American Literature
generally includes a section on the poetry of Walt
Whitman. This is an excellent opportunity to provide
your students with another poetry writing exercise.
"I Hear America Singing" is a list poem. In
the poem Whitman lists the songs he hears various laborers
in America singing as they go about their daily
business.
Required materials:
Recording of: Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" and Neil Diamond's "Done Too Soon" [You can download them from http://musicdownloads.walmart.com/catalog/servlet/MainServlet for $0.88 each. Directions for downloads are provided at the site. If you don't know how to download music, have a student help you. They will feel important.
A copy of "I Hear America Singing" for each student. You can find it in most American Literature books or a copy has been provided below.
McRel provides an online compendium of standards culled from a variety of sources. This activity meets the following topics:
* Evaluates own and others writing.
* Writes in response to literature.
* Understands the devices an author uses to accomplish his purpose.
* Understands the use of language in literary works to convey mood, image and meaning.
Activity:
1. Read "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman. Identify the lists that he uses in the poem and identify what Whitman is saying by using the lists he uses.
2. Listen to "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "Done Too Soon" and identify the lists used and what the singers are saying by using these specific items in the lists.
3. Write a list poem. Be prepared to read to at least a small group of 4 and have the group respond to the author's meaning.
I hear America singing, the
varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be
blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves
off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the
deck-hand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter
singing as he stands,
The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the
morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at
work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of
young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.
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