Chinese Poetry: Comparing Tang Poets
Susan A. Smith, NBCT
Edison Elementary School
Lawton, Oklahoma
Grade Level: 6th Grade Language Arts
PASS Standards
Standard 1.1b Students will use word context to analyze the figurative use of words.
Standard 3.1a, c: Students will interact with the words and concepts in text to construct
an appropriate meaning.
Standard 3.2b,c: Students will interpret, make inferences, and draw conclusions to
respond creatively to literature.
Standard 4.2 c,d: Students will determine author’s purpose, point of view, themes, and
connect, compare and contrast ideas across text.
Standard 4.4a,b: Students will analyze and evaluate works of literature from the historical
and cultural context in which they were written.
Objectives
1. Students will become familiar with four Chinese poets from the Tang Dynasty.
2. Students will be able to discuss the similarities and differences in poems written by Li
Bai, Wang Wei, Tu Fu, and Meng Haoran.
3. Students will be able to extract literal and figurative meanings from Chinese poetry.
4. Students will be able to generally summarize the themes used and points of view of the
four previously listed Chinese poets
5. Students will be able to independently evaluate one Chinese poem for subject, poet’s
purpose, and draw conclusions regarding the poets’ body of literary work.
Time Allotment: 5-7 1 hour class periods
Resources Needed
1. Translations of poems by Li Bai, Wang Wei, Tu Fu, and Meng Haoran
2. Blank Venn diagrams
3. Poets Webs for note taking
4. Tang Dynasty Poetry: The Peak of Chinese Literacy Achievement power point
Supplies Needed
1. Overheads of all poems used in the whole class and small group discussions
2. Drawing paper
3. Watercolors, colored pencils, chalk
4. Large chart paper
Procedures
1. Introduce students to Tang Dynasty poetry through the Tang Dynasty Poetry
PowerPoint. As students view the presentation discussion about each poem
will be encouraged. Students take notes on their Poets Webs for the overarching
themes, poets’ points of view, purposes, and overall emotional responses each
poem elicits. (Information will be used on the Venn Diagrams).
2. Students will be divided into small groups to discuss one additional poem by each
poet. Discussion will include the themes, poet’s purpose, and similarities to the
poems shown in the PowerPoint presentation. New information gained will be
added to their Poets Webs.
3. Upon completion of the discussions each group will select a spokesperson to
summarize their poems for the other groups. Summaries will be written on chart
paper. Each category will be summarized before the next is presented.
(first- nature, second- philosophy, third- occasion)
4. When summaries are completed all groups will fill in Venn diagrams to
show similarities and differences in each of the poets’ styles and themes
in writing. Notes from the whole class discussion, small group discussions,
and summaries may be used. Copies of the Venn diagrams will be made for
all students so they will have a written record of each poem evaluation.
Assessment
1. Students will be given a short poem by one of the four poets and complete
a Poet Web using the same procedure for other poems discussed.
2. When all Poet Webs have been turned in copies will be made so each student
receives his/her own back, two additional ones, and a Venn diagram. They
will complete the Venn diagram using the previous procedure. (See 4 above)
Final Evaluation: Students will be evaluated on their ability to recognize which subject
area each poem belongs in, how well the diagrams show similarities and
differences in each poet’s style, quality of notes taken on the Poets Webs,
and participation in all discussions.
Teacher Resource List
Primary Resources:
Tang Poetry translations found at: www.chinese-poetry/index.html
1. Li Bai: Crows Calling at Night
: Question and Answer on the Mountain
: Staying the Night at a Mountain Temple
: Thoughts on a Still Night
: Sitting alone on Jingting Shan Hill
2. Tu Fu: In Late Sun, the River and Hills are Beautiful
: The River Blue, The Bird a Perfect White
: The Solitary Goose
: Overflowing
: Free Mood
3. Wang Wei: Birds Calling in the Ravine
: Temple Tree Path
: Stopping at Incense Storing Temple
: Huazi Ridge
: Lily Magnolia Enclosure
4. Ming Haoran: Spending the Night on Jiande River
: Waiting for Ding
: To Zheng,Climbing Orchid Mountain on an Autumn Day
: Thinking of Xin in South Pavillion on a Summer’s Day
: Thoughts in Early Winter
Tang Dynasty Poetry Powerpoint by Kay Miller
Extension Activity: Students will select one poem, used in the group or individual
assignment, to illustrate. Various media such as paint, water colors, and
colored pencils will be available for use.
Topic:
Topic:
Philosophy
Nature
Poet’s Web
Tang Dynasty Poet’s Name
__________________________
Topic:
Occasions
Topic:
Personal Information
Poet’s Web Use
1. Students will circle the 4 topic areas and put a
larger circle around the information in the middle
of the page.
2. Under the type of Tang poetry in each circle
students will put the names of each poem they
are reading or have read during the class period.
3. Around each circle students write the poet’s
point of view about the subject, the purposes of
the poems, the emotional response each poem
invokes, and anything needed to help remind
students of the specific poem being studied.
4. Around the personal information circle students
put any items they have learned about the
individual poet on the sheet.