Mr. Fiore
Creative Writing
Playing with Poetry
What is poetry? What do I
do with it? How can I better understand it? These are three very good questions
that students ask. Anyone can just write down words and call it a poem, but good
poetry takes some effort. This activity is designed to allow you to get messy
with some of the glue that binds poetry together. Neither you, nor I, enjoy
lectures since they make the most interesting ideas boring. Here is your chance
to explore poetry without, as Billy Collins says, “Beating it with a hose to
find out what it really means”.
What you will produce:
·
A creative poster
that examines some of the more important elements of a poem, including a
paraphrase.
·
A discussion and
formal reading of your chosen poem.
·
A brand new poem
of your own!
Procedure:
1.
Select a poem
from an established source, aka A POETRY BOOK. No
computer unless it is an established author. The poem should be about 100
words. “Whoa!” you say? Count up the number of words to a song you know by
heart…it’s not much different.
2.
Research seven
poetic elements (terms or devices) that are used in the poem using the provided
online resources.
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/Virtualit/poetry/elements.html
http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/append/AXF.HTML
http://www.foothilltech.org/rgeib/am-ex/writing/elements_of_poetry.htm
You may use other sources
if these do not help you.
3.
Define each
element and identify it in the poem.
4.
Demonstrate the effect
each element has on the poem. In other words, “what does it do to the poem?” If
that element(s) were not there, how would it change the poem? If the element
does not have an effect on the poem, it probably isn’t that important!!!
5.
Paraphrase the
poem using a combination of the following online resources:
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~cooneys/tchg/lit/adv/paraphrase.instr.html
http://www.cswnet.com/~erin/poem.htm#mean
6.
Memorize the poem
and recite it to the class using the proper format and techniques as explained
by the former Poet Laurite Billy Collins.
http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/p180-howtoread.html.
Make
sure you,
Listen to Poet Laureate
Billy Collins talk about reading a poem.
7.
Write an original
poem that somehow reflects similar characteristics as found in the original
poem.
8.
Create a poster
that presents all your work to the class.
Evaluation
IMPORTANT
Since the choice of the poem is yours, it is your responsibility to select a poem that is suitable for this assignment. If your poem does not conform to the assignment, you will have to find something another poem.
