Learning Intention / Overview

Poetry is a term that makes many students frown before they even give it a chance. After introducing poetic devices and clarifying that students understand the differences, this activity can create interest in poetry that might have been lacking. Using the accompanying handout and the lyrics to two popular songs, students are asked to reflect on the question: “are songwriters poets”? This increased motivation and requires students to reflect on poetic devices in a comfortable setting because they feel more opening to analysing songs than poetry. What they may not initially realize is that song lyrics are poetry!

Essential Questions

What is poetry?

How is music similar to poetry?

How is music different to poetry?

Are songwriters poets?

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Vanilla Ice: Was he a poet and didn't know it?