JanUary 27 - Questioning Texts, Poetic Analysis
This past month we have worked on the Questioning Texts reading strategy to help us interpret and analyze informational text.
Due to a large amount of snow days, let's review how to use the strategy with a photograph.
Due to a large amount of snow days, let's review how to use the strategy with a photograph.
Step 1: Answer your two main guiding questions to help you analyze the photograph.
Step 2: Now, form your own questions about the photograph. What details in the photograph could be further analyzed? What details in the photograph do you not understand? Try to form at least three additional guiding questions to help refocus your attention on the photo.
For example, when I look at the photo, I notice the dark lines going across Lady Liberty's body. One of my guiding questions could be:
Come up with at least three guiding questions on your own. Hopefully analyzing the photo was a helpful review for what we have already learned this month!
- What is the photo about?
- What key details stand out to me as I examine the photo?
Step 2: Now, form your own questions about the photograph. What details in the photograph could be further analyzed? What details in the photograph do you not understand? Try to form at least three additional guiding questions to help refocus your attention on the photo.
For example, when I look at the photo, I notice the dark lines going across Lady Liberty's body. One of my guiding questions could be:
- Why are there dark lines going across Lady Liberty's body?
Come up with at least three guiding questions on your own. Hopefully analyzing the photo was a helpful review for what we have already learned this month!
Poetry Analysis #1 - "The New Colossus"
Today, we will be taking our guiding questions a bit further than photography and journal entries. Let's try to use our guiding questions to help us understand poetry. "The New Colossus" is a poem by Emma Lazarus, written about the Statue of Liberty. It was engraved in bronze at the bottom of the statue in 1903.
"The New Colossus"
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" |
Step 1: Answer your two main guiding questions.
Step 2: Try to answer my specific guiding questions about the poem. To help you get started, I've formed some questions I had when I first read the poem.
Step 3: Form your own specific guiding questions about the poem. What other phrases in the poem stand out to you? After you form your own questions, try to answer them.
- What is the poem about?
- What key details stand out to me as I read the poem?
Step 2: Try to answer my specific guiding questions about the poem. To help you get started, I've formed some questions I had when I first read the poem.
- How is Lady Liberty different from Greek monuments?
- Why is Lady Liberty the "Mother of Exiles"?
- Why does the poet compare America to a golden door?
Step 3: Form your own specific guiding questions about the poem. What other phrases in the poem stand out to you? After you form your own questions, try to answer them.
The purpose of creating and answering our own guiding questions is to help us refocus our attention on the key details presented in any text.
Poetry Analysis #2 - "America"
Now, I'd like you to try and analyze this next poem on your own. In 1922, Claude McKay wrote the poem "America." Claude McKay was from Jamaica and his family was very proud of their African heritage. Claude grew up in America in a time when blacks were being persecuted. Use your guiding questions to help you understand his poem.
"America"
Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger's tooth, Stealing my breath of life, I will confess I love this cultured hell that tests my youth! Her vigor flows like tides into my blood, Giving me strength erect against her hate. Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood. Yet as a rebel fronts a king in state, I stand within her walls with not a shred Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer. Darkly I gaze into the days ahead, And see her might and granite wonders there, Beneath the touch of Time's unerring hand, Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand. |
Step 1: Answer your two main guiding questions.
Step 2: Form your own specific guiding questions about the poem. What other phrases in the poem stand out to you? After you form your own questions, answer them to the best of your ability by rereading and analyzing the poem. I will give you one question to get started - it is your job to form and answer two more questions!
Step 3: Please turn in all your work to Miss Shaffer so that she can give you a grade for it! :)
- What is the poem about?
- What key details stand out to me as I read the poem?
Step 2: Form your own specific guiding questions about the poem. What other phrases in the poem stand out to you? After you form your own questions, answer them to the best of your ability by rereading and analyzing the poem. I will give you one question to get started - it is your job to form and answer two more questions!
- What does the poet seem to hate about America?
Step 3: Please turn in all your work to Miss Shaffer so that she can give you a grade for it! :)