Your task in X3 is to transform another text in the manner of Anne Sexton.
A key part of your work will thus involve determining exactly what it means to transform something in the manner of Sexton. Here’s what I can tell you now:
- Your transformation does not have be in verse (although it may be);
- Your transformation does not have to be of a fairy tale or other child’s text (although it may be); but
- Your transformation must, in some clear way, draw on Sexton’s example—which I imagine will involve shifting not only the perspective but also the discourses of your source text.
Beyond that, I am interested to see how you define Sexton’s method as a writer —and how you choose which aspects of that method to imitate and which to revise. You might find, for instance, that you need to shift her approach in some ways because you’re working with a different sort of source text, or because you’re aiming for different effects in your writing. That’s fine. Your use of Sexton should be thoughtful rather than mechanical.
As with X2, then, I’ll expect your writing to have two parts: (a) your transformed text, and (b) a reflection on your work. I’ll be interested in how you not only adopt but adapt Sexton’s method. Use your reflection to help me see how you are both building on her example and how you are going beyond it.
Also, in this assignment I’d like you to transform a complete text—perhaps a poem, or a song, or some sort of brief parable, fable, or tale. Please provide a copy of or link to the original version of the text you are transforming.
Deadlines
- Mon, 10/03, in class: Bring the text you plan to transform for X3 with you to class.
- Wed, 10/05, and Thurs, 10/06: Conferences about X3 and R1.
- Fri, 10/07, 8:00 AM: X3 posted to your Dropbox folder.
