ETYMOLOGY

 

 Poem sharing 

When I was One-and-Twenty by A.E Housman

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas

Journey of the Magi by T.S. Eliot

---

 What Child Is This 

---

 The Philosophy of Composition by Edgar Allan Poe

"The Philosophy of Composition" is an 1846 essay written by American writer Edgar Allan Poe that elucidates a theory about how good writers write when they write well. He concludes that length, "unity of effect" and a logical method are important considerations for good writing. He also makes the assertion that "the death... of a beautiful woman" is "unquestionably the most poetical topic in the world". Poe uses the composition of his own poem "The Raven" as an example. The essay first appeared in the April 1846 issue of Graham's Magazine. It is uncertain if it is an authentic portrayal of Poe's own method.

---

VOCABULARY

deleterious adjective / harmful

spurious adjective / false and not what it appears to be, or (of reasons and judgments) based on something that has not been correctly understood and therefore false

ostensible adjective  / appearing or claiming to be one thing when it is really something else

dissent noun / a strong difference of opinion on a particular subject, especially about an official suggestion or plan or a popular belief

concomitant noun / something that happens with something else and is connected with it

prodigious adjective / extremely great in ability, amount, or strength

usurp verb / to take control of a position of power, especially without having the right to

     

celerity noun  / speed

abjure verb/ to say formally or publicly that you no longer agree with a belief or way of behaving

wary adjective / not completely trusting or certain about something or someone

complacent adjective / feeling so satisfied with your own abilities or situation that you feel you do not need to try any harder

somber adjective / serious, sad, and without humour or entertainment

                                                                 

glean verb / to collect information in small amounts and often with difficulty