Unit 7Unit 7-Poetry-PoetryCompletion ActivitiesCompletion Activities

Completion Activity 1Completion Activity 1 You will choose your favorite couplet from the poem You will choose your favorite couplet from the poem

“Better-Unbegun”   by Heather McHugh.“Better-Unbegun”   by Heather McHugh. Post it to our class "Ghazal blog." Post it to our class "Ghazal blog." Write a three sentence explanation of Write a three sentence explanation of

why you like the couplet you've chosenwhy you like the couplet you've chosen what you think it means what you think it means why you think it is important to understanding the why you think it is important to understanding the

rest of the poem.rest of the poem. Post your analysis in the blog.Post your analysis in the blog. Message me as soon as you are done with your blog Message me as soon as you are done with your blog

post so that I will know to grade it. post so that I will know to grade it.

7.3.1 cont.-The Poem7.3.1 cont.-The Poem Ghazal of the Better-UnbegunGhazal of the Better-Unbegun                

by Heather McHughby Heather McHugh

    A book is a suicide postponed.   --Cioran    A book is a suicide postponed.   --Cioran

Too volatile, am I?  too voluble?  too much a word-person?Too volatile, am I?  too voluble?  too much a word-person?I blame the soup:  I'm a primordiallyI blame the soup:  I'm a primordiallystirred person.stirred person.

Two pronouns and a vehicle was Icarus with wings.Two pronouns and a vehicle was Icarus with wings.The apparatus of his selves made an ab-The apparatus of his selves made an ab-surd person.surd person.

The sound I make is sympathy's:  sad dogs are tied afar.The sound I make is sympathy's:  sad dogs are tied afar.But howling I become an ever more un-But howling I become an ever more un-heard person.heard person.

This poem is continued on the next slide.This poem is continued on the next slide.

The Better Unknown –cont.The Better Unknown –cont. I need a hundred more of you to make a likelihood.I need a hundred more of you to make a likelihood.

The mirror's not convincing-- that at-best in-The mirror's not convincing-- that at-best in-ferred person.ferred person.

As time's revealing gets revolting, I start looking out.As time's revealing gets revolting, I start looking out.Look in and what you see is one unholyLook in and what you see is one unholyblurred person.blurred person.

The only cure for birth one doesn't love to contemplate.The only cure for birth one doesn't love to contemplate.Better to be an unsung song, an unoc-Better to be an unsung song, an unoc-curred person.curred person.

McHugh, you'll be the death of me -- each self and second studied!McHugh, you'll be the death of me -- each self and second studied!Addressing you like this, I'm halfway to theAddressing you like this, I'm halfway to thethird person.third person.

Here I have modeled what you are Here I have modeled what you are to do in 7.3.1to do in 7.3.1

I am now going to model what you need to do for 7.3.1I am now going to model what you need to do for 7.3.1

My chosen couplet is below:My chosen couplet is below: ““Two pronouns and a vehicle was Icarus with wings.Two pronouns and a vehicle was Icarus with wings.

The apparatus of his selves made an ab-The apparatus of his selves made an ab-surd person.”surd person.”

The reason that I chose this couplet goes back to my The reason that I chose this couplet goes back to my childhood. I had a book with the story of Icarus. It has a picture childhood. I had a book with the story of Icarus. It has a picture as well. I was fascinated with the picture of the boy flying with as well. I was fascinated with the picture of the boy flying with his wings. And then he did not listen to his dad. He thought he his wings. And then he did not listen to his dad. He thought he was invincible. As a High School teacher for many years, I have was invincible. As a High School teacher for many years, I have seen some teenagers make this same mistake. We can all learn seen some teenagers make this same mistake. We can all learn a great deal from Icarus. And as a parent I feel for Icarus’s dad a great deal from Icarus. And as a parent I feel for Icarus’s dad wanting to save his son. I think it is interesting that she used wanting to save his son. I think it is interesting that she used this allusion in her poem.this allusion in her poem.

How do you get to the blog for 7.3.1?How do you get to the blog for 7.3.1?

To get to the To get to the blogblog follow the directions below: follow the directions below: Click on Click on Assignments.Assignments. Click on Click on Unit 7.Unit 7. Click on Click on Unit 7, Completion Activity 1.Unit 7, Completion Activity 1. Scroll Down to the Scroll Down to the word in Blueword in Blue. There is a . There is a

crayon and tablet symbol to the left of the work.crayon and tablet symbol to the left of the work. Click on this to take you to the Blog.Click on this to take you to the Blog. You will then click on You will then click on add new entryadd new entry to the right to the right

so that you can blog about your chosen couplet.so that you can blog about your chosen couplet.

