"April is the Cruellest Month"
1) Silent Reading
2) Parody Poems - hand them in - share mine. What was this like? How did the Q's to Ask of a Poem help you?
3) Read: Music or Books? What do you think? What is it about songs that might make us more solipsistic? What is it about books that might make us less so? And what about poetry? What does it ask of us?
Separation
by WS Merwin
Your Absence has gone through me
Like Thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with colour.
What makes this a poem rather than ordinary prose?
4) No textbooks available - photocopies instead... :( Read up to Te Receptive Reader "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening." Anser all 5 questions - will discuss and mark tomorrow.
Showing posts with label Poetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poetry. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Home - a found poem...
I selected a line or two from everyone's letters home... they read like a poem, almost.
Home
by English 12
To Whom it May Concern
To my Beloved
Dear Mom and Dad
Mom
Mom
Loved Ones
I know you are really scared right now.
For a fallen man shall say to his assailant, “If I live, I will kill you. If I die, you are forgiven.”
You have always been there for me and have protected me
since the day I was born.
Thank you for being wonderful.
I want you to know that I am grateful.
Should I die, do not worry.
There is a kind of calm to it, as if the air, though heavy with humidity,
washes over you and lifts your spirits.
I will be safe and fine.
Don’t worry. I’ll be back.
This is my opportunity.
I might die.
I can’t guarantee that I’ll survive.
You really are the most important people in my life.
You are the people that have shaped my life.
Just know that wherever I am, I’ll always be with you.
I’m not leaving, I don’t want to leave, I’m not ready to.
I want to come home.
Please don’t be scared. You have prepared me well.
I love my family and I pray for you everyday.
Please accept my decision and think about my future.
I have such a passion for life and now it is my time to live.
I hope that this is enough.
I’m not sure when I’m coming home.
I love you more than anything. Just know I love you, miss you and I will be home, with love, your only daughter, see you in heaven, love, sending my love, I love you all and I think about you often.
PS – I love you
"Death will give us back to God, just like the setting sun is returned to the lonesome ocean."
Home
by English 12
To Whom it May Concern
To my Beloved
Dear Mom and Dad
Mom
Mom
Loved Ones
I know you are really scared right now.
For a fallen man shall say to his assailant, “If I live, I will kill you. If I die, you are forgiven.”
You have always been there for me and have protected me
since the day I was born.
Thank you for being wonderful.
I want you to know that I am grateful.
Should I die, do not worry.
There is a kind of calm to it, as if the air, though heavy with humidity,
washes over you and lifts your spirits.
I will be safe and fine.
Don’t worry. I’ll be back.
This is my opportunity.
I might die.
I can’t guarantee that I’ll survive.
You really are the most important people in my life.
You are the people that have shaped my life.
Just know that wherever I am, I’ll always be with you.
I’m not leaving, I don’t want to leave, I’m not ready to.
I want to come home.
Please don’t be scared. You have prepared me well.
I love my family and I pray for you everyday.
Please accept my decision and think about my future.
I have such a passion for life and now it is my time to live.
I hope that this is enough.
I’m not sure when I’m coming home.
I love you more than anything. Just know I love you, miss you and I will be home, with love, your only daughter, see you in heaven, love, sending my love, I love you all and I think about you often.
PS – I love you
"Death will give us back to God, just like the setting sun is returned to the lonesome ocean."
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Friday, December 4 - Delving In, A Close Reading
1) Silent Reading or Last Chance to do Poetic Terms Quiz
2) A Close Reading (Check out Discovering Literature, pp. 482 - 484, for tips on how-to, including a student example.)
3) In Class Example - The Fish by Elizabeth Bishop, p. 615
4) The Delve- In Model - not for everybody... but a model that can help you to see ways to add depth to your paragraphs. It's an easy way to say more.
5) The Poem Analysis Assignment - Due as a part of your poetry booklet Friday, Dec. 11th.
2) A Close Reading (Check out Discovering Literature, pp. 482 - 484, for tips on how-to, including a student example.)
3) In Class Example - The Fish by Elizabeth Bishop, p. 615
4) The Delve- In Model - not for everybody... but a model that can help you to see ways to add depth to your paragraphs. It's an easy way to say more.
