William Carlos Williams: Poems Lesson Plan

In "Spring and All," the speaker of the poem is unnamed. What does this speaker have in common with William Carlos Williams?

Students should make connections between WCW’s biographical information and the poem to answer this question. For example, the speaker mentions a hospital, and WCW is a doctor. The poem is also full of stark imagery without much emotional representation. The language is precise and to the point. The speaker sticks to the facts without wandering or pondering. This type of writing might be attributed more often to a scientist or even a doctor than a poet.

In “Spring and All,” how does the initial image of the hospital affect how you see the...