Poetry

I find that Spoken Word Poetry is a great jumping off point when learning about poetry because you can hear the rhythm of the words.  There are many styles of poetry that we will examine but before you start to analyze poems on the page, I think it's important to experience them in performance to understand the emotional impact that they can have.

Watch the two videos below and think about what each poet is trying to convey to their audience.  Do you think that listening to the poems as a performance is more effective than reading them on a page? 

Sarah Kay: "If I should have a daughter...": As you watch this, I want you consider what she means by the word "indignant."  

Rudy Francisco: "My Honest Poem": What performance techniques does Rudy use to emphasize his meaning?  Pay attention to the placement of the pauses and think about why they are important.