Lesson Introduction
Oftentimes, poetry is viewed as an intimidating, confusing, or difficult genre to read and write in—however, sometimes a poem can be best recognized and understood by what it leaves behind in our mind: images.
From a classic red wheelbarrow to more complex, sometimes even speculative imagery like orchids blooming from eyes, the way images pull a poem is different for everybody. By experimenting with images and changing them in a poem, students have free reign to play within the constraints of the narrative they want their poem(s) to say.
In this lesson, students will be prompted to begin a poem with one image, and through the next four stanzas, change the image before ending on the same one (but slightly changed!). The changes in images can happen however the students feel are appropriate.
By completing this lesson, students will gain insight into how images propel a poem forward, develop technique and understanding on how imagery works as a device, and they can write a poem that makes sense to them in terms of how the images are related (or unrelated!).
Learning Objectives
- Recognize how an image can change in a poem
- Understand how interpretations of a poem are affected by images
- Gain the ability to apply imagery in an impactful manner
- Apply imagination to writing a poem
- Write a poem with one main poetic device
Materials and Resources
- Writing tool
- Paper
- A thesaurus (optional)