The Guitar – This is the poem that The Guitar – This is the poem that you will analyze in 7.3.2you will analyze in 7.3.2

The weeping of the guitarThe weeping of the guitarbegins.begins.The goblets of dawnThe goblets of dawnare smashed.are smashed.The weeping of the guitarThe weeping of the guitarbegins.begins.UselessUselessto silence it.to silence it.ImpossibleImpossibleto silence it.to silence it.It weeps monotonouslyIt weeps monotonouslyas water weepsas water weepsas the wind weepsas the wind weeps

The Guitar - continuedThe Guitar - continued over snowfields.over snowfields.

ImpossibleImpossibleto silence it.to silence it.It weeps for distantIt weeps for distantthings.things.Hot southern sandsHot southern sandsyearning for white camellias.yearning for white camellias.Weeps arrow without targetWeeps arrow without targetevening without morningevening without morningand the first dead birdand the first dead birdon the branch.on the branch.Oh, guitar!Oh, guitar!Heart mortally woundedHeart mortally woundedby five swords. by five swords.

7.3.2-Unit 7, Completion Activity 27.3.2-Unit 7, Completion Activity 2

You will analyze the poem,“The Guitar,” that you You will analyze the poem,“The Guitar,” that you just read on the two previous slides. The next just read on the two previous slides. The next several slides will explain the categories that you several slides will explain the categories that you will use to describe the poem.will use to describe the poem.

1. Background1. Background 2. Title2. Title 3. Connotation3. Connotation 4. Attitude4. Attitude 5. Musicality5. Musicality 6. Your Opinion6. Your Opinion

The 1The 1stst area for analyzing the poem area for analyzing the poem - Background- Background - -

Background – Background – of the author helps us to understand what is going on in the of the author helps us to understand what is going on in the poem. I have added some background information here. poem. I have added some background information here.

The lyric poem “The Guitar” is written by The lyric poem “The Guitar” is written by Federico Garcia Lorca after Federico Garcia Lorca after WWI. His culture was going through difficult times. So the guitar WWI. His culture was going through difficult times. So the guitar crying is suggesting that he is crying for the difficult times. crying is suggesting that he is crying for the difficult times. . However . However if we think a bit deeper the guitar is a symbol of Garcia's nation Spain if we think a bit deeper the guitar is a symbol of Garcia's nation Spain (which is also his heart)and the way it was being wounded by the events (which is also his heart)and the way it was being wounded by the events that led to the Spanish Civil War and his own death at the hands of the that led to the Spanish Civil War and his own death at the hands of the Nationalists. Nationalists.

This poet wrote most of his works in a time after World War This poet wrote most of his works in a time after World War I – a time period that was alive with culture in his homeland I – a time period that was alive with culture in his homeland of rural Andalusia, Spain.  Although Lorca did not intend for of rural Andalusia, Spain.  Although Lorca did not intend for his poems to be considered political, Nationalist groups his poems to be considered political, Nationalist groups found his writing to be offensive.  As a result of this, he was found his writing to be offensive.  As a result of this, he was assassinated at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War assassinated at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War

TitleTitle – the 2 – the 2ndnd category for category for analyzing the poemanalyzing the poem

TitleTitle - Before reading the poem, think - Before reading the poem, think about the title and think about the possible about the title and think about the possible meanings of the poem related to the title.meanings of the poem related to the title.

So what comes to your mind as you think So what comes to your mind as you think about the words, “The Guitar” just as you about the words, “The Guitar” just as you think about the words.think about the words.

33rdrd area for analysis area for analysis -- ConnotationConnotation ConnotationConnotation – This means to go beyond the literal – This means to go beyond the literal

meaning. Look for the symbols, imagery, similes, meaning. Look for the symbols, imagery, similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, And what do metaphors, personification, hyperbole, And what do these things add to the poem?these things add to the poem?

I will give you one:I will give you one: A guitar weeping is A guitar weeping is personificationpersonification. As a musician, . As a musician, Federico expresses his emotions through Federico expresses his emotions through his guitar so his guitar crying is a way of his guitar so his guitar crying is a way of saying that Federico himself is crying.saying that Federico himself is crying.

