#___: Character Poem Pre-Writing
Complete the following activities in order to generate ideas for your character poem (you do not need to
write the steps, nor do you need to answer in complete sentences, but be sure to number your answers 1, 2,
and 3):
1) List several (at least three) characters/groups of people (or other living things, such as the tiger in Life of Pi,
the monster in Frankenstein, or a virus in The Hot Zone, if applicable to your book).
ex. for The Great Gatsby: Nick, Tom, Daisy, Gatsby
2) List several (at least three) conflicts, struggles, or things that “went wrong” in your book.
ex. (TGG)
 Gatsby and Daisy’s affair
 Daisy’s regret over not marrying Gatsby and her problematic marriage to Tom
 Tom’s finding out about the affair
 Daisy’s hitting & killing Myrtle with Gatsby’s car
 Nick’s disillusionment with the morals of the people in New York
 Gatsby’s doomed dream of reuniting with Daisy
#3 is on the back!-----------------------------------------------------
#___: Character Poem Pre-Writing
Complete the following activities in order to generate ideas for your character poem (you do not need to
write the steps, nor do you need to answer in complete sentences, but be sure to number your answers 1, 2,
and 3):
1) List several (at least three) characters/groups of people (or other living things, such as the tiger in Life of Pi,
the monster in Frankenstein, or a virus in The Hot Zone, if applicable to your book).
ex. for The Great Gatsby: Nick, Tom, Daisy, Gatsby
2) List several (at least three) conflicts, struggles, or things that “went wrong” in your book.
ex. (TGG)
 Gatsby and Daisy’s affair
 Daisy’s regret over not marrying Gatsby and her problematic marriage to Tom
 Tom’s finding out about the affair
 Daisy’s hitting & killing Myrtle with Gatsby’s car
 Nick’s disillusionment with the morals of the people in New York
 Gatsby’s doomed dream of reuniting with Daisy
#3 is on the back!-----------------------------------------------------
3) List a setting or location associated with each of the conflicts/struggles/things that “went wrong” that you
listed in #2.
ex.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Gatsby’s house
Tom and Daisy’s house
the hotel suite in New York City
the road
?? (therefore, probably not a good choice for the subject of your character poem)
(depends on where you think his dream ultimately died) Gatsby’s pool, where he was shot and killed;
Tom’s and Daisy’s lawn, where Gatsby watched for the signal that Daisy needed Gatsby’s help
Now look back over your answers and choose the characters, conflict, and setting you can ultimately use to
complete the assignment successfully. These won’t necessarily be the most major characters, the primary
conflict, and/or where most of the book takes place. Please trust that if you can write an engaging poem in
which you a) follow the model of “Abandoned Farmhouse” and b) give specific, concrete details derived from
TEXT EVIDENCE using ANY characters, conflict, and setting/location from your book, I will know you read your
ORB!
Finally, keep in mind you MUST look at the model poem while you are writing your poem, and you MUST reread
applicable sections in your novel/book in order to give the details in your poem the specificity required to
complete this assignment successfully. In other words, if you try to write your poem without ever looking at
your book, YOU WILL NOT BE VERY HAPPY WITH THE GRADE YOU EARN.
3) List a setting or location associated with each of the conflicts/struggles/things that “went wrong” that you
listed in #2.
ex.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Gatsby’s house
Tom and Daisy’s house
the hotel suite in New York City
the road
?? (therefore, probably not a good choice for the subject of your character poem)
(depends on where you think his dream ultimately died) Gatsby’s pool, where he was shot and killed;
Tom’s and Daisy’s lawn, where Gatsby watched for the signal that Daisy needed Gatsby’s help
Now look back over your answers and choose the characters, conflict, and setting you can ultimately use to
complete the assignment successfully. These won’t necessarily be the most major characters, the primary
conflict, and/or where most of the book takes place. Please trust that if you can write an engaging poem in
which you a) follow the model of “Abandoned Farmhouse” and b) give specific, concrete details derived from
TEXT EVIDENCE using ANY characters, conflict, and setting/location from your book, I will know you read your
ORB!
Finally, keep in mind you MUST look at the model poem while you are writing your poem, and you MUST reread
applicable sections in your novel/book in order to give the details in your poem the specificity required to
complete this assignment successfully. In other words, if you try to write your poem without ever looking at
your book, YOU WILL NOT BE VERY HAPPY WITH THE GRADE YOU EARN.