Do Now 3/5/13In your notebook, REWRITE and IMPROVE the following two answers from yesterday’s exit ticket.

Answer 1: Needs more TEXT EVIDENCE! The overall meaning of this poem is don’t give up on your dream because you will forget about it and you will start feeling regret.

Answer 2: Needs to be more ACCURATE!The overall meaning of this poem is to always try your hardest to achieve your goal. Don’t let anything get in your way.

Do Now 3/5/13Answer 1: ExemplarThe overall meaning of this poem is that you should not defer your dream because you may not be able to achieve it later and feel regret. Each line gives an unpleasant consequence for putting off your dream—your regret may “fester” inside of you or violently “explode.” Langston Hughes is warning people to pursue their dreams now, while they have a chance (for example, during the Harlem Renaissance).

Answer 2: ExemplarThe overall meaning of this poem is that you should pursue your dreams now, because there may be devastating consequences if you put off your dream until a later time. For example…

Our Goals Today (1 min)

By the end of class, you will be able to:

Analyze metaphors in “I, Too” by Langston Hughes.

Explain the theme/meaning of “I, Too.”

Honors Poetry Analysis

Your turn (5 minutes)

1. Determine the meaning of each stanza of the poem.

2. Annotate the poem with your inferences, connections, and questions.

3. Pay special attention to the simile in this poem and determine what it might mean (use the steps!).

The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes

I’ve known rivers:

I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.

I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I’ve known rivers:

Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

Honors Poetry Analysis

Exit Question: What is the overall meaning or theme of this poem?

Remember: think about the simile in this poem—what does the narrator mean when he says “My soul has grown deep like the rivers”?

Part 1: Class Analysis

Before Reading: Literary device pop quiz

What is a METAPHOR?Why do authors use metaphors?

Part 1: Class Analysis

A metaphor is a comparison between two things that does not use “like” or “as”—when the author uses one thing to represent something else or says one thing IS something else.

Authors use metaphors to help readers more deeply understand a topic, item, or feeling by presenting a comparison that gives the topic or item new meaning.

How to ANALYZE A METAPHOR!What to do Example

1 Identify the metaphor. “Or does it explode?”

2 Name the two things that are being compared.

A dream deferred is being compared to an explosion

3

Think about the characteristics of the item/idea in the comparison and make connections.

If something explodes, it is completely destroyed and cannot be put back together; people often “explode” if they are angry or frustrated

4Figure out what the comparison means and why the author used it.

Langston Hughes is saying that if you put off your dream, it may become impossible to achieve, or you may end up “exploding” out of frustration

Part 1: Class Analysis

Reading Process:

1. We will read the entire poem as a class.

2. We will analyze the first lines as a class.

3. Groups will analyze lines from the poem and share their analyses.

4. We will annotate the poem as a class.

5. You will determine the meaning of the entire poem on your own.

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I'll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody'll dare

Say to me,

"Eat in the kitchen,"

Then.

Besides,

They'll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.

I, TooBy Langston Hughes

Part 1: Class Analysis

Hint: Think about the CONTEXT of Langston Hughes’ work – what rights did African Americans have while Langston Hughes was writing poetry? What may he have realized during the Harlem Renaissance?

Class Question:What is “singing America” a metaphor for? What does “I, too, sing America” mean?

My Group’s Question

Part 1: Class Analysis

Hint: Think about the CONTEXT of Langston Hughes’ work – what rights did African Americans have while Langston Hughes was writing poetry? What may he have realized during the Harlem Renaissance?

Class Question:What is “singing America” a metaphor for? What does “I, too, sing America” mean?

This line is a metaphor that is comparing people of color to patriotic singers. This metaphor means that African Americans are just as patriotic and “American” as people of other races.

My Group’s Question

Part 2: Group AnalysisWith your group, discuss the question you have been assigned and write down your answer.

1. What is being sent to “the kitchen” a metaphor for? What does the kitchen represent?

2. What does the narrator mean when he says he will “laugh, and eat well, and grow strong”? Strong to do what?

3. When is “tomorrow”? Does he actually mean the day after today?

4. What is “the company” a metaphor for?

5. What does the narrator mean when he says that the company will see that he is “beautiful”? Does he mean that they will think he is good looking?

6. Why will the people be ashamed?

Part 3: Independent Analysis

Your turn!

Exit Question: What is the overall meaning or theme of this poem?

Remember:

1. SYNTHESIZE the meaning of each line to determine the meaning/message of the poem as a whole.

2. Consider the CONTEXT of this poem and make connections to your background knowledge!

Part 3: Independent Analysis

Your turn!

1. Read and annotate the poem “Dreams” by Langston Hughes.

2. Choose two of the three analysis questions to answer.

3. Complete the exit ticket.

Dreams

By Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

Clean-up (2 mins)

Put the desks back into rows.Worksheet manager – collect

the worksheetsFolder manager – collect the

foldersLook around your desk and

see if there is any trash you can pick up, EVEN if it’s not yours.

Class meeting (3 mins)

• Tonight’s homework: • Nightly reading homework

• Announcements: • Turn in all books from Lit Circles unit!

• Formative assessment Thursday

• Vocab quiz Friday

Dismissal (2 mins)

Remain in your seat UNTIL the bell rings.

When the bell rings, I will dismiss the rows one by one (quietest first).

ON YOUR WAY OUT, you may put your raffle ticket(s) in your class’s basket, IF you earned any today.

See you tomorrow!

Do Now 3/5/13

Freewrite: Make up a story about this picture, which was taken during the Harlem Renaissance.

Word context

DefinitionThe circumstances that form the setting for and help one understand an event, statement, or idea.

SentenceD’Aysia used her knowledge of the Harlem Renaissance to help her understand Countee Cullen’s poetry.