Poetry   and Performance

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Poetry   and Performance

Prepare: Prior to beginning your initial   post, read the poems “We Real Cool” and “My Papa’s Waltz” in your textbook.   You are also required to listen to “We Real Cool” and “My Papa’s Waltz” before completing this   discussion. These clips demonstrate the importance of performance, rhythm,   and musicality in the poetic form.

Reflect: Poetry is a literary form that can   offer readers a different experience based on whether the poem is read   silently, read aloud, or simply listened to when read by someone else. For   example, you might hear a certain rhythm or change of pace that you might not   catch when simply reading the poem silently to yourself. For this week’s   discussion, you read and listened to poetry. If you didn’t the first time,   read and listen with careful eyes and ears so you can respond thoughtfully to   the two parts of the discussion this week.

Write: Part One – Answer the following questions   about one of the poems based on your reading of them:

  • What is the theme of the        poem? How do you know this is the theme?
  • What poetic devices (e.g.,        rhythm, figurative language, etc.) are used in the poem? Offer at least        two examples.
  • How do these poetic devices        contribute to the development of the poem’s message?
  • Support your ideas with        textual details and analyses.

Part Two –   Describe your listening experience   of the same poem you wrote about above. If you are unable to listen to these   poems due to an auditory impairment, please reach out to your instructor for   an alternative prompt for this discussion. Respond to at least two of the   following questions:

  • How did hearing the poem        recited aloud compare to a silent reading of it?
  • Did the performance highlight        certain words or phrases that were not as apparent in a silent reading?
  • Did the pace change and, if        so, how did it change your understanding of the poem?
  • Did words have different        connotations and, if so, what kind(s) of connotation did you associate        with the poem?
  • Do you think reading poetry        aloud is a worthwhile endeavor when analyzing it? Why, or why not?

Respond to Peers: Respond to at least two of your   classmates’ posts. Each response should be at least 75 words in length and   should address two or more of the following:

  • Do you agree with your        classmates’ perspectives? Why, or why not? Be specific.
  • Ask a specific question to        encourage further discussion on the topic.
  • Challenge your classmates’        interpretation of literature and/or point of view.
  • Do a small amount of research        and share what you learn with your peers about the topic discussed in        this post.