Shel Silverstein Critical Review - 1565 Words

Nicole Turner ENC 1102 Mrs. S. Padgett-Giorda Critical Research Essay on Shel Silverstein While many will point to poets such as Robert Frost and Sylvia Plath when speaking intellectually about the work that was produced by their pens, one should not overlook the valuable contributions of Shel Silverstein. From his first publication, The Giving Tree, to his final work, Falling Up, Silverstein entertained generations of children and parents alike with his use of poetry. His work, specifically in 1981’s A Light in the Attic, has been used as the backbone for many educators’ introduction of poetry to students. Entries like â€Å"Hot Dog,† â€Å"Homework Machine,† â€Å"Superstitious,† â€Å"Messy Room,† and â€Å"The Sitter† work on many levels with multiple†¦show more content†¦While the machine has good intentions from the start, it does not turn out so well: â€Å"Here it is— ‘nine plus four?’ and the answer is ‘three.’† (Silverstein 57) We see a morality to his craft. In a world where so many people stress perfection, he was trying to show the importance of imperfection to readers, parents and educators alike. By the time A Light in the Attic was released, Silverstein knew who would be reading his writing. The publication was his second collection, and many were already familiar with him and his writing. He knew the positive effect he could have on teachers and others that would eventually influence young minds themselves. He used his poetry as a pedestal. â€Å"Homework Machine† was a prime example of that intention. In the prime of writing career, Silverstein was counted on to help relay a combination of entertainment, education and morality to children that few have the ability to convey. Silverstein’s creative use of the English language reappears in the poem â€Å"Hot Dog.† Drawing parallels between a hot dog and a normal dog, he envisions what changes a boy and his family would have to make if they were to keep a hot dog as a pet as opposed to the latter. Obviously, this is where the entertainment value of the poem takes place. Images such as â€Å"a butcher forShow MoreRelated12 / 9 / Shel Silverstein3421 Words   |  14 PagesTyler Washington Dwivevdi Final Paper 12/9/14 Shel Silverstein literary paper Shel Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 25, 1930. Shel Silverstein was a song writing musician, author, and an illustrator. He spent his early life serving in the U.S. Army during 1950. He was a cartoonist for many different magazines, and when he joined Playboy, his work became national known. While working at Playboy he started his career of writing poems and songs. Some of his best known works were