Please follow the instructions for writing a poetry précis found on Google Classroom. You may use your own name or the pen name you used with The Handmaid's Tale. This is due BEFORE class tomorrow (portal closes at the start of class).
Ofben
3/31/2026 03:49:26 pm
In her poem “Small Kindnesses,” Danusha Lameris highlights the simple acts of kindness that humans share with each other every day, suggesting that true kindness is cultivated by the little things people do to maintain a sense of community. Lameris develops this idea through the imagery of daily occurrences in which people demonstrate small acts of kindness for each other. By drawing parallels between these small acts and their more tragic origins, such as how saying “bless you” when one sneezes is a “leftover from the Bubonic plague,” she emphasizes the importance of preserving seemingly insignificant phrases and gestures in society. The poem is a single long stanza, emphasizing how small fragments or pieces of kindness can lead to something greater, perhaps unification or community. By beginning the poem with the phrase “I’ve been thinking” and through her repeated usage of pronouns “we” and “our,” Lameris maintains a contemplative and caring tone.
Aunt Lydia
4/3/2026 08:46:14 pm
This is a strong, well-developed précis that clearly captures the poem’s central idea about how small acts of kindness build community. I especially like your use of the “bless you” example and its connection to the Bubonic plague and your point about the single stanza reflecting the accumulation of kindness is very insightful. Your attention to pronouns like “we” and “our” also shows a solid understanding of tone and inclusivity. As a next step, try to tighten a few longer sentences so your analysis reads more smoothly and concisely.
OFTOM
3/31/2026 09:31:32 pm
In the poem ‘’Small Kindness’’, Danusha Laméris illustrates how genuine gestures can create a lasting impression in others lives. The author’s use of earnest and complimentary tone forms a powerful message that educates readers on the importance of being considerate about others feelings and how to initiate a positive environment that makes them feel valued and appreciated. Sometimes the little things we do can make a person’s day. It can make them feel special because they are at least acknowledged by others. Laméri first narrates the poem using first person point of view but as the poem progresses, it ends up addressing the population as a whole. The phrase ‘’to smile at them and for them to smile back’’ (Laméris 1) demonstrates how people step out of their comfort zone to communicate with strangers they are not familiar with, using just body language.
Aunt Lydia
4/3/2026 08:43:56 pm
This précis demonstrates a clear understanding of how Laméris emphasizes the impact of small, genuine gestures. I especially like your use of the line “to smile at them and for them to smile back,” which effectively supports your point about connection, and your observation about the shift from first-person to a broader audience shows strong attention to perspective. Your focus on tone as “earnest and complimentary” also helps capture the poem’s message. As a next step, try to tighten some phrasing and correct small errors (like “others lives” and “Laméri”) to make your writing more polished and precise.
Ofowen
3/31/2026 10:14:39 pm
In the poem ‘Small Kindness" written by Danusha Laméris presents ways in which humans engage in small acts of kindness towards each other everyday. These small gestures of kindness are what connect each other in our humanity without even realizing it. The poem recognizes that people participate and appreciate the small acts of kindness and it is what builds us as a better society and also creates a better world. When someone does a small act of kindness it can really make a difference in someone's day. Lameris uses Imagery and Anaphora to express how small acts of kindness better our society and make human connection. Lameris uses repeated phrases to reinforce the repeated act of kindness and uses examples of a waitress calling you honey or someone saying bless you after you sneeze to paint an imagery in the reader's head of someone's daily life where small, quiet gestures are reinforced to the person.
Aunt Lydia
4/3/2026 08:42:21 pm
This précis shows a strong understanding of how Laméris highlights everyday kindness as a way to build human connection. I especially like your specific examples, like a waitress calling someone “honey” or someone saying “bless you," which effectively ground your ideas in the poem’s imagery. Your point about repetition (anaphora) reinforcing the ongoing nature of kindness is also a thoughtful observation about craft. As a next step, try to tighten some phrasing and correct minor errors (like the title punctuation and capitalization of “imagery”) to make your writing more polished and precise.
Ofsteve
3/31/2026 11:06:38 pm
Aunt Lydia
4/3/2026 08:40:20 pm
This is a thoughtful précis that clearly captures the poem’s message about how small acts of kindness build connection and compassion. I especially like your example of “exchanging quiet smiles,” which nicely grounds your ideas in a concrete moment, and your point that kindness “passes down from stranger to stranger” is an insightful way to describe the poem’s movement. Your emphasis on hope in the face of hardship is also well developed. As a next step, try to tighten a few phrases (like “brief moments of daily acts of kindness”) and correct the author’s name to make your writing more polished and precise.
