No poem should ever be discussed or "analyzed", until it has been read aloud by someone, teacher
or student. Better still, perhaps, is the practice of reading it twice, once at the beginning of the discussion
and once at the end, so the sound of the poem is the last thing onehears of it.
All discussions of poetry are, in fact, preparations for reading it aloud, and the reading of the poem is,
finally, the most telling "interpretation(解释)" of it, suggesting tone, rhythm, and meaning all at once.
Hearing a poet read the work in his or her own voice, on records or on film, is obviously a special reward. But even those aids to teaching can not replace the student and teacher reading it or, best of all, reciting
(背诵)it.
I have come to think, in fact, that time spent read
ing a poem aloud is much more important than
"analyzing" it, if there isn't time for both. I think one of our goals as teachers of English is to have students
love poetry. Poetry is "a criticism of life", and "a heightening (提升) of life". It is "an approach to the truth
of feeling", and it "can save your life". It also deserves a place in the teaching of language and literature
more central than it presently occupies.
I am not saying that every English teacher must teach poetry. Those who don't like it should not be
forced to put that dislike on anyone else. But those, who do teach poetry must keep in
mind a few things
about its essential nature, about its sound as well as its sense, and they must make room in the classroom
for hearing poetry as well as thinking about it.
1. What is the better way to have a better understanding of a poem?
A. Discussing it with others.
B. Practising reading it aloud.
C. Hearing the poet read out.
D. Analyzing it by oneself.
2. According to the author, one of the purposes of teaching English is getting students .
A. to like poetry
B. to criticize life
C. to enjoy life
D. to teach poetry
3. The underlined word "make room "( in the last paragraph) probably means ____.
A. to build a booth
B. to provide equipment
C. to leave a certain amount of time
D. to set aside enough space
4. The passage is mainly about _______.
A. teaching poetry
B. discussing poetry
C. reading a poem
D. reciting a poem
