Redefining Literature

Lesson 1

1. Objectives: to help students gain a broader conception of
poetry. To cultivate a more favourable affective disposition to
poetry and to gain an intuitive understanding of some of the main
structural elements of a poem such as rhythm, rhyme, meter,
symbol etc.


2. Learning Activities: 

a. Introduction and initial brainstorm/student response (10
minutes). 
b. Play the song and distribute lyrics (10 minutes)
c. Obtain students initial response (5 minutes)
d. Allow students to work in groups (15 minutes)
e. Obtain brief responses from the spokesperson of each group (10
minutes)
f. Conclude lesson (10 minutes)


3. Materials

Cassette recorder and a copy of "Stairway to Heaven".
Photocopies of lyrics to the song and prepared questions. 


4. Assignments: 

Homework: have students find a "poem" or song they are drawn to
and write about it in their journals. Have them consider such
questions as: Why do you like this particular piece of work?  How
does it speak to you?  What do you think it is about? Or,
alternatively students may write a poem of their own and share
their composition with the rest of he class in the beginning ten
minutes of the next lesson.



5. Instructional Sequence:


A. What is poetry? 


Pair them in groups to brainstorm examples of things they
consider to be poetic or to contain distinct poetic elements?



Ask them if they like poetry and to justify their answer?

B. Songs as Poetry:


Play Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven"


Present the class with lyrics to the song.



C. Reader Response:

Did the class like the song?

How did it make them feel?

Did it make them think about anything?



D. While still in their groups, ask the students to find evidence
of the following formal elements in the song (To save time it is
probably advisable to have these on a handout) or to consider the
following questions:


a. Rhyme

b. Rhythm

c. Can you find evidence of rhythm or a beat without the music
(ie. by simply looking at the words)? 

d. That some words or things are symbolic.  Ie. they mean at lot
more than they seem to mean.

e. Vivid experiences or objects are described.

f. Metaphor/simile: things are compared in an original manner

g. The use of synonyms.

h. Language and thought are compressed.

i. Feelings are described as well as thoughts.

j. Imagination.







E. Instructor directed discussion:

jHave each group relate their findings to the class.



F. Conclusion:

Inform the class that the elements they have described are to be
found in most poems.


Share Webster's definition of a poem:

A composition in verse, esp. one characterized by a highly
developed form and the use of heightened language and rhythm to
express an imaginative interpretation of the subject.


Then ask the students whether, according to this definition, this
song is a poem?


Ask the class if they think it would be useful to develop a more
flexible definition of poetry? Why or why not?






























 
SONG: Stairway To Heaven
 
 
There's a lady who's,sure
All that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows
If the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven.
 
There's a sign on the wall
But she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook
There's a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.
 
There's a feeling I get
When I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen
Rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who standing looking.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.
 
And it's whispered that soon
If we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn
For those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter.
 
If there's a bustle in your hedgerow
Don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by
But in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.
 
Your head is humming and it won't go
In case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow,
And did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.
 
And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.
 
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.