Write an extemporaneous interpretive response to the poem below. Students will write about it in this analytical essay. The essay will be three paragraphs describing how poetic elements cause a certain aesthetic effect.

The essay will begin with an introduction that has the thesis:

This poem, (name of poem) by unknown author, is aesthetically (1. descriptive word or words) for two reasons. It uses (2. poetic element) and (3. poetic element) to produce this effect.

Then, write two more paragraphs explaining how each poetic element, 2. and 3. cause the aesthetic description 1. Use at least two quotes, one in each paragraph, to support the poetic element you describe.

The Absentee Student Takes His Test

He’s never heard one lesson of this class,
but has to get a grade in history.
So he’s shown up at last, sure he will pass
the test that prior students say is easy!

He feels no need to read the test’s directions.
It uses letter symbols; he can tell
he only needs to trust his recollections
about the fifty states. He should do well!

He feels assured that Md has to be
for Maryland, and Missouri is Mo.
It’s very clear Nebraska is Ne.
But why No? Everyone should know that NO means NO!

Ca, Pa, In; a piece of cake!
Then he sees a few that are an utter
puzzlement or just a huge mistake!
Pb, he’s sure, is only peanut butter!

Sg might be Singapore, or else Saigon.
But how are those in U. S. History?
Fr for France? Just what is going on?
The cocky guy is feeling kind of queasy.

At last he thinks to go back to the start
and read the test’s instructions. . . O M G!
The test was on the periodic chart
of elements! Wrong class. It’s Chemistry!!!

Note:
*The correct answers of the test were really
Md for Mendelevium, Mo for Molybdenum,
Ne for Neon, No for Nobelium, Ca for Calcium,
Pa for Protactinium, In for Indium, pb for Lead,
Sg for Seaborgium and Fr for Francium (he was close on that one!)

As for me, I would stay in the history class!!!