Oftim
3/31/2026 11:37:50 pm
In Danusha Laméris’ poem, “Small Kindnesses,” (2020), she reflects on everyday acts of generosity to show how human connection strives. Throughout the poem she highlights how strangers support one another through small gestures. Laméris suggests that these “small kindnesses” reveal the persistence of empathy and community. She develops this idea through brief anecdotes and imagery. The speaker is a reflective observer who both witnesses and participates in these interactions. Through a hopeful tone, Laméris conveys that even the smallest acts sustain a sense of shared humanity.
Aunt Lydia
4/3/2026 08:38:40 pm
This is a clear and well-developed précis that thoughtfully captures the poem’s focus on connection and empathy. I especially like your phrase “the persistence of empathy and community,” which insightfully gets at the poem’s deeper message, and your note that the speaker both “witnesses and participates” shows strong attention to perspective. Your mention of imagery and brief anecdotes also points to solid awareness of craft. As a next step, try to incorporate one specific example from the poem to make your analysis more concrete and textually grounded.
OfCurt
4/1/2026 12:30:29 am
In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem "Concord Hymn", he conveys a stately reflection over the fallen militiamen of the 1775 Battle of Concord is present throughout the text. It had been 61 years since that battle, the "foe long since in silence slept; Alike the conqueror silent sleeps". Time has washed away the battle itself and even the bridge, but the memories of the events that took place here still remain, and Emerson insists that this memory should not perish from the collective, and that those, who on top of losing those before them have also lost their sons in the war, should also remember their memory. A patriotic somberness lies over the text as the speaker calls the listener to remember with reflection and pride the deeds of April 19th, 1775. Through his masterful use of diction and tone, Emerson highlights the loss of war and the importance of an American culture of remembrance.
Aunt Lydia
4/3/2026 08:37:10 pm
This is a thoughtful and insightful précis that clearly captures Emerson’s focus on memory and remembrance. I especially like how you incorporate the line “foe long since in silence slept…” to show how time erases physical traces but not collective memory, and your idea of “patriotic somberness” is a strong, precise way to describe the tone. Your attention to how Emerson calls readers to remember with both reflection and pride is also well developed. As a next step, try to tighten and clarify your opening sentence so your main claim is more concise and easier to follow.
Maurice
4/1/2026 02:35:21 pm
“Small Kindnesses” is a poem written by Danusha Lameris (2020) that reflects on everyday gestures and acts given by people out of respect and politeness. They vividly illustrate the acts of people and what that means for us. The author suggests that these acts of kindness improve our society and make peoples day better. This poem was written for everyday people to reflect on our behavior and the community around us.
Aunt Lydia
4/3/2026 08:35:45 pm
This précis shows a clear understanding of the poem’s focus on everyday gestures and their impact on people and community. I especially like how you emphasize that these acts are done “out of respect and politeness” and how they can “make people’s day better,” which captures the poem’s message well. Your point about the poem encouraging reflection on behavior and community is also thoughtful and relevant. As a next step, try to include a specific example or image from the poem and tighten a few phrases (like “people’s day”) to make your analysis more precise and polished.
Ofsam
4/1/2026 10:54:02 pm
In the poem "Concord Hymn" (1837), Ralph Waldo Emerson commemorates the American colonists' resistance at the start of the Revolutionary War, emphasizing the significance of their actions. Emerson develops this message by using diction, imagery, and symbolism to illustrate how a single moment of defiance sparked a huge change. He makes use of reflective tone to honor the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought in the Lexington and Concord battle. Emerson's purpose is to memorialize these events and inspire a sense of remembrance in his audience.
Aunt Lydia
4/3/2026 08:34:18 pm
This is a strong précis with a clear understanding of Emerson’s purpose in honoring the significance of the colonists’ actions. I especially like how you highlight the idea that a “single moment of defiance sparked a huge change,” which captures the poem’s historical impact, and your attention to the “reflective tone” shows solid awareness of how Emerson shapes meaning. Your mention of diction, imagery, and symbolism also points in a strong analytical direction. As a next step, try to include a specific word, image, or symbol from the poem to make your analysis more concrete and precise.
Ofbrian
4/2/2026 08:38:31 am
In the poem "small kindness", Danusha Lameris shows that even really small acts of kindness can have big impacts on how people feel and connect with others. She uses simple, everyday gestures like someone sharing food or doing something thoughtful to show that kindness doesn't have to be huge to matter. The tone is calm and appreciative, which makes those small moments feel more meaningful. Overall, the poem illustrates that paying attention to these little things can make life feel more connected and less lonely.
Aunt Lydia
4/3/2026 08:32:47 pm
This is a thoughtful précis with a clear central idea about how small acts of kindness create connection. I especially like how you point to “sharing food” and other everyday gestures. Those concrete details show you’re really engaging with the poem’s examples. Your observation that the “calm and appreciative” tone makes those moments feel more meaningful is also strong and perceptive. As a next step, try to incorporate one or two more specific words or images from the poem itself to deepen your analysis and make your points even more precise. Comments are closed.
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