After the holiday break, I always start a poetry unit. Poetry is my favorite, and it's an easy follow-up to the research project of DOOM which is done before Christmas. The research project of DOOM results in my students working really hard and me grading eleventy-billion essays that by and large disregard everything I've taught them.
At the start of the poetry unit, I teach poetic terms and literary devices, and then to emphasize these, we do a Music is Poetry lesson. In the past, I've played the song "The Wind Cries Mary" and have the students go through and identify all uses of similes, metaphors, personification, etc. This song is an excellent choice because it is chock full of them, as even the title is a personification. That said, this song is not an excellent choice because every year, I hear choice comments such as, "Wasn't Jimi Hendrix a drug addict? Are you telling us it's okay to do drugs?" To which I say, "Yes kids, now shut up and go smoke some crack!" Also, I have yet to find a recording that doesn't sound like it was being sung into a tin can at the end of a wind tunnel.
This is where I turn to you and say, "Help me, internet, you're my only hope!" Can you think of any songs that demonstrate a wide-range of literary devices, such as figurative language, that are also school appropriate? I started looking through Sufjan Stevens' songs last year, and then I just got lazy and played Jimi Hendrix again. Please, please, send any suggestions my way! They can be old songs, new songs, whatever, I don't care, I just want to demonstrate to my students that poetry isn't just written by old dead people, that they can poetry in anything.
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7 comments:
I am so bad at songs. But, my 8th grade daughter might be able to help you. Her GT English teacher had them analyze "Smells like Teen Spirit" earlier in the year. Of course Cobain killed himself, so that might not be the best choice either, although my daughter's teacher used it as a jump of point for a huge philosophical discussion, because that's what he likes to do.
I think you will be the "cool" teacher if you pick a rap song. Unfortunately I don't have any song suggestions - but if you choose a Tupac song that might be good. He was certainly a poet.
My suggestion would be in the Hip Hop realm.
Something by Ghostface would be interesting, as he raps in simile.
There is always Radiohead, especially Kid A.
I cannot take credit for this, as I found it when I googled some stuff!
We didn't start the fire by Billy Joel. (allusions)
On a Prayer by Garth Brooks (metaphor)
Blinded By the Light by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (parallel structure, alliteration)
All for Love by Bryan Adams, with Sting and Rod Stewart (cliche)
The Freshman by Verve Pipe alliteration
Don't Rain on my Parade (idiom)
Maxwell's Silver Hammer by the Beatles (onomatopoeia)
Every Other Time by LFO (repetition, hyperbole, simile)
You are the Sunshine of My Life by Stevie Wonder (metaphor)
Wow, Megan has certainly taken care of business! I will put my thinking cap on, too. You just must understand that I am as old as dirt, like a fish out of water since I left the classroom and as lazy as a cow on a summer afternoon.
But seriously... I will try to put my brain to use!
OK. I do have a song. I actually remember studying this song when I was in 8th grade English... so it may be too out-of-date!
I Am A Rock by Simon and Garfunkel... it is definitely a classic, and does talk of poetry!!!!
I will be thinking. You've got me excited and missing teaching!!!!
I asked my husband... OK, he is older than I am... but his suggestion is pretty cool, if I do say so myself. AND there is a renewed popularity in Bob Dylan. So how 'bout Like A Rolling Stone?
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