Casey Modiri
Dr. Warner
English 112B
December 6, 2016
Unit of Study: Poetry Within Music
One of my fondest memories while studying poetry as a young adult occurred when my teacher had us write about one of our favorite songs. It started out by printing out the lyrics and simply explain to the class about the meaning behind the lyrics. Because this was a song of our own choice, this part was easy. Next, our teacher spoke about song lyrics as poetry. He also picked a song of his own and highlighted some of the literary devices in his song. This is how poetry was introduced to me, via song lyrics. After students saw his examples of what to look for in poetry, we identified literary devices in the songs we chose. This is how the poetry unit was launched, through a familiar aspect of our lives. I never looked at poetry the same way.
This approach takes away the uneasy tension that is commonly found when beginners dive into the world of poetry. The rich history of poetry should not be ignored; it should be universally taught with different attitude which first celebrates lyrics as a new form of poetry.
The difference between this unit of poetry is it will be spread out over the course of year, taking slow steps towards the complex aspects of poetry. One way to launch this unit would be a brilliant exercise which mixes song lyrics (whether from rappers or singers) with lines from poems. The lines are read aloud and students decide if it is a line of poetry or lyrics from a song. From experience, this will surprise students with how interchangeable song lyrics and poetry actually are. Students will then select a song of their choice and write in their journals on what makes their song a form of poetry. Poetic devices will be highlighted and discussed during class.
Langston Hughes’s poetry will be a focal point throughout this unit of study. Specifically, “Trumpet Player” will be studied and analyzed thoroughly. What is the theme, mood and tone of the poem and I will ask students to look for a contemporary example in which they can compare Hughes's poem with. The songs will be played in class and each group will be talk about the similarities
I will extend the unit by veering into the world of Spoken Word. I will show videos of famous musicians reciting songs in a series called Def Jam Poetry. Students will read a verse from a song of their choice which is rich in imagery, metaphor and similes. Once these devices are understood, the class can further explore the devices by creating a class “I am” poem.
Overall, the goal of weaving music with poetry is to eliminate the idea that poetry is for an elite group of people. By beginning with the students choosing a song they can relate with and discuss, a sense of familiarity with poetry can be created. By extending the “unit” throughout the year, students who have struggled with poetry will be allowed time to shed the intimidating nature of poetry. Students learn to analyze something they are familiar with before moving on to difficult poems. Students begin listening to music differently, expanding their knowledge of music while being exposed to a different way to approach music which hopefully extends to poetry. Students admit the importance of keeping poetry alive.