Critical Lenses Final Assessment

Complete all parts on a Google Doc.

1. Read this poem:

Otherwise

Jane Kenyon

I got out of bed
on two strong legs.
It might have been
otherwise. I ate
cereal, sweet
milk, ripe, flawless
peach. It might
have been otherwise.
I took the dog uphill
to the birch wood.
All morning I did
the work I love.

At noon I lay down
with my mate. It might
have been otherwise.
We ate dinner together
at a table with silver
candlesticks. It might
have been otherwise.
I slept in a bed
in a room with paintings
on the walls, and
planned another day
just like this day.
But one day, I know,
it will be otherwise.

2. READER RESPONSE In a short paragraph, write a reader's response to the poem.

3. BIOGRAPHICAL LENS Read Jane Kenyon's biography and write a paragraph explaining how your interpretation of the poem changes.

4. FORMALIST LENS Write a paragraph explaining a THEME of the poem, and show how the text supports the theme. (Give examples from the text that support the theme.)