English 2322: British Literature Assignments

This project asks you to work closely with a poem written in 16^th-century England, editing, modernizing, and explaining it.

The task:

1. Pick a linked poem from the list provided in D2L. This poem is written in early modern English. I have linked three collections of sonnets; you can pick any one sonnet you’d like.
2. Modernize the spelling and punctuation. You can translate this from verse to prose; you do not have to keep the rhyme and meter. When these poems were written, spelling and punctuation was not regularized. Make sure that the spelling and grammar conform to modern rules and standards and that it’s written with modern usage.
3. When there is a difficult word, provide a footnote with a definition, so that the reader can understand.
4. After the poem, write a summary of what it is literally about. This should probably be about 10 sentences long.
5. After your summary, provide the reader a short paragraph of background information  on the author. (Information on researching a poet is listed below.)
6. In a third paragraph, explain the poem’s relevance and what it has to offer a modern audience.
7. In a fourth paragraph, reflect on the project itself and your process in completing it.