44thth area for analysis: area for analysis: AttitudeAttitude AttitudeAttitude – – What is the author’s tone? How What is the author’s tone? How

does he feel about the topic of the poem, does he feel about the topic of the poem, other characters or events in the poem? other characters or events in the poem? Think about the way the poem makes you Think about the way the poem makes you feel as well – the mood. feel as well – the mood.

I think when the author is talking I think when the author is talking about the guitar weeping, it definitely about the guitar weeping, it definitely makes me sad, and I sense the makes me sad, and I sense the sadness of the poet for what has sadness of the poet for what has happened to his culturehappened to his culture..

55thth area to consider - area to consider - MusicalityMusicality MusicalityMusicality – This involves the rhythm and the – This involves the rhythm and the

beat, the flow of the poem. You can also include beat, the flow of the poem. You can also include any rhyme or sound devices like alliteration.any rhyme or sound devices like alliteration.

Did you see any rhyme?Did you see any rhyme? A Beat?A Beat? Did the poem flow?Did the poem flow? I saw I saw alliteration.alliteration. Also someone normally does Also someone normally does

not not weap silentlyweap silently.. And the word, And the word, Smash is onopatopoeia.Smash is onopatopoeia. I I

heard it smash as I read the poem.heard it smash as I read the poem.

Finally – Your OpinionFinally – Your Opinion

Your OpinionYour Opinion – What do you think about – What do you think about the poem? Do you like it? Finally what is the poem? Do you like it? Finally what is the main idea, what is the author trying to the main idea, what is the author trying to say about the topic of the poem. say about the topic of the poem. Remember to write this as a complete Remember to write this as a complete sentence. sentence.

7.3.3 is a quiz on “The Guitar”7.3.3 is a quiz on “The Guitar” The weeping of the guitarThe weeping of the guitar

begins.begins.The goblets of dawnThe goblets of dawnare smashed.are smashed.

As the guitar begins to weep As the guitar begins to weep dawn is references, so the dawn is references, so the weeping begins pretty early in the weeping begins pretty early in the day. day.

7.3.3 cont.7.3.3 cont.

The weeping of the guitarThe weeping of the guitarbegins.begins.UselessUselessto silence it.to silence it.ImpossibleImpossibleto silence it.to silence it.

Can anyone silence the guitar? - Can anyone silence the guitar? - nono

7.3.3 cont. 7.3.3 cont.

Monotonous means not changing – it does Monotonous means not changing – it does not vary. That is why something not vary. That is why something monotonous is boring.monotonous is boring.

7.3.3 cont.7.3.3 cont. Why does the guitar cry or weep?Why does the guitar cry or weep?

It weeps It weeps for distantfor distantthings.things.Hot southern sandsHot southern sandsyearning for white camellias (A type of flower)yearning for white camellias (A type of flower)

Yearn means wants – the sands want flowers Yearn means wants – the sands want flowers which it can’t have. (They won’t grow there.)which it can’t have. (They won’t grow there.)

7.3.3 cont.7.3.3 cont.

An arrow’s purpose is to hit the target. So An arrow’s purpose is to hit the target. So an arrow without a target has no purpose. an arrow without a target has no purpose.

““It mourns the arrow without target” It mourns the arrow without target” suggests that the guitar mourns not having suggests that the guitar mourns not having a purpose.a purpose.

7.3.3 cont.7.3.3 cont. The heart wounded by 5 swords is a The heart wounded by 5 swords is a

metaphor for fingers. The 5 swords are the metaphor for fingers. The 5 swords are the 5 fingers.5 fingers.

What is the mood of the poem? How did it What is the mood of the poem? How did it make you feel? make you feel? With all of the With all of the weeping and crying, I felt weeping and crying, I felt sadness and sorrowsadness and sorrow. .

This is not a poem about a happy time.This is not a poem about a happy time.

7.3.37.3.3 The repetition of words and phrases creates a The repetition of words and phrases creates a

rhythm.rhythm.

And this poem is written in free verse, without And this poem is written in free verse, without any specific form, meter, or rhyme scheme any specific form, meter, or rhyme scheme

Good luck on your quiz.Good luck on your quiz.

You are now ready for your mastery You are now ready for your mastery assignments.assignments.