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"When of pleasure she doth sing, my thoughts enjoy a sudden spring; But if she doth of sorrow speak, Even from my heart the strings do break. Thomas Campion
Winter & Mortality: Though I really never thought of it when I was teaching these lessons - this Group Work is a natural continuation of the previous one: Form and Function (with Sir Phillip Sidney and e e cummings). It is also a very different kind of Group Work that really tries to push the students with what they feel comfortable with. The first part addresses a mistake I made in the beginning of my teaching career about a word - which then led me to completely misinterpret a poem to the students. The next part is about the featured writer, Thomas Campion, who was a composer in addition to a poet. With that in mind the students will listen to very different versions of his song, "When to Her Lute, Corinna Sings". The first version will be conventional - and a reflection of the song as Campion wrote it - the second version is modern, atonal, with the notes reflecting the disharmony of the song lyrics. As I said - this continues the ideas from the previous Group Work where students looked at a modern version of Sidney's poem (at least it is the same theme).
Next, the students reach back to their Celtic Poems (from the Anglo-Saxon era) and take another look at "Summer is Gone" comparing it to one of Campion's songs. Then they compare that to another one of the poets that they have read for this lesson, Thomas Nashe and his "Autumn" poem. There is a lot of room for them to make their own connections and observations - as long as they use the text.
Lesson Overview
Lesson Overview
Given the complexity of this Group Work, it make more sense to look at that handout then for me to summarize it here. Here are the opening directions for the students:
Today – you will work on something completely different. You will begin with a group discussion (Part I) and move into deeper and deeper questions. As your group discusses – keep all of the materials: this group work, the poems, in front of you – jot down notes not only on the poem being discussed but on what is to come, as well… Pay attention to the music playing in the background (if it’s not playing nudge your teacher) – it is the original musical arrangement for Campion’s “When to Her Lute, Corinna Sings” (you’ll reference it later).
Everyone will write – both a Sheet 1 and a Sheet 2, (if you run out of room start a new sheet also clearly labeled Sheet 1 and Sheet 2) – one Sheet (Sheet 1) will have the answers to the short little questions posed here (sometimes specific, sometimes general); the other Sheet (Sheet 2) will have observations (discoveries) about the big underlying idea here – and the questions at the end of this assignment. As you are going through this assignment (when you get together in your group – or finish this on your own), write down your ideas, discoveries, whatever as to what you think the big idea is – be bold. As you are all writing – you DO NOT HAVE to AGREE or have the same ideas. Remember you should also write down the connections between the parts. Most of these answers to these ARE VERY SHORT – Try to finish through at least Part III before the period ends. HAVE A TIMEKEEPER!
Four Part Group Work
Part I - Very Meta: How my mistake in characterizing a poem - actually reflects the words that are in the poem, itself. I like this part because it shows how human their teacher and prone to mistakes - so hopefully they are less worried about making mistakes themselves.
Part 2 - Comparing two versions of a song by Thomas Campion - a contemporaneous (with Campion's life) and a modern version. The questions dig into what they started on their last form/function Group Work.
Part 3 - Comparing an old poem they read - the Old Celtic, "Summer is Gone" to Campion's "Now Winter Nights Enlarge".
Part 4 - Now comparing those poems to Thomas Nashe's "Autumn". Therre are lots of questions that try to bring all of this together along with what they've looked a throughout the year.
Handout - Group Work
Handout - Group Work
This is a two-sided (and more) Group Work. Page 2 has the rest of the questions, and the Celtic Poem "Summer is Gone". This Group Work is one of the most complex that the students will do all year and it will take them being very focused indeed for them to finish by the end of the period. See the actual Group Work for more or my Lesson Overview above.
A Playlist of Thomas Campion songs for today's Group Work
A Playlist of Thomas Campion songs for today's Group Work
These songs include the two (old & modern) versions of "When to Her Lute Corinna Sings" as well as "Now Winter Nights Enlarge" which is compared to the Celtic Poem - "Summer is Gone" and Thomas Nashe's "Autumn". See the Group Work - you will need to play two of these songs at the approprate time when the students get to that part of the question.
Campion, Nashe, Sidney Reading
Campion, Nashe, Sidney Reading
Sidney, Thomas Campion, and Thomas Nashe Reading PDF
This is the reading for all three poets that are referenced in this Group Work. The last Group Work's reading was Sidney alone.
Most recent quiz
Most recent quiz
To my mind - it is crucial that students read most of these works - first, on their own. Then we talk about them (or they do a Group Work). Having them do the reading on their own - for homework - shows the value that is put into reading and reserves the classroom for a place where people come together and can learn from each other. This quiz is for all three writers from the reading.
Remote Enhancements
Remote Enhancements
This can all be done remotely of course - I've actually had great success with Group Work remotely - it does take some planning though.
A VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY important lesson. There that's the second time I've said that - but my students used to tell me I said it for every class. But, it's true. I know for a fact that this lesson - and this poem won many students over to poetry throughout the years. And there are only two poems that are covered in the lesson. The first - though well written is pretty misogynistic and cynical. The second - well, the second, "A Valediction Forbidding Mourning" is one of the greatest poems ever written in English. Like most of Donne's poetry, it speaks across the ages - and students can identify with its sentiment - and it can give them hope (like so many of the poems that we cover) in a sea of sadness. Though I ask many questions directed at the students in this lesson - this is perhaps as close to being a lecture (not a dirty word) as I got all year - without it actually being one.
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
Thoughts on the Lesson
Thoughts on the Lesson
This Group Work usually makes students uncomfortable in a number of wonderful ways. First, they have to work incredibly hard to get it done. Next, it includes an atonal song that many of them will reject out of turn. Finally it presents their teacher in a very human light - one of the questions recounts a mistake that I made as a teacher, that completely altered the meaning of a poem.
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