Secondary School Division
Date
February, 22nd, 2024
Subject
English A: Language and Literature
Poetry
Name
Class
Topic
DP1 HL
To Beat the Child Was Bad Enough
Maya Angelou
A young body, light
As winter sunshine, a new
Seed’s bursting promise,
Hung from a string of silence
Above its future.
(The chance of choice was never known.)
Hunger, new hands, strange voices,
its cry came natural, tearing.
Water boiled in innocence, gaily
In a cheap pot.
The child exchanged its
curiosity for terror. The skin
Withdrew, the flesh submitted.
Now, cries make shards
of broken air, beyond an unremembered
Hunger and the peace of strange hands.
A young body floats.
Silently.
Phase 1: Initial Exploration (15 minutes)
1. First Impressions: Individually, jot down your immediate thoughts and feelings upon reading the
poem. Briefly share with your partner, noting recurring themes or emotions.
2. Word Mapping: As a pair, create a visual map of key words and phrases from the poem. Connect words
based on meaning, imagery, or symbolism.
3. Annotating: Individually, annotate the poem, highlighting lines that stand out, pose questions, or offer
figurative language. Share annotations, identifying patterns and discrepancies.
Phase 2: Deeper Analysis (30 minutes)
1. Analyze the following:
o Speaker and Tone: Who is speaking? What is their tone and emotional state?
o Imagery and Figurative Language: How does the poem use imagery and figures of speech? What is
their effect?
o Structure and Form: How does the poem's structure (e.g., repetition, line breaks) contribute to
meaning?
o Historical and Cultural Context: What historical and cultural context informs the poem's message?
Phase 3: (5 minutes)
Phase 4: Reflection: Individually, write a short reflection on your experience analyzing and responding to the
poem. Key questions to consider:
o What surprised you most about the poem?
o How did collaborating with your partner enhance your understanding?
o What deeper emotions or ideas did the poem evoke for you?
Presentations: Each pair presents their creative interpretation to the class, explaining their connection to the
poem and chosen medium WITH THE TEACHER.