YEAR 9
POETRY & IDENTITY
WHAT DOES IDENTITY
MEAN?
 THINK, PAIR, SHARE activity:
- You have been asked to write the definition of identity for the
Oxford dictionary. You are not allowed to use any words that are
similar to identity (i.e. “identify”).
 We will share some ideas as a class and try to come up with an
agreed definition.
HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY
YOURSELF?
 Make a list of all of the things that you think are “identifying
features” about yourself:
Some ideas may include
- age
- gender
- ethnicity
- hair colour
- where you live
- eye colour…. Etc
DISCUSSION CARDS
 In groups (7), you will work through answering a series of
questions on the discussion cards. These are to help you start talking
about YOURSELF and WHO YOU ARE 
CONNECTIONS – POETRY &
IDENTITY
 What are the connections between poetry and identity? Why are
these two ideas combined for this unit?
BIOPOEM
 One of the most basic forms of identity poetry is a BIOPOEM
 This has a set FORMAT – 11 lines are used to describe a person,
answering specific questions about them.
 Today we are going to be writing our own BIOPOEMS… but
first, let’s look at an example:
BIOPOEM FORMAT
First name:
Sister (daughter, son, brother, wife, friend etc etc) of . . .
Lover of . . . (3 things/people/animals etc you love)
Who feels . . . (3 feelings or opinions)
Who needs . . . (3 needs)
Who gives. . . (3 gifts)
Who fears . . . (3 fears)
Who would like . . . (3 wishes)
Resident of . . . (place)
Street name:
Last name:
BIOPOEM EXAMPLE
Katniss
Sister of Primrose
Lover of nature, physical things, and music
Who feels anger towards the capitol, protective of her family
and friends, and confused about love.
Who needs support, faith and breathing space
Who gives all for her family, her friends, and her community.
Who fears the loss of those she loves, falling in love, and
having children who would be put through
the Capitol’s torture.
Who longs for freedom, protection and justice.
Resident of District 12
Everdeen
HOMEWORK TASK..
 Write a BIOPOEM (using the same format) for a character in your
favourite novel or film…
 Write a PARAGRAPH that describes the book that you have been
reading so far for our library sessions. Discuss the main themes and
ideas in the book.
POETRY IN MUSIC…
 So many music artists use SONGS the same way that poets use
POETRY (for expressing their identity, self, thoughts and feelings,
etc…)
 Listen to this song. Your task is to try and find as many
LANGUAGE FEATURES as possible within the song (e.g. simile,
metaphor, repetition, alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhyme).
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKlpcsW-VX0