Fireside Poet Project
During the Romantic period of literature, the first group of American poets to rival British poets
in popularity in either country were Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James Russell Lowell, Oliver
Wendell Holmes, and John Greenleaf Whittier. These gentleman, America’s first generation of acclaimed
poets, were known as the Fireside Poets—the name taken from the popularity of their works, which were
widely read both as fireside family entertainment and in the schoolroom where generations of children
memorized them.
The four poets—all New England born and bred—used traditional English themes, meter, and
imagery, but their subjects and settings were uniquely American. Although their reliance on conservative
literary styles prevented them from being truly innovative, the Fireside Poets were literary giants of their
day and still rank as some of America’s most read and best-loved poets.
Each student will be assigned to a group that will research a designated Fireside Poet, then design and
make a Powerpoint presentation. Finished products will be presented in class on Monday, November 8.
Each Powerpoint MUST include the following:
1) A minimum of ten slides
a. All slides must contain pictures.
b. All slides must contain transitions or animation (or both).
c. Remember do NOT overwhelm the audience with too many words on a slide. Typically
use font sizes of 24 or greater.
2) A Brief Explanation of the Fireside Poets
3) The poet’s name and the year of his birth and death
4) A Picture of the Poet
5) Pictures identifying themes and/or pictures that relate to the poetry explication.
6) A Brief Biography
7) Interesting Facts about Poet and/or His Works
8) List of His Best Known Poems (should be brief)
9) A quotation from either the poet or one of his works
10) Thorough understanding of the Assigned Poems w/ Explication including Literary
Devices/Analyses
(An optional poem from designated poet may be added at the group’s discretion)
11) Brief Background Information on Required Poems (year published, why he wrote it, etc.)
12) Bibliography
13) Name of each Group Member
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Required Poems—1) “A Psalm of Life,” 2) “Cross of Snow,” 3) “The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls
James Russell Lowell
Required Poems—1) “The First Snowfall,” 2) “Stanzas on Freedom,” 3) “Auspex”
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Required Poems—1) “Old Ironsides,” 2) “The Chambered Nautilus,” 3) “The Old Man Dreams”
John Greenleaf Whittier
Required Poems—1) “Snowbound,” 2) “Barbara Frietchie,” 3) Poem or Hymn Chosen by Group
Poet: __________________________________________________
Group Members:
Task 1) Brief Explanation of Fireside Poets
Year of Birth and Death
Brief Biography
____
____
____
Task 2) Interesting Facts about Poet and/or His Poems
List of Best Known Poems
Background Info on Required Poems
Quotation by poet or from his work
____
____
____
____
Task 3) Copy of First Required Poem
Explication
Literary Devices
____
____
____
Task 4) Copy of Second Required Poem
Explication
Literary Devices
____
____
____
Task 5) Copy of Third Required Poem
Explication
Literary Devices
____
____
____
Task 6) Compile information into a Powerpoint slide show
Pictures for slide show
Animations/transitions
____
____
____
Assign one group member to task 1, one to task 2, and assign two or more group members to tasks 3,
4, and 5. Assign one or more group members to task 6. List the name of the group member or
members beside his or her assigned task:
Task 1
________________________________________________________________________
Task 2
________________________________________________________________________
Task 3
________________________________________________________________________
Task 4
________________________________________________________________________
Task 5
________________________________________________________________________
Task 6
________________________________________________________________________
Rubric for Fireside Poet Project
Class Period __________
Poet __________________ ___________________ __________________
Group Members ______________________, ____________________, _________________,
_____________________, ____________________, __________________, _________________
I.
Overall Appearance
20 pts ___
This includes creativity of slides, transitions,
animations, and aesthetics (appearance – be
sure that you don’t have too many words per
slide or it becomes overwhelming).
II.
Directions Followed
20 pts ___
Presentation includes a minimum of 10 slides
with pictures, words, and animation/transitions.
Presentation also includes required author /
Fireside information
III.
Accuracy of Information
20 pts ___
Information about the Fireside Poets, the
selected author, and the poetry explication
are all congruent and accurate.
IV.
Explications/Literary Devices
20 pts ___
Student can not only identify literary devices
within the selected poems, but can also
determine the impact the literary devise has
on the overall poem.
V.
Oral Presentation (limited to ten minutes)
20 pts ___
(Each group member must participate by
speaking and presenting AT LEASE two slides.)
Speakers are engaging to the audience, have a
firm understanding of the topic, and don’t rely
too heavily on notes (demonstrate thorough
understanding).
TOTAL:
_________