Poetry Presentation Ms. Julious, Mr. Reget, and Ms. Whiting-Smith

Objectives Familiarize and expose students to a wide variety of African-American poets To develop and diversify strategies for reading and responding to poetry and its elements To analyze a poem using strategies learned

Task Your task will be to present a poem written by an African American poet to the class by reading, analyzing it, and connecting it to every day life. You will use and combine your knowledge of elements of poetry and literary terms to present a minute power point presentation to the class.

Poetry Presentation Give the name of the poem and the poet. Background information on poet and other works Read poem and present dramatically to class. Identify unfamiliar words or terms used in the poem Identify poetic elements used in the poem (simile, metaphor, personification, etc.)

Poetry Presentation cont. Identification of sound devices used in poem (rhyme scheme, rhythm, alliteration, assonance, etc.) Analysis of how the poet’s use of images and poetic techniques reveals and develops the theme of the poem. Here you will analyze each stanza of your poem.

Poetry Presentation cont. Conclusion: How does the poem relate to your everyday experience or life. What message is the speaker trying to convey? What is the theme of your poem? What kind of mood or tone describes the poem?

Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note by Amiri Baraka Amira Baraka- born Everett LeRoi Jones in Newark, New Jersey. He changed his name as part of his rejection of white establishment values. Became well-known for his play Dutchman which won the Village Obie Award. He was influential in black theater, establishing the Black Arts Repertory Theater and School in Harlem in 1965.

Amiri Baraka cont. He wrote Blues People: Negro Music in White America (1963) which deals with the development of black music from the time of slavery up until the present. In 1974, Baraka became a Third World Socialist and his poems reflected his new philosophy He remains a major and controversial writer.

Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note by Amiri Baraka Lately, I’ve become accustomed to the way The ground opens up and envelops me Each time I go out to walk the dog. Or the broad edged silly music the wind Makes when I run for a bus…….. Things have come to that. And now, each night I count the stars And each night I get the same number. And when they will not come to be counted. I count the holes they leave

Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note Nobody sings anymore And then last night, I tiptoed up To my daughter’s room and heard her Talking to someone, and when I opened The door, there was no one there……. Only she on her knees, peeking into Her own clasped hands.

Unfamiliar word or phrases Preface- Envelops- Clasped- Broad edged

Poetic Elements and Sound Devices Hyperbole- overstatement or exaggeration-used to emphasize something ex. Ground opens up and envelops me Imagery-words or phrases that create pictures in a reader’s mind ex. Broad edged silly music the wind makes when I run for a bus, each night I count the stars, I count the holes they leave

Analysis of Poem I haven’t had control over my life lately and I am use to that, I hear crazy sounds even when I’m walking the dog I just exist, see nothing changing, but just keep existing, nothing means anything to me, nothings left of me, not even joyfulness One day I tiptoed to my daughter’s room, heard her talking, peeked in to see who was there, saw no one. and saw her on her knees praying

Conclusion This poem is likely a reflection of the poet’s own concerns and personal experiences. The speaker is struggling with the issues of sadness and hopelessness. The feelings I had while reading this poem possessed sorrow, depression, but hope as well.

Theme The daughter’s praying represents hope despite obstacles and sadness in the life of the speaker. It gave me pleasure to see that a small gesture can overcome those negative parts of life, no matter what they might be. The tone of the poem also seemed to change when he saw this.