the two poems, providing concluding remarks on both poems.
You must devise a thesis statement, presented in your essay’s opening paragraph, that expresses a central idea about what you intend to bring up and bring out about the poems. You will weave into the essay’s discussion various internet sources of commentary on each poem as you discuss it.
Remember that you are not being asked to present only the views of outside sources on the poems.
Your “reading” of each poem is the primary source of the poems’ discussion, and the outside sources (called secondary sources) that you draw on should enhance your own personal discussion. Whenever you cite an outside source, i.e., use it in a discussion of a poem, you must present the source in streamlined form within parentheses. Consult pages 909-910 in the textbook about Parenthetical References. Every parenthetical reference in your essay will have to be matched by Works Cited reference of that same source. Works Cited is an alphabetical listing of all sources used in the essay, including our textbook for reference to the poems themselves. Consult pages 905-909 in the textbook about the creation of a Works Cited list. Also, look over Chapter 33, The Literary Research Paper, pages 899-905.
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The poems of the assignment, “All-American” by David Hernandez (p. 490-91) and “America” by Tony Hoagland (p. 524-25), should be carefully analyzed and discussed regarding the views of American life that they express in poetry. What and how do the poems present their views of America and American culture? Besides your own detailed discussion of each poem, you must present material outside the poems from published internet discussions of them and weave that material into your discussion of each poem. All you outside sources will be indicated in abbreviated form in parenthetical citation when you refer to them in the essay, and they must also be listed alphabetically (usually by author’s last name) on a separate Works Cited page of the essay.
One poem may indeed have more outside sources on it than the other. However, use as many sources as you can find that add meaning on top of your own “take” on the poems. If one poem has practically no outside sources, then rely on your detailed analysis of that poem alone. In concluding your essay, you will compare and contrast the two poems you have already discussed one after the other.
The essay must follow MLA format and be 3-5 pages. Quality, not quantity, of words, is what matters.
The completed essay is due Thursday, May 14 before midnight.
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Literary Analysis: All-American by David Hernandez and America by Tony Hoagland
Introduction
Poems present an opportunity for individuals to understand the events taking place in their surroundings. Unlike other literary forms of art, lyrics are deep and carry along with emotions, imagination, and sensitivity that enables the public to make informed decisions regarding problems affecting their ways of life. From this realization, understanding the different outcomes and thematic concerns raised in poems provoke the thought process of individuals, who can, in turn, visualize the issues taking place in their immediate environment. Analyzing All-American by David Hernandez and America by Tony Hoagland will create an enabling environment where various issues affecting the United States can be highlighted and resolved.
Part One: All-American by David Hernandez
All-American by David Hernandez highlights the different approaches used by policymakers to introduce the public to pertinent issues affecting public policy. Regardless of the situation, one is likely to encounter the use of categorization by American politicians to elicit specific reactions that satisfy their interests. Hernandez explores these categories that are commonly used by policymakers to trigger individuals before compelling them to embrace specific perspectives towards life (Hernandez 537). For instance, LGBTQ rights attract a significant audience because of their impact on people’s way of life. In this regard, many influential individuals openly discuss the reasons and assure the population group about their support even when they do not mean their words. In the poem, Hernandez indicates that human nature should not be defined by categories that divide the world even further into subgroups that push the agenda of other people in their surroundings.
Many literary critics have endorsed Hernandez’s poem because of its candid approach that addresses the social problems affecting the United States and other established economies around the world. In this case, identifying the strategies used by policymakers to resolve issues affecting individuals exposes one to a series of innovative techniques that influence the nature of outcomes hindering people from discovering their potential. By promoting a certain level of consciousness, politicians have mastered the art of dividing individuals along racial and sexual lines, which benefit the influencers at the expense of the public’s suffering. Even though categorizing social problems seems to develop viable solutions, it promises people on a bright future, where they cannot validate the approaches recommended by the policymakers at the moment. Unlike other solutions that can be tested and examined, political promises fall short of accountability and transparency because of the motives of the influencers, which have been addressed in Hernandez’s poem.
Part Two
Tony Hoagland pursues an exciting theme in America, where he analyzes different factors affecting the perspectives of many young people towards life. Understanding his perception of life and the grip on the youthful stage exposes him to an enabling environment where he can compel individuals to pursue specific approaches in their surroundings. Unlike many people experiencing different challenges in their immediate environment, Hoagland highlights the difficulties encountered by young people and their impact on their lifestyle. By portraying these issues in a way that can be understood by other age groups, Hoagland anticipates a paradigm shift where other people can turn their mindsets to support the struggling youthful population (Hoagland). Many people are committed to overcoming different elements that slow down their growth and development in comprehending the various aspects that affect the focus of individuals towards life.
By using symbolism, Hoagland portrays the young people as victims of extensive corruption that blurs their future through the elimination of crucial resources, which would have enabled them to accomplish their learning objectives. Many individuals believe that the portrayal of students with blue hair instead of red to represent anger is a strategic application of symbolism that appears to offer a second chance to the population group to review their focus (Halliday 310). Being stuck in an environment surrounded by unhealthy solutions such as Burger King, MTV, and RadioShack limits the opportunity for individuals to grow and discover their potential. In this regard, the poem addresses different instances where America has failed to protect its young generation because of their identity and skin color. Understanding the different needs held by individuals require individuals to align their interests with the changing needs where they can overcome challenges associated with violence, drugs, and extremism.
Conclusion
Analyzing All-American by David Hernandez and America by Tony Hoagland will create an enabling environment where various issues affecting the United States can be highlighted and resolved. On many occasions, understanding the approaches that can be used by different population groups to resolve their issues exposes one to an enabling environment where they can discover the problems and develop viable solutions. In both poems, the U.S. is portrayed as a challenging environment for individuals to survive because of the existence of factors such as racism, stereotyping, and violence, which slows down the process of growth and development. Understanding the approaches used by policymakers to resolve issues yields widespread outcomes that can easily be misinterpreted due to politicians’ desire to pursue their interests. Therefore, reviewing the two poems lets readers connect with American problems and experience their impact on people’s ways of life.
Works Cited
Halliday, Mark. “Tony Hoagland and Second Thoughts.” Literary Imagination 20.3 (2018): 303-316.
Hernandez, David. “All-American.” The Southern Review 48.4 (2012): 537.
Hoagland, Tony. Twenty Poems That Could Save America and Other Essays. Graywolf Press, 2014.
