Question

Which of the following is NOT an objective of teaching a poem?

• A. Enrich imagination
• B. Familiarize natural rhythm of language
• C. Understand the rules of grammar
• D. Appreciate the thought and mood of the poet

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Understand the rules of grammar

Objectives of Teaching Poetry

• Aesthetic Appreciation: To develop an appreciation for the beauty, rhythm, imagery, and emotional impact of poetry.
• Understanding Literary Devices: To help students identify and understand poetic devices like metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, and assonance, and how they contribute to the poem's meaning and effect.
• Emotional and Intellectual Engagement: To encourage students to connect with the emotions and ideas expressed in the poem, fostering empathy and critical thinking.
• Cultural and Historical Context: To provide insights into the historical, social, and cultural background of the poem and its author, enriching the understanding of the work.
• Language Enrichment: To expose students to rich vocabulary, varied sentence structures, and the expressive power of language, thereby improving their own language skills.
• Developing Interpretive Skills: To equip students with the ability to analyze, interpret, and form their own reasoned opinions about a poem's themes and meanings.

Why Grammar Rules Are Not a Primary Objective

• While understanding grammar is crucial for language proficiency, it is not the primary or direct objective when teaching a poem.
• Poetry often plays with grammatical conventions for artistic effect (e.g., inversions, fragments). Focusing solely on strict grammatical rules can detract from appreciating these artistic choices and the poem's aesthetic qualities.
• The main goals are typically related to understanding meaning, appreciating form, and experiencing the emotional and imaginative impact of the verse.
• Grammar is usually addressed in separate language or grammar lessons, or integrated as a secondary aspect of literary analysis, rather than being the central aim of poetry instruction.