Milli-Micro IOC

(4 to 5 minutes MAX)

Examples are drawn from Donne's "Batter My Heart"

PREPARATION

1. Paraphrase

In real IOC, you will not have time to write a full paraphrase; you may, however, paraphrase a small portion of text in order to illustrate a feature of the original. The purpose of this exercise is to help you 1) identify literary features, 2) reinforce the habit of considering EVERY WORD in the text, and 3) practice paraphrasing, which is as valuable as it is difficult.

Summary vs. Paraphrase: A summary is a shortened version that omits details. A paraphrase is roughly the same length and retains the original detail and meaning, just rendered "in your own words." A true paraphrase DOES NOT consist of leaving some words out and changing a few others. If you have used three words in a row from the original, plagiarism is at hand.

1a. Line-by-line paraphrase

Write a COMPLETE line-by-line paraphrase of your poem. Type each line of your poem into the left column of a table. In the corresponding right cells, write a specific paraphrase of what is said in each line. (Okay for lines to begin/end slightly differently on the two versions.)

original line	paraphrased line
Batter my heart, three-personed God; for you	O Father, Son, Holy Ghost: take my heart by force! So far, all you've done
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;	is invite me and inspire me and try to heal me;
Continue with the lines of your poem.

2. Interpretation

You should come into real IOC prepared with at least a basic interpretation for each of our works!

2a. LITERAL or prose meaning

In one sentence, summarize the paraphrase above for the "prose meaning" or literal meaning of the poem. (This sentence will incorporate the speaker and the subject; include the situation and/or audience if significant.)

Summary of 1a:

In this poem, the speaker implores God to take over his soul by force and break the speaker's bond with the devil.

2b. INTERPRETATION or total meaning

Note: "Hidden" or symbolic/metaphoric meanings are only one type of interpretation, and not always called for. Sometimes the effect will be "hidden in plain sight;" sometimes it is as simple as a particular emphasis you notice in the poem. What meaning do you make from the text? How does it influence your experience or views?

2b. In one or two sentences, summarize your "total meaning" or interpretation of the poem.

This poem's spiritual metaphor parallels the difficulty of personal change. It can require great force to simply break a bad habit; to break from sin entirely would seem to require no less than divine intervention.

2c. alternate interpretation (optional)

This poem examines the complexity of a personal relationship with the Creator: how subtle, intimate, and profound it can be.

2d. yet another possible interpretation (optional)

This poem emphasizes the role of reason and logic in living an honorable Christian life.

Note: I strongly encourage you to consider multiple interpretations; sometimes you will find that the best aspects of each can be synthesized together for a more complete "total" meaning. However, you must COMMIT to ONE coherent interpretation for the purpose of your commentary!

Your goal is to persuade us that your interpretation is a meaningful response to the poem, and valid based on the text.

3. Literary Features

You should come into real IOC prepared with a sense of each poem's dominant feature/s—and the range of features typical to each poet's style!

Attach text of poem, colormarked and annotated with all your observations about the text. This may be a photocopy of the work you did in your packet; if that is not easy to read, please redo and attach.

3a. Annotated text

Attach annotated text.

3b. Feature Analysis

The following features are REQUIRED for the Milli-Micro analysis:

Tone/s or Structure

Diction or Imagery

At least one additional feature significant to your poem and/or interpretation

REMINDER: When you discuss diction, be sure you are discussing REGISTER or CONNOTATION or SOUND or other specific features of the word choice, and always discuss alternate synonyms!!

Helpful Hint from Heloise: When CHOOSING which features to examine, focus on the ones MOST relevant to your interpretation!

v Features present in specific words/lines of text crucial to your interpretation

v Features that, by their very presence, have a specific effect upon your interpretation (for example, a sarcastic tone that makes the total meaning of a poem the opposite of its literal meaning)

v Dominant (I would never call them obvious) features of the text—however relevant to your interpretation—that, simply because of their quantity, position or significance in the poem, cannot be ignored

3.b.

Interpretation (same as 2b, above): This poem's spiritual metaphor parallels the difficulty of personal change. It can require great force to simply break a bad habit; to break from sin entirely would seem to require no less than divine intervention.
Feature	Text	Discussion
Tone/s or Structure Overt tone -- demanding	"Batter my heart…" "oerthrow me," "bend your force..." "Divorce" "Take me to you" "Imprison me"	Ironically, this poem is a plea to God, but its initial tone is demanding, delivered through a series of outright commands to the Trinity. This irony suggests the illogic and desperation of a soul overwhelmed by its helplessness.['B1]
Diction or Imagery Imagery -- metaphor	"usurped town" "betroth'd unto your Enemy"	The urgency of the speaker is conveyed through the increasing intimacy of the metaphor. The speaker compares himself an invaded town, and then more provocatively to the victim of a forced marriage. This progression mirrors the increasing depths of an emotional or psychological "downward spiral."['B2]
Your choice: Paradox Mirrored parallel structure	"That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me" "for I,/ Except You enthrall me, never shall be free,/ Nor ever chaste, except You ravish me."	Paradox is present even from the third line of the poem, in the physical metaphor of being "o'erthrown" in order to "stand." In its final lines, the poem brings the plea to its desperate conclusion with a sexual paradox—a point that logic cannot grasp but the soul, somehow, can. The release from suffering requires a super-human (divine) effort—the intervention of grace. The addict or alcoholic must be "enthralled" and "ravished" by something higher or greater, in order to transcend the addiction['B3] .

3c. Thesis

Thesis (connect literary features 3b and interpretation 2b): John Donne creates an experience personal crisis through a one-sided conversation with God; the paradox and irony point to the nature of transcendence itself, be it personal or spiritual.

IOC Organization

Introduction

Content (from 2a, above)

Context (omitted from Milli-Micro)

Claim/Thesis (from 3c, above)

Body:

Detailed study of SPECIFIC text and literary features, showing their effect on response/interp.

(from 3b, above)

For each section: "Subclaim + feature/s + evidence + discussion + interpretation (see analytic paragraph structure)

REPEAT for each subclaim. Try for the spoken equivalent of at least THREE body paragraphs.

You may organize your paragraphs by a) feature type, b) effects on meaning, c) significance (most/least important), or other strategies. It is possible, but NOT recommended (except perhaps as a last resort) to organize by going through the passage with a "line by line" discussion.

Conclusion

Restat thesis and review most persuasive points.

Review effect of literary features, and meaning/significance of the passage in the work.

Extend outward from the work to the meaning/significance in life (beyond the text).