NicholasG
Perhaps, like music, the purpose is communication. Well written poetry takes communications to a higher esthetic level than common conversation. To be at ease with words is like ballroom dancing. It is wonderful to watch the master, but also to share with a fellow amateur, even though the watching and dancing are as far removed as the reading and writing, or the listening and playing. In the end it though, I feel that these three and probably other disciplines also, are all about trying to bring communications to higher level, where the emotion involved is tacit, and must be gathered by reading between the lines.
2013-12-10

The question says more about the teacher than any answer could reveal, but I'll weigh in. Why would anyone think there is one purpose to poetry? The question asked is " . . . THE purpose of poetry." Is strangeness THE purpose of poetry. Obviously it isn't. There are as many purposes as there are writers. What is "strangeness." Could there be a more vague term? Strange question. I certainly don't think about strangeness when I write, which means "strangeness" isn't my purpose for writing. I can see why the teacher posed the question, to make the student think, and figure out how to express their opinion, whatever it might be. I bet no one thought the purpose of poetry was strangeness. Even the strangest of people (me?) would surely think there were other, more obvious, purposes.

Personally, I think Country Fog got it exactly right: "because their sensibility compels it," I would add, because we want little pats on the back. Because it feels good to connect with others. Because we're alone in the vast universe, and we want our yawps to be heard. Also, because we have multi-dimensional personalities, and we like to explore the different voices within, writing as someone other than ourselves: a person older or younger, of a different gender or mindset. I've been thinking about this for a few days, and I can definitely say that for myself, and for those I know, strangeness is not the purpose of poetry. That is my opinion, and I've written a little essay on the subject, and would hope to get at least a C for my effort.
2013-12-09

Chaucer Whethers
Elle, for the sake of argument let us declare this the
institution for the level purpose of creating strange
poems. Seconded? ;)
2013-12-08

countryfog
To suggest that there is but one purpose of poetry, of any art, is ridiculous on its face.
Over the years I have come across many definitions of poetry, many offered by the poets themselves, each trying to convey some revelation of why they write, as though after thousands of years of poetry anything unique could be said as to their and its "purpose". Poets, painters, sculptors, composers do what they do because their sensibility compels it, and to what purpose? The need we all have and express in our own way, as best we can, to touch another's life with our own and to make of that something that matters and endures.
2013-12-08

Ivan R
Well ... levels of strangeness is what life is, poetry just puts on an extra layer, with some melody, I dont think that poetry has a purpose of creating something, it reflects ... as wisdom does.
2013-12-08

I'd have your son ask for some clarification from the professor. 'Strange' seems like, well, a strange way to put it. Some poetry definitely does evoke the odd or unusual, but certainly not all of it. And there are many theorists who would argue that poetry does not really have to have a 'purpose' at all. Hope your son aces the essay--maybe you can publish it here on poetbay :)
2013-12-07

Lawrence Beck
I disagree with that idea. It seems awfully precious to me. What are "levels of strangeness," anyway? The phrase sounds as if it was snatched from a hackneyed piece of literary criticism (you know, one which asserts that all great artists are at least a little insane). I concede that there seem to be some contributors to this site who strive to create self-consciously strange poetry. Their work leaves me cold.

I believe that the only purpose of poetry, or of any art, is entertainment. We've long since passed the point when poetry, or any art, could be strictly defined. Whatever a writer calls poetry has to be considered that because there's no way that we can show that it isn't. All I ask is that what he or she has written entertains me (in some fashion).
2013-12-07

Chaucer Whethers
As a formal mode to create strangeness
I don't know if that is an objective aspect
of the art form. There are certainly 'strange'
pieces produced from those who write whether
by intent or incidentally which again becomes
a topic open to discussion relative to perception.
2013-12-07