American Poets

Robert Frost needed only minutes to write “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” one of his two most famous poems, but it took him years to write the other, “The Road Not Taken.” Perhaps you enjoy Frost’s insights, or the humor of Ogden Nash or the verbal surprises of Emily Dickinson. You can find out about the lives and works of some of America’s most famous poets, and learn their thoughts about their poetry, through these direct links on The Times Launch Point Web site, www.latimes.com/launchpoint/

Level 1

Poetry Writing With Jack Prelutsky, Karla Kuskin and Jean Marzollo: By accident, Jack Prelutsky became a professional poet while playing with words. Meet three poets, learn from their writing tips and post your poems on this Web site.

teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/index.htm

Janet S. Wong: Author of Acclaimed Children’s Books: This poet compares dreams to dandelion weeds with “feathery heads alive with seeds.” Get the inside scoop on her works and hear her read her poetry.

www.janetwong.com/

Children’s Poetry Website: Tony Langham arrived accidentally on Earth in his space cruiser and now enjoys his Earth life being a teacher and children’s poet. Click through his Web site to learn more about him and read works by young poets just like you!

www.losgringos.fsnet.co.uk/index.htm

Level 2

Robert Frost’s Two Most Popular Poems: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference,” wrote Robert Frost. Discover what Frost thought about his two most popular poems.

www.libarts.sfasu.edu/Frost/Poppoems.html

The Poet’s Bookshelf: Emily Dickinson’s poetry was not as appreciated by the public in her time as it is today. Find out why as you learn about the lives and works of 11 other famous American poets including Edgar Allen Poe , Robert Louis Stevenson, e.e. cummings and Ogden Nash.

https://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/brisas/sunda/poets/dickinson.htm

Langston Hughes Tribute: “I, too, sing America . . .” African American poet Langston Hughes wrote these words in his assertion of positive African-American identity. Learn about this great Harlem Renaissance poem and read some of his poems.

langstonhughes.8m.com/cgi-bin/framed/2638/links.html

Level 3

American Transcendentalist Poets: Transcendentalism is a 19th century school of thought that includes such writers as Ralph W. Emerson, Henry D. Thoreau, and Walt Whitman. Find biographies and much more about these and other transcendentalist poets.

www.vcu.edu/engweb/transweb/authors.htm

Literature Online: Poets: Learn how the great American poet T.S. Eliot “did as much as anyone to redirect the course of 20th century poetry in English.” Learn about his life and work as well as details about the lives of 17 other poets. Be sure to check out the audio renditions of poems.

longman.awl.com/kennedy/eliot/biography.html

Poet of the American West: John G. Neihardt: At the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia, you can study selected letters, manuscripts, research materials, photographs, drawings, and other documents from the Neihardt papers.

www.system.missouri.edu/whmc/neihardt/intro.htm

Launch Point is produced by the UC Irvine department of education, which reviews each site for appropriateness and quality. Even so, parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet. This column was designed by Jimmy Brusky, Sue Park, and Nic Lim

EXPLORER’S QUEST

The answer to this Internet quiz can be found in the sites at right.

How many poems did Emily Dickinson write during her lifetime?

CLUE: See Emily Dickinson’s Story

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