Creativity and Poetry

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Creativity and Poetry
Alicia M. Bonelli
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Objective

• Using Pablo Nerudas Oda al Tomate in addition
  to several classroom activities, students will
  learn to engage their creativity while studying
  important aspects of Spanish poetry and language.

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Step 1

• Each group will receive one fruit or vegetable.
  Your groups task is to describe the item
  according to such traits as color, texture,
  shape, aroma, and taste. Observations should be
  recorded on a chart.

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Example
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Step 2

• Collect and record the observations made by each
  group for each different item. Place this master
  chart on the board. Topics of discussion for the
  class include appropriate vocabulary, adjective
  endings, and spelling

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Examples

• Vocabulary rico instead of bueno
• Adjective Endings la manzana roja instead of
  la manzana rojo
• Spelling pimiento instead of pimento

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Step 3

• I will now read Pablo Nerudas Oda al Tomate
  out loud to the class. Follow along on your
  worksheets.

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Oda al Tomate

• La calle
• se llenó de tomates,
• mediodía,
• verano,
• la luz
• se parte
• en dos
• mitades
• de tomate,
• corre
• por las calles
• el jugo.
• En diciembre
• se desata
• el tomate,
• invade
• las cocinas,
• entra por los almuerzos,
• se sienta

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Oda al Tomate

• de Chile,
• se casa alegremente
• con la clara cebolla,
• y para celebrarlo
• se deja
• caer
• aceite,
• hijo
• esencial del olivo,
• sobre sus hemisferios entreabiertos,
• agrega
• la pimienta
• su fragancia,
• la sal su magnetismo
• son las bodas
• del día,
• el perejil
• levanta
• banderines,

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Step 4

• We will now analyze the poem as a class. Topics
  of analysis include sentences, figurative
  language, and especially personification.

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Examples

• Sentences How many are there in the poem?
• Four
• Figurative Language Why would the street be
  filled with tomatoes?
• The street could be the location of a farmers
  market.
• Personification What is personification? Give
  examples from the poem.
• The attribution of human characteristics to
  something non-human. For example, the barbecue's
  aroma knocked at the door.

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Step 5

• As a homework assignment, you must make a
  creative interpretation of the poem. Examples
  include drawings, comics, skits, and videos.

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Step 6

• Your groups final task is to write an original
  ode. Guidelines will be provided to facilitate
  the groups work. The odes will be read aloud to
  the class.

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Other Applications

• Poems
• Short stories
• Songs
• Films
• Art
• Media

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Bibliography

• García Lorca, Francisco, and Donald M. Allen.
  The Selected Poems of Federico García Lorca.
  New York New Directions, 1961.
• Neruda, Pablo. Odas elementales. Ed. Jaime
  Concha. Madrid, Spain Catedra, 2003.
• Oliver, Mary. A Poetry Handbook. Orlando,
  Florida Harcourt, 1994.