The poems of the Lyrics of Chu are rather complex works, especially when compared to the simpler poems of the Classic of Poetry. Consider one or two of the “Nine Songs.” As these are ritual songs, so you might ask how the poem is attempting to represent the ritual situation. Consider carefully how the poems begin, who is speaking, and who is being spoken to (or sought after). Is there an audience? What themes are repeated throughout the “Nine Songs” and how does the poem you are examining resolve the theme? The “Li sao” is a long and complex work. Choosing one section of this poem, consider how it draws upon themes and imagery from poems in the “Nine Songs.” I would advise against attempting to explain all of the “Li sao” here, and instead, focus on one theme or a particular part of the “Li sao.” One thing to consider is how the “Li sao” transforms liturgical language from the “Nine Songs” into a more explicitly literary work. In Four pages.