1. Reading For Meaning Romantic Poetry Unit

2. Listen to the clips of these two songs. What do you think the lyrics mean? What do you think the author’s possible intentions/meanings are for the song? Write your notes around the lyrics (annotation). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F90Cw4 l-8NYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F90Cw4 l-8NY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT_nvW reIhghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT_nvW reIhg

3. How do you determine the meaning of a song? What skills do you use?

4. Reading Poetry Reading poetry well is part attitude and part technique. Curiosity is an effective attitude. –Free of preconceived ideas of poetry Effective technique directs your curiosity into asking questions Having a CONVERSATION with the text.

5. False Assumptions Most readers make THREE false assumptions when addressing an unfamiliar text.

6. False Assumptions 1. They should understand what they read on the first reading 2. The poem is a kind of code, and unless they can crack this code, they’ve missed the point. 3. The poem can mean anything readers want it to mean.

7. First Step Sooner or later, you’re going to have to READ the poem, word by word. –First, read the poem aloud. –The first step is to hear what’s going on. If you find your own voice distracting, have a friend read the poem to you.

8. Shared Inquiry The best way to discover and learn about a poem is through shared inquiry discussion. Although your first experience of the poem may be private and personal, talking about the poem is a natural and important next step.

9. Shared Inquiry Begin with a discussion question about the poem The discussion should remain grounded in the text as much as possible. The basis for shared inquiry is close reading. Write your own notes in your poetry packets (annotation)

10. Talking back to the Poem When you are reading poetry, it is common for the reader to take part in back and forth conversation with the text. Ex: – What circumstances gave rise to the poem? –What situation is presented? –Who or what is the audience? –What is the tone?

11. Finding Meaning Here’s a tricky issue: the task is to grasp, to connect, and to understand. But such a task is to some degree impossible, and most people want clarity. –But a poem that reveals itself completely in one or two readings will, over time, seem less of a poem than one that constantly reveals subtle recesses and previously unrecognized meanings