Epitaphs
An epitaph is a short poem or piece written about a deceased person that can appear on a tombstone. It can be
funny or serious and they are written in memory of a person or as a reflection of their life. An inscription on a
tombstone or monument in memory of the person buried there is a summary statement of commemoration for a
dead person. Your Epitaph MUST contain real, significant information about the person you select.
Steps for creating a summarizing “epitaph” for a person, event or thing:
1. Brainstorm a list of ideas/concepts that remind you of the person, event or thing.(Look in your book!)
2. Write the poem (must rhyme).
Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare,
to digg the dust encloased heare
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones.
Shakespeare
Here lies Lester Moore
Four slugs from a .44
No Les.
No More.
Here lies the body
of Jonathan Blake
Stepped on the gas
Instead of the brake.
To follow you
I am not content,
How do I know
Which way you went?
The Body of B. Franklin, Printer,
Like the Cover of an old Book,
Its Contents torn out,
And stript of its Lettering & Gilding,
Lies here, Food for Worms.
But the work shall not be lost;
For it will, as he believed, appear once more
In a new and more elegant Edition
Corrected and improved
By the Author. -
“Here lies a great and mighty king
Whose promise none relies on
He never said a foolish thing,
Nor ever did a wise one.”
Here lies poor Billy.
Although it sounds silly,
He never ate anything green.
The candy that filled him
Is also what killed him
The day after last Halloween.
John Wilmot
I was born
Then I wed
Nagging Wife
Now I'm dead!
ASSIGNMENT:
1. From the list of people in Unit (see back of this page), select ONE
2. Create a tombstone for that person that has an epitaph on it
3. Requirements for the epitaph:
a.) Must contain truthful information about the person
b.) Fits the time period 1400 – 1800 (American Literature Unit 1)
c.) Must be 6 -10 lines with a rhyme scheme (see me if you have a question)
d.) Neatness, grammar, and spelling must be correct
e.) You must create a tombstone – use paper (I’ll have some in classroom for you to use) you may use
different paper if you wish
f.) On front of Tombstone put all information and Epitaph
g.) ON BACK of Tombstone put your name and period; give your rhyme scheme
h.) DATE DUE: _____________________________________________
i.) Formative Grade: 30 pts
List of People to Select from:
1. George Washington
2. William Bradford (57)
3. Anne Bradstreet (75)
4. Thomas Jefferson
(111)
5. Elizabeth Proctor
6. Reverend Parris
7. Tituba
8. Betty Parris
9. Susanna Walcott
10. Giles Corey
11. King George
(England)
12. Arthur Miller
13. Reverend John Hale
14. Native American
who wrote “Earth on
Turtle’s Back”(18)
15. Squanto (63)
16. Jonathan Edwards
(85)
17. Thomas Paine
18. Mrs. Ann Putnam
19. Thomas Putnam
20. Mercy Lewis
21. Arthur Miller
22.Hopkina
23. Sarah Good
24. Dep. Gov Dansforth
25.Native American who
wrote “Navajo Origin
Legend”(27)
26. John Smith
27. Patrick Henry ( 99)
28. Olaudah Equiano
(169)
( ) – page in text
29. Mary Warren
30. Rebecca Nurse
31. Martha Corey
32. Judge Hathorne
33. Ezekiel Cheever
34. Marshal Herrick
35. Francis Nurse
36. James Fenimore
Cooper
37. An Iroquois Indian
(42) to match
Iroquois Constitution
38. Captain John Smith
39. Benjamin Franklin
(104)
40. John Proctor
41. Hawkeye
42. Magua
43. Major Ducan
Heyward
44. Uncas
45. Chingachgook
46. David Gamut
47. Cora Munro
48. Alice Munro
49. Colonel Munro
50. General Montcalm
51. Tamenund
52. Martha Washington
53. Abigail Adams
54. Martha Jefferson
55. Roger Conant
(founder Of Salem in
1626)
56. John Winthrope
(Governor of Mass.
Bay Colony)
Students will read/ explain their epitaphs to the class on due date
Reverend King
Had a dream
He marched for love
He spoke of unity
He stood for freedom
He believed in his community
After a bullet laid him to rest
His dream continues to live on
Reverend King started a battle
That finally was won.