Pastoral Poems - Place

Our focus for today is on place, and the tradition of the pastoral poem. Pastoral poetry was traditionally intended to idealize the “innocence and simplicity” of rural life and natural landscapes, in contrast to the “corruption and evils” of city life.

I'll have you make a list (no surprise) of places linked to these prompts:

• Names of places in or around your neighborhood (excluding your home, but could include places on the school campus) you visit at least once a week
• Places you are excited to go to (past present future)
• Places you hold in your memory
• Places in Chicago/city of your choice you are fascinated by or really love
• Places you remember or are familiar with that are problematic

Then we'll read two poems by Nate Marshall. He takes the idea of the pastoral poem and re-invents it to celebrate and comment on his childhood on the south side of Chicago.

• Nate Marshall poems: "Candy Store" and ""Fame Food and Liquor"

Your task / challenge for today contains two parts:

1. Write a pastoral poem about one (or more) of the places from your list
2. Incorporate 2 different poetic devices from the list we used in class on Tuesday.