Miss. Heather

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Miss. Heather
9th Grade Poetry
Writing Poetry Using Poems by Langston Hughes
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We are going to learn about and read two poems by
Langston Hughes. We will discuss how similes are
used, and We will discuss what a narrative poem
is. We will read two poems by Hughes By the
end of this lesson you will write your own
poems. One using similes One being a
narrative
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Can someone from the class please volunteer
to read the the next slide as the text comes
up aloud? Please raise your hand
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Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 - May 22,
1967) One of Hughes' finest essays appeared in
the Nation in 1926, entitled "The Negro Artist
and the Racial Mountain". It spoke of Black
writers and poets, "who would surrender racial
pride in the Name of a false integration," where
a talented Black writer would prefer to be
considered a poet, not a Black poet, which to
Hughes meant he subconsciously wanted to write
like a white poet. Hughes argued, "no great poet
has ever been afraid of being himself." He wrote
in this essay, "We younger Negro artists now
intend to express our individual dark-skinned
selves without fear or shame. If white people
are pleased we are glad. If they aren't, it
doesn't matter. We know we are beautiful. And
ugly too... If colored people are pleased we are
glad. If they are not, their displeasure doesn't
matter either. We build our temples for tomorrow,
as strong as we know how and we stand on the top
of the mountain, free within ourselves."
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Can I have another volunteer for the next
slide please?
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African-American poet, novelist, and playwright,
who became one of the foremost interpreters of
racial relationship in the United States.
Influenced by the Bible, W. E. B. Du Bois, and
Walt Whitman, Hughes depicted realistically the
ordinary lives of black people. Many of his
poems, written in rhythmical language, have been
set to music. Hughes's poems were meant 'to be
read aloud, crooned, shouted and sung'.
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What is A Simile?
A Simile is the comparison of two unlike things
using like or as.
fresh as a daisy
tough as leather
comfortable as an old
shoe
gay as a lark
pretty as a picture.
These are all recognizable similes they
use the words such as "as" or "like."
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Can You Name Some Similes? Raise your hand,
and give me some examples
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She is as beautiful as A butterfly.

Angry As a Rooster
Mad Like a Bulldog
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A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes What happens
to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a
raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore And
then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or
crust and sugar over like a syrupy
sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy
load. Or does it explode?
What Are Some Similes In This Poem ?
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We are now going to discuss the word
deferred The word deferred means To put
off postpone. or Withhold until a future
date or To procrastinate. Any Questions?
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Read the poem to yourself again. What does it
mean when something is deferred?
A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes What happens
to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a
raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And
then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or
crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy
sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or
does it explode
How may that may relate To African
Americans? How may that relate to anyone who
puts their dreams off until another time?
Please raise your hand to answer the
Questions
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What Is a narrative. ?
A NARRATIVE POEM Tells a story. It can be about
anything. Example Lara the hippo went for a
ride.
Al got upset, and he began to yell and cry!
And she hit Al from behind.
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I am now going to read a narrative by Langston
Hughes THEME FOR ENGLISH B By Langston
Hughes The instructor said, Go home and write
a page tonight. And let that page come out of
you--- Then, it will be true. I wonder if it's
that simple? I am twenty-two, colored, born in
Winston-Salem. I went to school there, then
Durham, then here to this college on the hill
above Harlem. I am the only colored student in
my class. The steps from the hill lead down into
Harlem through a park, then I cross St.
Nicholas, Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to
the Y, the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the
elevator up to my room, sit down, and write this
page It's not easy to know what is true for you
or me at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm
what I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear
you hear you, hear me---we two---you, me, talk
on this page. (I hear New York too.) Me---who?
Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in
love. I like to work, read, learn, and
understand life. I like a pipe for a Christmas
present, or records---Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn't make me NOT like
the same things other folks like who are other
races. So will my page be colored that I write?
Being me, it will not be white. But it will be
a part of you, instructor. You are white---
yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. That's
American. Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be
a part of me. Nor do I often want to be a part
of you. But we are, that's true! As I learn
from you,I guess you learn from me--- although
you're older---and white--- and somewhat more
free. This is my page for English B.
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• Writing your own Narrative Poem
• A narrative poem is a poem that tells a story.
• To compose yours, follow these steps
• Recall some event in your life--perhaps a
  celebration.
• Maybe a good, time with family or friends.
• Or a private time in a favorite place.
• Decide on an event, then compose a memory chain
  of at least
• 15 details that recalls the event.

Does anybody have any Questions? Please raise
your hand at this time
15 At Least!!!
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Ask yourself What may it be like to be in a
situation that is different then what we might
be used to experiencing? Each of us has a
story inside And we can tell that through the
use of a narrative poem.
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Now that we have discussed what a simile and
narrative poem is, I would like you to write two
poems. One poem will be a poem containing
similes, and the other will be a narrative
poem. I will hand out worksheets and rubrics to
guide you. You may now start to work on them in
class. Feel free to ask me with any questions
you may have
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The End