Question

Write a program that prints a poem of your choice. If you don't have a favorite poem, search the Internet for "Emily Dickinson" or "e cummings".

Short answer

Select a poem, plan the code using `print` statements, write the code, and test it.

Step-by-step solution

Choose a Poem

Start by selecting a poem that you would like to use in your program. For this example, let's choose a poem by Emily Dickinson. One short poem option is 'Hope is the thing with feathers.'

Understand the Structure

Read the poem to understand its structure. Note how many lines it has and any special formatting if present. In 'Hope is the thing with feathers,' there are three stanzas with four lines each.

Plan the Code

Plan how you will write your code to print each line of the poem. Decide on the programming language you will use, such as Python. Consider using output functions like `print()` to display each line of the poem.

Write the Code

Open your code editor and start writing the code. In Python, you can write: ``` print("Hope is the thing with feathers") print("That perches in the soul,") print("And sings the tune without the words,") print("And never stops at all,") print("") # blank line for stanza separation print("And sweetest in the gale is heard;") print("And sore must be the storm") print("That could abash the little bird") print("That kept so many warm.") print("") print("I've heard it in the chillest land,") print("And on the strangest sea;") print("Yet, never, in extremity,") print("It asked a crumb of me.")"

Test the Program

Run the program to test it. Ensure that each line of the poem is correctly printed and formatted as you desired. Check for any typos or errors in the code.

Key concepts

Poem Printing in Python

Printing a poem in Python can be both an exciting and educational exercise. It's a perfect way to get familiar with some basic functions while also incorporating your favorite literary pieces into your coding practice. In Python, the `print()` function is used to display text or output on your screen. This is accomplished by placing the text you want to display within the parentheses of the `print()` function.

If your poem has multiple lines or stanzas, as in the case of Emily Dickinson's work, you can print each line by using separate `print()` commands. For example:

• Use `print("line of poem")` for each line.
• Include a blank `print("")` for an empty line between stanzas.

Using these small snippets, you can bring your selected poem to life in code. This exercise shows how simple it can be to transform a beloved poem into a running program, while also providing a gentle introduction to basic Python syntax and functions.

Emily Dickinson in Programming

Emily Dickinson is renowned for her unique style and profound themes. When choosing one of her poems to code, such as 'Hope is the thing with feathers,' you not only get a chance to appreciate her poetry but also engage with the text on a technical level.

Understanding the structure of the poem is crucial. Knowing the number of lines, stanzas, and any distinctive formatting helps you create an accurate representation in your program. Emily Dickinson's poems, characterized by short lines and deep meaning, can be an inspiring choice to work with in a coding exercise. Through the process of coding, you begin to see the poem from a different perspective, as it requires attention to detail and pattern recognition.

As you write out each line of the poem using `print()` statements, you recreate Dickinson's work programmatically, allowing further exploration of how language and programming can intersect beautifully.

Step-by-Step Coding Exercise

Breaking down a task into manageable steps makes tackling programming exercises much easier. The step-by-step approach is essential for beginners, ensuring that each phase is clear and comprehensible. Here's how you can approach the poem printing task effectively:

First, select the poem which you'll use in your code. If you're stuck on a choice, classics from poets like Emily Dickinson are always excellent. Next, carefully read through the selected poem and note its structural elements, such as stanza and line lengths.

With a plan in place, you can start by outlining the code. Decide on the syntax you'll use, given you are working in Python. The core function here is `print()`, which allows you to showcase each line of the poem.

• Start with coding the first stanza, checking your output as you go to ensure accuracy.
• Continue to the next stanzas, mimicking the structure you've observed.
• Finally, run your completed program and verify the output matches the poem's layout.

Testing is crucial, as it gives you the chance to rectify any discrepancies in the output or typos. This practice not only deepens your understanding of Python, but it also helps in honing your debugging skills, which are invaluable in programming. By following these steps, you get practical experience and a meaningful result by seeing a piece of poetry printed line by line.