5) The Poem Analysis Assignment - Due as a part of your poetry booklet Friday, Dec. 11th.
- Read the following poems and select ONE to study, analyse and write about.
Fern Hill, p. 626 - an idyllic classic
anyone lived in a pretty how town, p.628 - an e.e. cummings masterpiece
The Windhover, p. 633 - a uniquely powerful look at faith
I Go Back to May 1937, p.664 - a brutal confessional poem about parents
- Line by line consider the poem - take in the poem as a whole.
- Determine the speaker, the setting, the tone, the diction (types of words used), figurative language, the theme. Refer to your Questions to ask of a Poem handout.
- Brainstorm or List or Doodle or photocopy the poem and write all over it (I recommend this) - find the pre-writing tricks that work for you.
- Organize your central idea, your thesis statement - know this first before you start writing.
- Prepare a multi-paragraph explication of the poem you have selected. Yes, I wrote, EXPLICATION - it sounds like some Biology term... it sort of reminds me of dissecting a frog... but this won't smell as bad nor harm any small creatures. I think.
I have Tuesday (we will definitely go this day) and Thursday (if we need it) booked in the library.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Thursday, Dec. 3rd - Spoon River Readings
1) Silent Reading or do the poetry terms quiz if you missed that day.
2) Introduction to the Spoon River Anthology. You can read all 244 dramatic poems here if you so desire. We will only look at a few in class. Terms - Monologue, Epitaph.
3) What makes for a great oral reading? First, take a moment to understand a poem's cues. Then watch three videos from the Favourite Poem Project. Develop our criteria ___/24
In groups read and present on one of the Spoon River poems. Discuss speaker, tone, diction (word choice), theme...
4) Write your own Epitaph Poem... about yourself, a public figure, a historical figure, anyone you know.
Home work: Begin the hunt for the poem you will read at our "poetry cafe" next week.
2) Introduction to the Spoon River Anthology. You can read all 244 dramatic poems here if you so desire. We will only look at a few in class. Terms - Monologue, Epitaph.
3) What makes for a great oral reading? First, take a moment to understand a poem's cues. Then watch three videos from the Favourite Poem Project. Develop our criteria ___/24
In groups read and present on one of the Spoon River poems. Discuss speaker, tone, diction (word choice), theme...
4) Write your own Epitaph Poem... about yourself, a public figure, a historical figure, anyone you know.
Home work: Begin the hunt for the poem you will read at our "poetry cafe" next week.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 1st - A Lyrical Education
1) Silent Reading
2) Review - Yesterday? Remind me to review paradox.
3) Poems today are actually the lyrics of a song:
I am a Rock by Paul Simon (Simon and Garfunkel)
4) Read: The Other Education, an editorial about the importance of the musical "education" that we give ourselves.
5) Round Robin Discussion - What kind of musical education are you providing for yourself? If someone picked up your Ipod and listened, what would they learn about you and maybe even about your values?
6) Time to work on Poetry Project.You can peruse Discovering Literature for a favourite poem, for instance.
7) Homework: Try to remember your dreams and write them down in your journal or somewhere...
2) Review - Yesterday? Remind me to review paradox.
3) Poems today are actually the lyrics of a song:
I am a Rock by Paul Simon (Simon and Garfunkel)
4) Read: The Other Education, an editorial about the importance of the musical "education" that we give ourselves.
5) Round Robin Discussion - What kind of musical education are you providing for yourself? If someone picked up your Ipod and listened, what would they learn about you and maybe even about your values?
6) Time to work on Poetry Project.You can peruse Discovering Literature for a favourite poem, for instance.
7) Homework: Try to remember your dreams and write them down in your journal or somewhere...
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Monday, November 30th - True Confessions
TOC - You will need to print off and then photocopy the poetry project handout. If you have any trouble, please ask Tami Jerome, the librarian, to assist you. Enjoy the day!
1) Silent Reading
2) Sharing - anyone care to share their absurdist poem or story from their journal?
Listen to Matt B's And Mike T's song from the Death of a Salesman Project (in computer).
3) Confessional Poetry - Click here for some notes and ideas to discuss.
