"Long" Poetry for Sophomores

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

First, I know there's a teaching forum, but it seems to be pretty barren, which is why I'm posting this here. I understand if an admin wants to move it (though, I hope you'll let it go).

So, I started poetry with Sophomores this past week, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a longer poem I could use. All the poems in the Holt book are short (and, seem to be a poor selection, anyway, imo). I thought of "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," but that's a bit too long. I'd like something that could be read in one class and have them answer questions on.

I'm not too familiar with poetry outside of what I've read in classes, so any suggestions would be great.

[OrphanPip]

How long are you thinking, "Tintern Abbey" is longish.

Maybe Elliot's "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" or Amy Lowell's "Patterns."

I like Marvell's "The Nymph Complaining for the Death of Her Fawn," but the language might be a bit difficult for sophomores.

[Seasider]

Some of the old Ballads are longish and engaging The Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens is one. Tennyson's The Lotos Eaters and Morte d'Arthur. Wordsworth's poem Michael even Alfred Noyes The Highwayman is a good and exciting narrative.Christina Rossetii's Goblin Market. Robert Browning's Andrea del Sarto, My Last Duchess, Fra Lippo Lippi and Saul. Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock. I remember reading a long poem by Robert Frost...someone was killed and boarded up in the attic...I cant remember the name. Cecil Day Lewis' poem The Nabarra about an incident in the Spanish Civil War is very moving. I was reading it to a bunch of Sixth Formers once and I burst into tears. I'll try and dredge up a few more.

[OrphanPip]

Rape of the Lock is probably a bit too long, since he considers Rime of The Ancient Mariner too long.

"Goblin Market" and Browning's dramatic monologues sound like good recommendations to me.

[Seasider]

How could I have forgotten Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott, Sohrab and Rustum
by Matthew Arnold, Christabel by Coleridge, The Battle of Blenheim by Robert Southey and the poem by Lord Macaulay about Horatio and the Bridge?

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Awesome, thanks for the suggestions.

I guess for length, I'd say a poem that takes your average level reader about 20-25 minutes to read (Mariner seems like it would take longer . . . it does for me, but I read poetry pretty slow). Poetry is tough to gauge how long students will take, though, definitely tougher than prose.

[Jassy Melson]

The Eve of Saint Agnes by Keats is a long poem but it can be read--and discussed--in a half hour

[Albion]

All of Tennyson's works are worth study. His "Ulysses" is medium length but fairly compact and offers plenty of scope for discussion.
His "Maud" is long but with great study potential, particularly the animated and lyrical section, still fairly long, beginning "Come into the garden, Maud".
His "Enoch Arden" is also long but, in my view, lacks interest.

One must admire all poets of those days before word processors were invented. What dedication must they have possessed to create their works, often in straightened circumstances, and with what depth of thought and artistry were they imbued!

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

The Eve of Saint Agnes by Keats is a long poem but it can be read--and discussed--in a half hour

Really? I can't really see how this could be achieved.

[Alexander.03]

Poetry that sounds interesting dude..!!! My brother is into poetry as well and i really love to read his poetries. e has got a different kind of innocence in his poetry. Well i had tried my hands with poetry as well and it turned to be quite good. I am really excited to see how things turn up for you.