Poetry Unit Final Thoughts

On a blog at the beginning of the Poetry Unit, most of you commented that you had very little experience with American poetry or poetry in general. After having studied one poet in depth and after learning about several other poets studied introduced by Mrs. O and by your classmates, what opinions do you have of American poets and poetry now? Which were your favorite and why? What characteristics of poetry do you tend to like? Which do you dislike?

Emily Dickinson or ee cummings??

Last week we read the poetry of Emily Dickinson who was highly criticized for her unusual rhyming, rhythms, capitalization, etc. Even though ee cummings wrote decades after Dickinson, he, too, was criticized for similar reasons. Read a couple of his poems. http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15399 http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15403
What do you think? Which one is more unusual? More difficult to understand? Why? Which one do you prefer reading? Why? Should poetry have NO rules?

Sylvia Plath or Anne Sexton??

You learned about Sylvia Plath on Jamie's detailed Wikicenter project. Many people compare her poetry to that of Anne Sexton. Read Anne Sexton's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15300 then go back and read a poem by Sylvia Plath called "Morning Song" http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15293 . Do you notice any similarities or differences in the two writers' wording, style, or content?

Walt Whitman or Allen Ginsberg??

You have read Walt Whitman. . .Try one of Ginsberg's most famous poems "Howl" at the site below. Is he similar to or different from Walt Whitman in any ways? Which one do you like better? Why? Which one strikes you as the most "American" and why?

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15308

American Poetry

After this unit, we will be studying American Poetry. I like to leave some choices up to my students; therefore, are there any American poets or types of poetry that you would LIKE to study? Or are there any that you feel you have studied enough and don't need to spend the time on? Any projects or assignments you have done in the past that you liked or didn't like with regard to poetry? What general attitudes about poetry do you have? Is anyone interested in writing poetry? I am open to all suggestions!! :-)

Casting Call

If you were to actually be cast in a role in the stage version of Inherit the Wind, which character would you be most suited to play? Are you most like Bertram Cates, living a fairly normal life but willing to stand up for what you believe in no matter the cost? Are you most like Hornbeck, interested mostly in observing situations and then passing the information on to anyone who will listen? Are you like Drummond, with a strong analytical mind able to think on your feet and work things out logically and cleverly. Or are you one of the townspeople, easily swayed by what others think? Choose ANY character from the play to discuss and compare with your own personality.

Supporting a Cause

At one point, Bertram Cates has the option to back out of the trial, but he chooses to continue with the proceedings because he truly believes that he has done nothing wrong. For what cause(s) would you be willing to stand up and fight or lead a protest, even if it meant your life would be turned upside down? In other words, what cause would you testify for or defend in order to support your belief in it? Why?