1. Bell Ringer How do words affect us? How do words affect us? Take two minutes to write three sentences or draw a picture to describe how you think words affect us. Take two minutes to write three sentences or draw a picture to describe how you think words affect us.

2. How does language affect us? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFgRj- 5d5Ac http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFgRj- 5d5Ac

3. “How Does Language Affect Us?”: Black Cat By Christopher Myers

4. “black cat, black cat, cousin to the concrete creeping down our city streets where do you live, where will we meet?” where will we meet?”

5. Voice Is the voice in the poem the cat or someone else? Is the voice in the poem the cat or someone else? Do they know everything that is going on in the story? Do they know everything that is going on in the story? What is this type of narrator called? What is this type of narrator called?

6. Symbol, Repetition & Rhythm “black cat, black cat, cousin to the concrete creeping down our city streets where do you live, where will we meet?” where will we meet?” Did you find a symbol in this stanza? Did you find a symbol in this stanza? What do you think it means when Myers’ writes “cousin to the concrete”? What do you think it means when Myers’ writes “cousin to the concrete”? Do you notice anything about repetition and rhyme? Do you notice anything about repetition and rhyme? What does it tell us about the poem? What does it tell us about the poem?

7. sauntering like rainwater down storm drains between Cadillac tires and the curb sipping water from fire hydrants dancing to the banging beats of passing jeeps

8. Simile & Alliteration sauntering like rainwater down storm drains between Cadillac tires and the curb sipping water from fire hydrants dancing to the banging beats of passing jeeps Did you find a simile in this stanza? Did you find a simile in this stanza? What do you think it means when Myers’ writes “sauntering like rainwater down storm drains”? What do you think it means when Myers’ writes “sauntering like rainwater down storm drains”? Did you notice an example of alliteration? Did you notice an example of alliteration? What do you think it means when Myers’ writes about “ the banging beats of passing jeeps ”? What do you think it means when Myers’ writes about “ the banging beats of passing jeeps ”?

9. do you nod hello to the people you meet over yellow subway seats? black cat, black cat, we want to know where’s your home, where do you go?

10. Personification & Rhyming Did you find an example of personification in this stanza? Did you find an example of personification in this stanza? What do you think it means when Myers’ writes “do you nod hello to the people you meet”? What do you think it means when Myers’ writes “do you nod hello to the people you meet”? Did you notice anything about rhyming patterns? Did you notice anything about rhyming patterns? What does it tell us about the poem? What does it tell us about the poem? do you nod hello to the people you meet over yellow subway seats? black cat, black cat, we want to know where’s your home, where do you go?

11. crossing basketball courts and no-netted hoops slam-dunking yourself through a thin orange halo… tiptoeing across the click-clacking glow of bodega lights

12. Conveying the Message Did you find any literary devices in these stanzas? Did you find any literary devices in these stanzas? What do you think Myers’ meant? What do you think Myers’ meant? crossing basketball courts and no-netted hoops slam-dunking yourself through a thin orange halo… tiptoeing across the click-clacking glow of bodega lights