Poetry Unit
Poetry Themes and Responses
Imprints 12
Poetry Introduction
Poetry analysis should give way to a more
intuitive response.
 Poems in this unit have been assembled for
their meaning and for what the meaning
brings to the reader.
 Thematic clusters for this unit include:

◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
The Carousel of Time
Since Feeling is First
Grief of Mind
The Good Life
Overwhelming Questions
“If a Poem Could Walk”
by Lorna Crozier

Uses metaphor to capture an essential truth
about poetry.
Poetry Project Assignment #1
 Crozier imagines a poem as a sure-footed
animal, simultaneously “tame and wild.”
Discuss what Crozier is suggesting about the
nature and purpose of poetry. (150 words)
 Select the most powerful line(s) that
resonate with you to be the focal point of
your visual poster for this unit.
Theme #1 – The Carousel of Time
What are the parallels between life and a
carousel?
 Read poems from Group 3 (p.183-185)

◦ “Silent, but...” – by Tsuboi Shigeji
◦ “There’s Silence Between One Page and Another” –
by Valerio Magrelli
◦ “I Know I am Young” – by Ann Lazechko
◦ “On the Value of Fantasies” – by Elizebeth Brewster

In groups determine: a) type of poem(does it
have rhyme or rhythm); b) literary devices used
(ie. figurative language); c) tone; d)
meaning/message
Respond to the following:

Answer Response Questions #1a & b pg.
185 (100 words each)
“We shall not cease from exploration/ And the
end of all our exploring/ Will be to arrive
where we started/ And know the place for the
first time” – T.S. Eliot

In what ways does the above quotation
support the theme “The Carousel of Time”?
Use examples from the poems you have
read. Minimum 150 words.
POETRY PROJECT #2(pg.185 #3)
Create an illustration that captures the visual
imagery contained in “There’s Silence Between One
Page and Another.”
Attach an explanation of how your visual is true to
the poem.
C4 – I can
represent
my
learning
through
visual
display.
I have
difficulty
translating
written text
into
something
visual.
My visual
work is basic
and shows
my
understandin
g at a literal
level.
My visual work
demonstrates
some insight
and has
appropriate
symbolism and
imagery.
My visual work is
visually appealing,
thought provoking, and
includes insightful
representations of
imagery and
symbolism.
Theme #2 – Since Feeling Is
First
Poetry on the theme of love has a long
history, going back to the very beginning of
poetry and song.
 Poems in this cluster explore the notion that
“love is everything.”
 Read Poems from Group 1 (p.191-194)

◦ “Since Feeling Is First” – E.E. Cummings
◦ “Love Is Not All” – by Edna St.Vincent Millay
◦ “Sonnet CXVI” – by William Shakespeare

In groups, discuss and complete Response
Questions pg. 194 #1a-c (100 words each).
POETRY PROJECT #3(pg.194 #3)
Rewrite “Love Is Not All,” using images and
details from your own experience. You may
choose to maintain the serious tone or
create a humorous parody instead. Maintain
the sonnet rhyme scheme and rhythm.
C8-10 – I can
produce written
and visual work
that synthesizes
my personal
experiences and
my connections
to text.
I sometimes
struggle to
understand
the text and
often cannot
make any
meaningful
connections.
What I
produce is a
literal
interpretation
of the text
with only
basic
connections.
What I
produce is a
thoughtful
analysis. I can
make
appropriate
connections to
the texts and
to my personal
experiences.
What I produce is
a thoughtful and
mature analysis. It
always makes
connections to
other texts,
experiences, and
the world.
Theme #3 – Grief of Mind
Death and loss are an undeniable part of life, and
poets do not shy away from these topics.
 Although the examination can be painful and
bleak, there is also consolation and the
understanding that, as Archibald Lampman says,
“There is a beauty at the goal of life.”
 Read Poems from Group 1 (pg. 206-208):

◦ “Late Landing” – Julia M. Spicher
◦ “The Chariot” – Emily Dickinson
◦ “Miss Dickinson Goes to the Office” – Gail White

Respond to Questions pg. 208 #1a,c, & d and #2
Literature Studies.
POETRY PROJECT #4
The ending of “Late Landing” leaves the
reader to interpret all types of emotions,
and elicits immediate reactions. If the
poem were to continue what would the
next 2-3 stanza’s look like?
Write what your interpretation of the next
2-3 stanza’s in the poem “Late Landing”
could be.
Draw a scene that would reflect the
atmosphere of this poem.
Theme #4 – Overwhelming
Questions
Poets often use poetry as a medium for exploring
overwhelming questions.
 These questions include:

◦ What am I? Who am I? Is there a purpose to life? What is
my purpose for being?
◦ What kind of a world do we live in? What is my role here?
◦ What is the nature of happiness? Is it attainable? How can
I achieve it?

Read the Poems in Group 2 (pg. 236-238).
◦ “Did I Miss Anything?” – Tom Wayman
◦ “What Is the Validity of Your Life?” – Dorothy Livesay

Respond to Question #1a-c p. 239 (100 words each)
POETRY PROJECT #5
Now that you are soon-to-be grads, you
have gained some perspective over the
years. Choose one of the ‘big’ questions
surrounding life to discuss. You need to
include the following in your discussion:
◦ What I know for sure about this topic
◦ What I still don’t know and hope to find out
◦ Advice for the future generations
This can be done in either poem format
(minimum 3 stanzas); or letter format.
Poetry Response Essay
Select three poems that are connected in some way
(e.g. remind you of your childhood, call you to
question an aspect of life, appeal to your sense of
humour...). Develop a thesis that links the poems and
write a five paragraph personal response essay that
explores a conversation between your world and the
world of the poem. Your essay needs to include
specific references to elements of the poems and
your response to them. This is to be a PERSONAL
RESPONSE essay and NOT an analysis. This essay
should be approximately 500 words.
You will be assessed on the Prose Writing Rubric
out of 6. Your mark with be multiplied by 5 for a
total of 30 marks.