Mary Lamb鈥檚 poem compares an envious person to a rose tree. The poem鈥檚 content, ideas, language and structure are explored. Comparisons and alternative interpretations are also considered.
When writing an essay about your interpretation of, or response to, a poem, you should consider the points below.
Essay-writing tips
Write a plan first, noting what you'll include in each paragraph.
Begin with a brief overview of the poem.
Go on to mention themes, form, structure, rhythm and language.
Mention a range of views or perspectives.
Compare the poem to another one.
Mention any relevant details about the context of the poem.
Conclude with a firm judgement about the poem.
Support all you say with details or quotes from the poem.
Key words
A good approach to begin with is to highlight any key words which stand out for you. Make sure you use these key words in your essay.
Example question
How does Mary Lamb present ideas about jealousy in her poem Envy?
Considerations
Overview: Lamb uses simple form to convey a strong, direct message that envy is a wasted emotion and we should value our own talents instead of worrying about other people's strengths.
Nature theme used to explore human emotion: an envious person is compared to a rose tree that does not see its own beauty but is envious of other flowers. Other beautiful flowers are also mentioned.
Simile: the third stanza opens with 'like'. Lamb sets up idea of the poem being about a rose in the first two stanzas. The simile turns it around so readers also consider themselves.
Language: simple language matches straightforward message. Repetition of 'fret' and 'discontent' shows how unhappy envy can make us feel if we focus on it.
Conclusion: today's readers can still appreciate how Lamb makes her verses appealing, with its simplicity in rhythm, rhyme and vocabulary. It has a timeless appeal.
Some other essay questions to think about:
How does Mary Lamb explore human emotions in Envy? Compare her approach to that of another poet.
Compare the ways in which the writers present negative emotions in Envy and one other poem. Think about the ideas in the poems and the poets' use of form, structure and language.