English I
Speak Symbol Project
Due: 10/4/10
Your SPEAK Symbol Project has 4 components:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Poem #1
Poem #2
Symbol History Paragraph
Art Piece
All 4 components are due at the beginning of class on Monday, October 4th.
Requirements for an A:
1. Write two fabulous poems about your symbol that. . .
a.
b.
c.
d.
follow the format specified in the directions
use interesting, vivid, fresh language
are proofread for spelling errors
are typed or written neatly in pen
2. Write one perfect paragraph that. . .
a. explains your symbol’s MEANINGS in at least 4 areas (symbolism dictionary, fables, fairy
tales, myths, idioms, etc.)
b. Begins with a gorgeous topic sentence
c. Ends with a fitting concluding sentence
d. is proofread for spelling and punctuation
e. includes a list of websites used for sources
f. is typed or written neatly in pen
3. Create one wonderful art piece about your symbol that. . .
a.
b.
c.
d.
shows creative thinking
reflects effort on your part—about an hour or two.
interprets your symbol in some interesting way
Mr. Freeman and Mrs. Schadt would think is cool or crazy or fascinating or unique. . . .
4. Turn in all 4 components of your symbol project at the beginning of
class on October 4.
Poem #1 8 Line Figurative Language Poem
Write a poem of 8-12 lines about your symbol.
You must use at least 1of each of the following literary devices in this poem:
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Alliteration
Simile
Assonance
Personification
Couplet
Imagery
Metaphor
Label the device(s) used at the end of each line. Proofread. Ink or Type.
Examples:
Snow
Silvery snow sizzles as it hits the sand (alliteration)
Like the foam of the ocean on a hot summer’s day (simile)
Snow, dancing through the air (personification)
It is a pearl against the steel gray sky (metaphor)
Lucky folks play in sparkling white wetness (imagery) (couplet)
That only those inside of a snow globe can witness
(couplet)
A snow day, snow blow-y day, a lay low day (assonance)
Wintry mix of a snowy six inches
Fire -- by J. B.
The flaming ferocious fire is filled with fury (alliteration) (imagery)
All the panting flames fill the air spitting out (personification)
Noxious clouds of grey gas (imagery)
The roaring sparks hit the hot sand like a bomb (simile)
A steaming hot fist that can be felt from afar
(couplet) (alliteration)
When smoke comes at you like exhaust from a car (couplet) (simile)
The sky is a cold ash cloak hiding stars, closing throats (metaphor)
The calm sun rises at dawn, even as the raging fires burn on (assonance)
Poem #2
No Sentence Poem
Write a 16-22 line poem that uses only fragments. No part of the poem may form a sentence. You
must use some sensory imagery and some longer phrases in this poem. Do not rhyme.
Examples:
A Perfect Circle (symbol – circle)
Pure abstraction. Nothing. Zero.
A coin. A ball. A wheel.
The sun, racing around out here
on the edge of this freezing galaxy,
surrounded by absolute darkness.
The earth spinning around it
peacefully. A glassy
water drop shattering
into hundreds of translucent
beads,
each one reflecting that blazing
gigantic orb.
The jet black pupil of the eye.
The cornea. The retina.
The whole magical ball.
Everything. All of it.
Beautiful. Infinite.
A Silent Observer (symbol – moon)
By Jon Cardiello
Absolutely nothing. No. Something. Dim
light. A moon. A man.
Sitting up there. Gently.
Watching everything everywhere.
With nothing to do.
Only observing.
Sleeping each day, resting each night.
Sometimes popping up for a brief
encounter. During day. In pale blue sky.
Occasionally shy. Only peering. Glancing.
Showing just a sliver.
Only enough to peep on the Earth.
Blue. Ocean. Land.
Crazy hectic commotion.
Traffic. Not enough time or space.
On the round blue sphere.
But not in the eyes of the man. The moon.
The light.
Only seeing the small, slow spinning
beauty. So high up. Yet always there.
Still watching. Observing. Silently.
What do I mean by phrases instead of sentences? Try modeling a few lines after the
following phrase types:
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eyes streaming, heart breaking
choking, drowning, suffering
Choking down the bitter gall
Into the freezing black abyss
(noun + -ing verb, noun + -ing verb = absolute phrases)
(–ing verb, -ing verb, -ing verb = participial phrase)
(–ing verb + prep. phrase = participial phrase)
(prepositional phrase)
Other techniques to enhance your No Sentence Poem: similes! metaphor! personification!
sensory imagery! alliteration!
Symbol Paragraph:
Use the links on www.mschadt.com (Sept. 30) to find information about your symbol’s meaning and uses in
literature, history, art, and language.
Google and Google Images will also give you lots of information for your research. Here are some Google
searches to try:
Try typing the following into the Google search
box:
1. Your symbol + and + mythology
(ex: “circle and mythology”)
2. Your symbol and fairy tales
3. Your symbol and history
For art project ideas use Google Images. Try typing
the following in the Google Images search box:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Your symbol + modern art
Your symbol + sculpture
Your symbol + collage
Your symbol + cubism
Your symbol + drawing
Your symbol + painting
Your symbol + symbol
Sample Paragraph:
Circle
The circle is perhaps the most ancient of all symbols, representing everything from infinity to the
life cycle to the individual self (1) Many cultures used circles as part of their mythology because special
powers and connections to the gods could be found inside circular shapes. Stonehenge, one of the most
famous ancient monuments in the world, is “composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of
large standing stones”(2). The ancient Chinese yin and yang symbol, which represents both sides of the
self, is also a circle. Native American tribes formed prayer circles, as do many modern spiritual groups,
believing that unity is created when people join together in circles. Circles may also represent doors to
another realm or dimension. For instance, in early European folk tales, a magic circle called a “fairy ring”
appears as a gateway for fairies and elves to enter the world of humans (3). Circle symbolism is prevalent
in contemporary art and literature as well. The Lion King, the most profitable Disney animated feature in
history, features the song “The Circle of Life,” the symbol around which the movie centers. Our English
language also features many circle idioms. For example, circle the wagons means to “stop talking with
others to avoid their ideas and beliefs,” and to square the circle means to solve a challenging problem (4).
Circle symbolism is found in all cultures, religions, and languages.
Sources:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Dictionary of Symbolism, www.umich.edu/~umfandsf/symbolismproject/symbolism.html/
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonehenge
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_ring
The Free Dictionary, http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/circle