HOW TO BEGIN MY FAVORITE POEM PROJECT
Step 1 : Who am I as a reader of poetry?
Questions to answer in this section include:
What has your experience been with poetry?
Do you like it? If so, why? If no, why?
Do you have any poems that stick out to you that you loved? That you hated?
What kinds of poetry do you like? Dislike?
What do you wish to learn in this unit? What do you want to get better at? Set goals.
Step 2 ( the majority of our unit) : Read a "mess" of poems and respond ( this will be the longest section of your project= 50 poems)
Step 3 ( as we end out unit) : Collect 10 of your favorite poems: Just copy and paste the poem title and author
Step 4 ( your final major step and analysis) : Select your most favorite poem. Upon selecting, you will write an in-depth critical response defending your rationalizing your choice
Model for Project
Yana's Favorite Poem Project
Step 1:
What do you think of poetry? What kind of poetry do you like?
What has your experience been with poetry?
Do you like it? If so, why? If no, why?
Do you have any poems that stick out to you that you loved? That you hated?
What kinds of poetry do you like? Dislike?
What do you wish to learn in this unit? What do you want to get better at? Set goals.
I think I've always gravitated towards poetry that features strange or quirky topics. I like when love isn't all lovey dovey. I like poetry that shows things for real, not just how we think it is supposed to be. I also tend to like poems that are clearly written, with only a hint of figurative language. To me, poetry has to be honest and direct. In order for me to be moved, I need to understand. I can't help but remember Neruda's words, "Poetry is like bread," meaning that it is for everyone. And not everyone feels connected by complicated rhyme schemes and elevated diction
When I was a kid, I loved reading silly poems by Shel Silverstein. I liked them because they were humorous, but also deeply moving, and at times sad. In high school, I liked poetry by this dead white guy named William Blake. He wrote about the mystery of life, and at that point in my life, I felt really lost and his poetry helped me feel okay with asking deep questions and not having answers. I remember this one poem he had- and these lines I fell in love with:
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
There is so much wisdom and truth in this stanza!
Step 2: Read a Mess of Poems!!
(This is the longest section of this project- you will have 50 poem analyses recorded here )
1. Your Catfish Friend ( title of poem)
Richard Brautigan ( author)
* * * * ( rating out of 5 stars )
( response + analysis )
I really like this poem. It's like ... at the end of the day we're all slimy little creatures at the bottom of a dark pond trying to figure things out. Sometimes, you need someone to help you along the way. I wonder why Brautigan used catfish. Maybe because they look so silly and helpless and sometimes people are like that too. We're so easily wounded; we really don't know what we're doing. I like the idea that at the end of the poem the catfish is still sorta rejected. I think it's honest, but harmless. Keep looking. People get a lot more time to figure things out and find love than catfish. I mean human beings get like 80 or so years to do something remarkable and love someone they think is remarkable. Sometimes the journey hurts.
Step 3: Selection of Top Poems
(choose 5- 10 faves)
7. The Quiet World
Jeffrey McDaniel
6. The Archipelago of Kisses
Jeffrey McDaniel
5. The Genuis
Charles Bukowski
4. The Couple at Coney Island
Charles Simic
3. Digging
Seamus Heaney
2. Daffodils
William Wordsworth
MY FAVORITE POEM!!!!
1. When I haven't been kissed in a while...
Jeffrey McDaniel
Step 4: Write a strong response supporting selection of favorite poem
Click on the link below for a sample strong response
sample_thematic_response_on_poem.docx | |
File Size: | 143 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Student Models