“To His Excellency, General Washington” & “An Hymn to the Evening” By Phillis Wheatley

Objectives: To develop vocabulary and word identification skills To develop vocabulary and word identification skills To use a variety of reading strategies to comprehend literature To use a variety of reading strategies to comprehend literature To increase knowledge of other cultures and to connect common elements across cultures To increase knowledge of other cultures and to connect common elements across cultures To express and support responses to the texts To express and support responses to the texts To analyze literary elements To analyze literary elements To plan, prepare, organize, and present literary interpretations To plan, prepare, organize, and present literary interpretations To increase knowledge of the rules of grammar and usage To increase knowledge of the rules of grammar and usage

Background for Understanding: Brought to America as a slave from West Africa at age 8 Brought to America as a slave from West Africa at age 8 Purchased by John Wheatley in 1761 Purchased by John Wheatley in 1761 Taught to read and write Taught to read and write Gained fame at an early age as a poet Gained fame at an early age as a poet First published abroad First published abroad Wrote a poem to Gen. Washington during the Revolutionary War Wrote a poem to Gen. Washington during the Revolutionary War Freed in 1773 Freed in 1773 Two children died in infancy Two children died in infancy Husband jailed for debt Husband jailed for debt Died at the age of 30 Died at the age of 30

Literary Focus Personification Personification Giving human characteristics or attributes to things or objects that are not human Giving human characteristics or attributes to things or objects that are not human Example Example Your shoes are talking. Your shoes are talking. The wind whistled a beautiful tune through the trees. The wind whistled a beautiful tune through the trees. The earth wept at the destruction of her rain forest. The earth wept at the destruction of her rain forest.

Reading Strategy Clarify Clarify To give a more specific meaning To give a more specific meaning Example Example The rain in Spain falls mainly upon the plane. The rain in Spain falls mainly upon the plane. When it rains in Spain, it usually rains in the low-lying flat areas. When it rains in Spain, it usually rains in the low-lying flat areas. Let’s go halves on a baby Let’s go halves on a baby Let’s have a child Let’s have a child

Vocabulary Celestial – adj. Celestial – adj. Of the heavens Of the heavens Refulgent – adj. Refulgent – adj. Radiant; shining Radiant; shining Propitious – adj. Propitious – adj. Favorably inclined or disposed Favorably inclined or disposed Refluent – adj. Refluent – adj. Flowing back Flowing back Pensive – adj. Pensive – adj. Thinking deeply or seriously Thinking deeply or seriously Placid – adj. Placid – adj. Tranquil; calm; quiet Tranquil; calm; quiet Scepter – n. Scepter – n. A rod or staff held by rulers as a symbol of sovereignty A rod or staff held by rulers as a symbol of sovereignty

Grammar & Style Subject /Verb Agreement Subject /Verb Agreement Verbs become either singular or plural in accordance with their subject Verbs become either singular or plural in accordance with their subject Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs Examples: Examples: Tom runs every day. (singular) Tom runs every day. (singular) They run every day. (plural) They run every day. (plural)

To His Excellency General Washington: Links on_archives/era/african/free/wheatley/poems/wash.htm on_archives/era/african/free/wheatley/poems/wash.htm on_archives/era/african/free/wheatley/poems/wash.htm on_archives/era/african/free/wheatley/poems/wash.htm georgewashington/ georgewashington/ georgewashington/ georgewashington/

An Hymn to the Evening Soon as the sun forsook the eastern main The pealing thunder shook the heav'nly plain; Majestic grandeur! From the zephyr's wing, Exhales the incense of the blooming spring. Soft purl the streams, the birds renew their notes, And through the air their mingled music floats. Through all the heav'ns what beauteous dies are spread! But the west glories in the deepest red: So may our breasts with ev'ry virtue glow, The living temples of our God below! Fill'd with the praise of him who gives the light, And draws the sable curtains of the night, Let placid slumbers sooth each weary mind, At morn to wake more heav'nly, more refin'd; So shall the labours of the day begin More pure, more guarded from the snares of sin. Night's leaden sceptre seals my drowsy eyes, Then cease, my song, till fair Aurora rise.

Review: “To His Excellency…” Columbia is filled with anxiety because of the war Columbia is filled with anxiety because of the war Great Britain is depicted as foolish and greedy Great Britain is depicted as foolish and greedy America is protected by God because they are fighting for a just cause America is protected by God because they are fighting for a just cause George Washington is described as “the Great Chief” George Washington is described as “the Great Chief” Wheatley uses personification to help the reader recognize the beauty and strength of America Wheatley uses personification to help the reader recognize the beauty and strength of America

Review: “An Hymn to…” God brings both the light and the darkness God brings both the light and the darkness Night time is a time for renewal Night time is a time for renewal Wheatley use images from nature in her descriptions Wheatley use images from nature in her descriptions Poem is synonymous to a prayer Poem is synonymous to a prayer