Write an Introduction to Your Anthology
The introduction of an anthology typically includes the compiler’s comments on the collection as a whole and any patterns he/she would like to point out the readers. In your anthology, you should answer these questions:
1)Why did you select the theme you did for your anthology?
2)What patterns did you notice? What do the selections have in common?
3)What details (quotes) can you include in your introduction to support your observations of the poems/songs’ similar patterns?
4)What does this pattern suggest about our culture as a whole?
SAMPLE INTRODUCTION (You should skip lines; I’m trying to save trees and toner):
I first noticed the abundance of Superman references in songs and poems when Five for Fighting released their latest single, “Superman.” I immediately thought of several other songs with Superman allusions and when I did an internet search, I located numerous poems with Superman references as well. The Superman figure seems to hold a significant place in our culture. He is a modern myth, one with which many people seem to be fascinated.
The primary pattern in these pieces is one in which the narrator refuses or resists his role as Superman. For instance, in the most striking example of this theme, the narrator in Five for Fighting’s “Superman” opens the song with “I can’t stand to fly” which suggests that the narrator doesn’t like the role of Superman that has been thrust upon him. Other lines include “It’s not easy/to be me” and “men weren’t born to ride/With clouds between their knees.” The narrator then says that “even heroes have the right to dream.” The song’s message is that even Superman is a human being; as such, he is weak. The narrator pleads for recognition and forgiveness that even a “superman” is mortal.
This theme is echoed in “Kryptonite” by Three Doors Down. The refrain, “If I go crazy/will you still call me Superman” suggests that the narrator, who has been playing the role of Superman, is afraid to lose the respect of the person to whom he is speaking should he lose his strength or his sanity. The narrator is frustrated that he has been continually strong and yet, has been underappreciated. “You took for granted,” the narrator says, “all the times I never let you down/I picked you up and put you back on solid ground.” He has been strong, yet the person doesn’t recognize his strength. Now he’s wondering what will happen if he shows his weakness. He has been “Superman,” now what will happen if he becomes Clark Kent again?
A third poem in the anthology, “Not Today Superman,” shows an aging hero seeking more evil to fight. “Even for a man of Krypton,” the narrator writes, “he was getting old” and “success had left him behind.” This Superman refuses to accept his weaknesses and is still looking for some “bad guys” to fight. He can’t accept that he is past his prime. All he has are his memories, which he “packs in his cape.” He is not so much resisting his role of Superman, as in the first two songs I mentioned; rather the role is resisting him. He is too old to perform his duties properly. Without a job to do, this aging Superman fades away, weak and bereft of his former glory.
This theme of a weak or resisting Superman suggests important ideas about our culture. This changing vision of Superman shows how even heroes need to be seen as regular people. It also shows a certain cynicism, a certain belief that there aren’t any heroes anymore. Some see this shift as a negative quality in our culture. We need more heroes, they argue. However, others think it’s important that we recognize that our heroes are mortal. We need to understand that even the most tremendously strong people are vulnerable inside. Men are just men, after all. This anthology of poems and songs reveals the relevance of the Superman myth to our contemporary culture.
My Outline:
A. Introduction: Introduce anthology and answer question: How did I come to make an anthology on this theme?
B. Paragraph: Begin to discuss pattern I noticed. Use examples from “Superman” as evidence.
C. Paragraph: Use examples from “Kryptonite” to discuss pattern.
D. Paragraph: Use examples from “Not Today Superman” to discuss pattern.
E. Conclusion: Wrap up and answer question about what this pattern shows about our culture.
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