Daddy by Sylvia Plath - p. 914 - Read and discuss.
(Remember the Q's to ask of a poem.)
Others that could be read and discussed (in groups?):
Anger by Linda Pastan, p. 556
Quake Theory by Sharon Olds, p. 733
On My First Son by Ben Jonson, p. 683
The Boy Died in my Alley, p. 835
4) Poetry Project - the next two weeks of your life will be poetic. Welcome to the Personal Poetry Project.
Go over handout. I'll provide more detail tomorrow.
5) Today's Journal Work - Brainstorm around a profoundly transformative moment in your life - whether the stuff of tragedy or comedy... sketch out some ideas and begin to play with the right words to draft step one of the personal poetry project - the Autobiographical Poem.
6) Homework - bring in some favourite lyrics to consider tomorrow.
1) Silent Reading
2) Sharing - anyone care to share their absurdist poem or story from their journal?
Listen to Matt B's And Mike T's song from the Death of a Salesman Project (in computer).
3) Confessional Poetry - Click here for some notes and ideas to discuss.
Daddy by Sylvia Plath - p. 914 - Read and discuss.
(Remember the Q's to ask of a poem.)
Others that could be read and discussed (in groups?):
Anger by Linda Pastan, p. 556
Quake Theory by Sharon Olds, p. 733
On My First Son by Ben Jonson, p. 683
The Boy Died in my Alley, p. 835
4) Poetry Project - the next two weeks of your life will be poetic. Welcome to the Personal Poetry Project.
Go over handout. I'll provide more detail tomorrow.
5) Today's Journal Work - Brainstorm around a profoundly transformative moment in your life - whether the stuff of tragedy or comedy... sketch out some ideas and begin to play with the right words to draft step one of the personal poetry project - the Autobiographical Poem.
6) Homework - bring in some favourite lyrics to consider tomorrow.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Friday, November 27th - Absurd Nonsense
1) Poetic Devices Review Quiz and creative journal check
2) Some of my most favourite poems make no sense at all. Or do they?
Jabberwocky by Lewis Carrol
3) Journal Work - 20 Little Poetry Projects (paper handout) or Absurdist Story (write a story that, much like a dream or stream of concious writing, makes sense mostly on an intuitive level).
Did you know that the absurd can make you smarter? Read this article and then check out the Kafka story.
HOMEWORK - Bring in a bunch of your favourite music lyrics on Monday. Catch up on your journal work.
Coming Soon - An in-depth study of a poem of your picking...
2) Some of my most favourite poems make no sense at all. Or do they?
3) Journal Work - 20 Little Poetry Projects (paper handout) or Absurdist Story (write a story that, much like a dream or stream of concious writing, makes sense mostly on an intuitive level).
Did you know that the absurd can make you smarter? Read this article and then check out the Kafka story.
HOMEWORK - Bring in a bunch of your favourite music lyrics on Monday. Catch up on your journal work.
Coming Soon - An in-depth study of a poem of your picking...
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Wednesday, November 25 - Little Poems
1) Announcements - Quiz on Friday, Tomorrow is a day off...
2) Little Poems Study
This is Just to Say - p. 491
The Red Wheelbarrow - p. 614
You Fit Into Me
You fit into me
like a hook into an eye
a fish hook
an open eye
Margaret Atwood
I'm nobody! Who are you? - p.804
3) LEAF Poems - Journal Assignment (and class display)
Write as many four word poems (each word beginning with the following letters L E A F) as you possibly can. Write them in large and bold letters on green paper. Cut it into the shape of a leaf. Put your name on the back. Use a dictionary or thesaurus for ideas. Put your favourite two into your journal.
2) Little Poems Study
This is Just to Say - p. 491
The Red Wheelbarrow - p. 614
You Fit Into Me
You fit into me
like a hook into an eye
a fish hook
an open eye
Margaret Atwood
I'm nobody! Who are you? - p.804
3) LEAF Poems - Journal Assignment (and class display)
Write as many four word poems (each word beginning with the following letters L E A F) as you possibly can. Write them in large and bold letters on green paper. Cut it into the shape of a leaf. Put your name on the back. Use a dictionary or thesaurus for ideas. Put your favourite two into your journal.
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