Epitaphs:
What Are They?
6th Grade ELAR GT
September 2012
In the next few days, we are going to learn
about the epitaph (pronounced “ep-i-taf”):
 Last year in 5th Grade, you learned about autobiographies
and biographies. Both are types of literary nonfiction that
are written about real people.
 This week we’ll be looking at another type of nonfiction
text that is also about people – it is called an epitaph.
 Let’s quickly define epitaph:
A written item in praise or reflecting on the life
of a deceased person.
What Do You Know?
Has anyone ever read what you think
might be an epitaph? Who was it
honoring? Do you recall any other details
about an epitaph?
Let’s take a close look at some examples.
Epitaph Poem ~ Steve Jobs
(who died in October 2011)
Steve died
I cried
I weep
Can't sleep
I phone
Cry, mourn
Note that an epitaph
can be written with
poetic techniques and
figurative language devices.
Can you find any in this
epitaph? How is the poem’s
meaning made stronger?
I pad
Note sad
I pod
Hymn God
I touch
No glitch
I mac
Whiz pack
Icloud
Wowed.
~by Yasmin Khan
Consider the Epitaph…
Now that we’ve looked at one example of
an epitaph, let’s review its definition one
more time:
An epitaph = a written item in praise or
reflecting on the life of a deceased
person.
Let’s look at two more examples for a
famous person who recently died…
Epitaphs ~ Neil Armstrong
(who died Aug. 25, 2012)
“an eclipsing moon
bids a tearful farewell
to the moonwalker.”
~by Yasmin Kahn
"See him walking the golden wire
Was figurative language
used? To what effect?
How do these examples
fulfill the definition of an
epitaph?
A million miles from his starting place
and see the world reflected in his face..."
~by Anonymous Author via Facebook,
Aug. 26, 2012
One More Example of an Epitaph From…
The King of Rock & Roll!
Can you guess who this was?
Elvis Presley! An Epitaph for Him
Has a Different Writing Style:
 “He became a living legend in his own time;
Earning the respect and love of millions.
 God saw that he needed some rest and
Called him home to be with Him.
 We miss you, Son and Daddy. I thank God
That He gave us you as our son.”
 ~by Vernon Presley
Epitaphs do not always need
to be poems, but can be
written in narrative form.
Elvis Presley
(died in 1977)
Consider…
Have any of you ever read what is called an
obituary? How would you describe it? Do you
think the obituary’s purpose and form are the
same or different than an epitaph?
Let’s examine examples side by side to compare
and contrast.
Compare and Contrast
Neil Armstrong’s Epitaph and Obituary
Epitaph:
Obituary:
“an eclipsing moon
“Neil Armstrong, born on August 5, 1930
bids a tearful farewell
to the moonwalker.”
~by Yasmin Kahn
in Wapakoneta, Ohio, was an American
astronaut. He died on August 25, 2012
in Cincinnati, at the age of 82.”
~posted on “Necropedia” website,
August 26, 2012
Review Of Academic Vocabulary
Epitaph = a written item in praise or
reflecting on the life of a deceased
person.
Obituary = a notice of a person's
death usually with a short
biographical account.

We’re to the Final Step of This Lesson!
 Please create a Venn diagram to compare and
contrast an epitaph and an obituary. You may
discuss ideas with your table partners.
 See how many similarities and differences you can
come up with!
 I will review your individual Venn diagrams, which
will be given a daily grade.