Poetry Project Directions: 1. Choose a poem. a. Your poem must be a poem in this packet OR: b. If choosing a poem not in the packet, you MUST obtain approval from Miss Kipp and turn in a copy prior to presentation. c. Read these directions carefully to be sure your poem will work. d. Poems LESS than 100 words ( Hope is the Thing With Feathers, Dream Deferred, and No Man is an Island) will be given an additional assignment. Poems less than 50 words will not be accepted. e. You may work with a partner, however, both are responsible for equal parts of reciting the poem and creating the poster. You will receive the same grade, so choose a partner wisely. 2. Memorize your poem. a. The sooner you memorize your poem, the better. b. Once the poem is memorized, you can begin working on Good Stage Voice and Presence. c. Here are some ideas to help you memorize it: Record yourself reading your poem. Then recite back along with your recording. Practice reading your poem to a certain tune. This may make it easier for you to memorize it. Practice in front of other people prior to class presentation and have them critique you. 3. Create your poster. a. On large piece of construction paper or poster board, complete the assignment. Include i. A copy of your poem ii. A picture representing an idea from the poem. Be sure to make it colorful and detailed. You can use watercolor, colored pencils, or any other media. iii. Your interpretation of the poem what is the meaning? Theme(s)? 4. Present your Poetry Poster and recite your poem to the class. a. Be sure to review Good Voice and Stage Presence tips. We will be learning these and practicing these in class. b. You will recite your poem and share your poster. Students will be encouraged to ask you questions about your poem, so make sure you understand it. DUE DATES Poem Selection/Approval AND Partner Selection: Tuesday, November 15th (10 points) Completed Poster: Wednesday, November 23rd (50 points) Presentations: Monday, November 28th and Tuesday, November 29th (40 points) 1
eak loudly so that you can be heard. speak too fast or too slow. t you enunciate and use good diction. cter to your voice by varying your and expression. of your voice- its highs and lows. show confidence, and don t pace way. k at your audience. ur mistakes. Recover and go Good Voice and Stage Presence 2
Assignment for Poems Less than 100 Words Name: Name: Date: Period: Directions: Using your poem, complete the following three short answer questions. You must write in complete sentences and you must provide a developed, well-thought out answer that addresses all parts of the question. If completing project with a partner, you EACH MUST complete and submit this worksheet. Failure to complete this assignment will result in a loss of 20% of the overall project. Poem : Author : 1. Explain what the poem is about. Comment on the meaning or message the poet may have been trying to convey (min. 3 complete sentences). 3
2. Discuss the figurative language and style used in the poem. Give a few (at least three) examples of lines in the poem to support your observations. Use the list of 7 th Grade Figurative Language Terms. Term 1:. Explanation: Term 2:. Explanation: Term 3:. Explanation: 3. Describe your reaction to the poem. What did the poem mean to you? Does it relate to anything in your life? Did you like it? Why or why not? Would you want to read more poems by the same poet (min. 5 sentences)? 4
The Road Not Taken By Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. 5
Where the Sidewalk Ends By Shel Silverstein There is a place where the sidewalk ends And before the street begins, And there the grass grows soft and white, And there the sun burns crimson bright, And there the moon-bird rests from his flight To cool in the peppermint wind. Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black And the dark street winds and bends. Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow, And watch where the chalk-white arrows go To the place where the sidewalk ends. Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow, And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go, For the children, they mark, and the children, they know The place where the sidewalk ends. 6
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night By Dylan Thomas Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieve it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 7
*Under 100 Words* No Man is an Island John Donne No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. 8
Hope is the thing with feathers - (314) By Emily Dickinson Hope is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all - And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm - I ve heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea - Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me. *Under 100 Words* 9
Annabel Lee Edgar Allan Poe It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea, That a maiden there lived whom you may know By the name of ANNABEL LEE; And this maiden she lived with no other thought Than to love and be loved by me. I was a child and she was a child, In this kingdom by the sea; But we loved with a love that was more than love- I and my Annabel Lee; With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven Coveted her and me. And this was the reason that, long ago, In this kingdom by the sea, A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling My beautiful Annabel Lee; So that her highborn kinsman came And bore her away from me, To shut her up in a sepulchre In this kingdom by the sea. The angels, not half so happy in heaven, Went envying her and me- Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know, In this kingdom by the sea) That the wind came out of the cloud by night, Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee. But our love it was stronger by far than the love Of those who were older than we- Of many far wiser than we- And neither the angels in heaven above, Nor the demons down under the sea, Can ever dissever my soul from the soul Of the beautiful Annabel Lee. For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride, In the sepulchre there by the sea, In her tomb by the sounding sea. 10
O Captain! My Captain! By Walt Whitman O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done; The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won; The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring: But O heart! heart! heart! O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills; For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths-for you the shores a-crowding; For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; Here Captain! dear father! This arm beneath your head; It is some dream that on the deck, You've fallen cold and dead. My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will; The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done; From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won; Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells! But I, with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. 11
Because I could not stop for Death By Emily Dickinson Because I could not stop for Death He kindly stopped for me The Carriage held but just Ourselves And Immortality. We slowly drove, he knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For his civility. We passed the School, where Children strove At recess in the ring We passed the fields of gazing grain We passed the setting sun. Or rather, he passed us The dews drew quivering and chill For only Gossamer, my gown My tippet only tulle. We paused before a house that seemed A swelling of the GROUND The roof was scarcely visible The cornice in the ground. Since then 'tis centuries and yet Feels shorter than the DAY I first surmised the horses' heads Were toward eternity. 12
*Under 100 Words* Dream Deferred By Langston Hughes What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? 13
Sonnet 43 - How do I love thee? Let me count the ways by Elizabeth Barrett Browning How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everyday's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. 14