PYSCHOANALYTIC CRITICISM ACTIVITY

Guide Questions.
1. What psychological themes are resonating in the poem?
2. Do you think there are repressed ideas in the poem? Discuss these repressions.
3. How do you think the author view the “light” in the first line? Is it good or bad? Explain.
4. Discuss the setting, how does this affect your total comprehension of the poem?
5. Are there religious elements in the poem? What is the author trying to imply about these religious themes? What does it
say about the CHURCH’s dominion in the past?
6. Look for binary oppositions (ex. black or white/ light or dark) what other psychological motifs are being represented by
these oppositions?
7. Notice the words starting in capital letters. What do they represent?
8. How can you relate the words SEXUAL PLEASURE and PAIN in your reading of this poem using the Psychoanalytic
approach?

Activity (45mins.)
1. Discuss interactively the poem with your groupmates.
Afterwards, share all thoughts and general understanding with each other.
2. Using the Guide Questions above, try to read the poem for the second time. What new thoughts did you come
up with?
3. Form a concrete analysis of the poem using the Psychoanalytic approach.
4. Prepare for a group presentation to share with the whole class.