Struggling with Analyzing & Interpreting Literature

[Togas]

I know the common thought on these forums is that Analyzing and Interpreting Literature is the easiest CLEP test, and from what I have read, most do well with out studying.

I am the complete opposite. I have no problems in Math, Science, and History topics, but when it comes to Poetry I am at a complete lost.

I've read through the REA CLEP book, and did the practice tests. I got a 13! I've faired better using the flash cards here, but still not fantastic.
Take the poem An Ode to a Grecian Urn, by John Keats.
I have no clue what is being discussed. I've read through the poem at least a dozen times and can't make heads or tails from it.

Any suggestions?

Just keep pounding away at it?

give up and just take a class?

This topic, (and English) are why I have not gotten a degree in the decade after highschool.

[cstock]

Hey, Keep doing the flashcards! I had some issues when I first started to study for it as well. After a little bit of effort it got easier. Be prepared when you take the exam that you will be pushed for time. The test can be beat! Its all relative about what is the easiest clep. It's different for everybody. Good luck!

[jortholmes]

I know the common thought on these forums is that Analyzing and Interpreting Literature is the easiest CLEP test, and from what I have read, most do well with out studying.

I am the complete opposite. I have no problems in Math, Science, and History topics, but when it comes to Poetry I am at a complete lost.

I've read through the REA CLEP book, and did the practice tests. I got a 13! I've faired better using the flash cards here, but still not fantastic.
Take the poem An Ode to a Grecian Urn, by John Keats.
I have no clue what is being discussed. I've read through the poem at least a dozen times and can't make heads or tails from it.

Any suggestions?

Just keep pounding away at it?

give up and just take a class?

This topic, (and English) are why I have not gotten a degree in the decade after highschool.

If you're really having that much trouble with it, then I would suggest studying for another test. You said that you're good with history, so maybe do the English Lit. CLEP. That one is a lot of memorizing, not exactly "history" history, but it's sort of like it. American Lit. CLEP is another one like that. But How long have you been studying for the A&I test?

[Togas]

I've been studying for roughly a week or so with flash cards. The REA book, perhaps 2 weeks?

If I were to switch to American Literature, it would be more in line in how I operate?

I'm assuming that I would need to find a list of poetry and memorize authors and such?

Thank you for the reply

[GoodYellowDogs]

My advice is to look at the REA book ANSWERS. You read through the question, pick your answer, and immediately go to the answers in the back. The answers actually help understand the reasoning behind the answer. That's how I did it and I scored very well.

I know the common thought on these forums is that Analyzing and Interpreting Literature is the easiest CLEP test, and from what I have read, most do well with out studying.

I am the complete opposite. I have no problems in Math, Science, and History topics, but when it comes to Poetry I am at a complete lost.

I've read through the REA CLEP book, and did the practice tests. I got a 13! I've faired better using the flash cards here, but still not fantastic.
Take the poem An Ode to a Grecian Urn, by John Keats.
I have no clue what is being discussed. I've read through the poem at least a dozen times and can't make heads or tails from it.

Any suggestions?

Just keep pounding away at it?

give up and just take a class?

This topic, (and English) are why I have not gotten a degree in the decade after highschool.

[Togas]

My advice is to look at the REA book ANSWERS. You read through the question, pick your answer, and immediately go to the answers in the back. The answers actually help understand the reasoning behind the answer. That's how I did it and I scored very well.

I'll go at it again.
I was using the REA online access, that came with the book. Saw my scores and my heart just dropped.

[mednat]

You may want to look at another test or take a class in this. It can be a difficult topic to self-teach if you don't know how to interpret it. Most people once it "clicks" they have it, but I know I originally learned it while in school with the help of teachers.

[SuZQ2]

I know the common thought on these forums is that Analyzing and Interpreting Literature is the easiest CLEP test, and from what I have read, most do well with out studying.

I am the complete opposite. I have no problems in Math, Science, and History topics, but when it comes to Poetry I am at a complete lost.

I've read through the REA CLEP book, and did the practice tests. I got a 13! I've faired better using the flash cards here, but still not fantastic.
Take the poem An Ode to a Grecian Urn, by John Keats.
I have no clue what is being discussed. I've read through the poem at least a dozen times and can't make heads or tails from it.

Any suggestions?

I love classical literature...I spent years on my own studying and reading classical literature for fun...I fully intended to start my degree journey by taking take the A & I CLEP...I too purchased the A & I REA Guide and was at a complete and total loss. I could not for the life of me successfully analyze ANYTHING!:ack: Memorization is my strength, so I dropped literature completely and switched over to psychology (a topic I had no experience with but thought better suited my learning style).

Fast forward one year - I really wanted literature credits, heard American Lit was more memorization/less analysis, so I began there. I put myself through a brutal total immersion program of AM Lit, and was successful...This gave me the confidence to once again try and tackle A & I...

People say you cannot learn to analyze...I respectfully disagree... I did it by Googling every selection from the REA Guide, CLEP Guide, and Peterson's Practice Exams along with the term "analysis" - there are many, many sites containing every literary selection imaginable plus a complete explanation of that piece. As I read a poem/story/book analysis, the light dawned, and I slowly learned HOW to analyze...

Here's are two examples with the selection you mentioned, "Ode on a Grecian Urn"

SparkNotes: Keats

http://study.com/academy/lesson/ode-on-a...mmary.html

There were no IC literature flashcards when I took the A & I exam, but I used the above mentioned resources, plus Norton's Lit Guides, Poetry for Dummies, Shakespeare for Dummies, etc. I practiced for about a month after my Am Lit Clep and was happily successful...(And I still claim I have no natural aptitude for analysis)...

Hope this helps...Good Luck! eeya:

[Lindagerr]

Welcome to the forum.
Since you have joined IC have you checked out the specific exam feedback section for ideas on studying for this exam?
Have you tried the Peterson practice test? If you not only check the correctness of answers but read the explanations it can help.
Don't let this get you down, all of us have our weaknesses, but we can still meet our goals and obtain our degree if we persevere.

[bricabrac]

What school are you attending? You may be able to earn alternate humanities credit, for example technical writing and/or business communications may be more in line with the way your brain functions.