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“It is not that I dwell on the past. But the past shapes the way we are in the present and the way we will become what we are destined to become. It is only because I have finally understood the past, accepted it, embraced it, that I can fully live in the moment. And hardly a moment goes by when I don’t think about Emmett, and the lessons a son can teach a mother.” - Mamie Till-Mobley
The Murder of Emmett Till - A Radio Documentary: I've included a recording of this documentary here, because it appears to be no longer available on the Internet. This is such a powerful piece of work. Made before the days of podcasts - this documentary, on Emmett Tills murder and the consequences for his family, the community, and the killers - is to me, still unsurpassed. It also fits in so well with Morrison's "Song of Solomon". Its sentiment regarding the destruction that comes to those who perpetuate hate and evil will be repeated throughout her novel - and especially when Milkman arrives to find his father's "gold". I've played this documentary for my students at various spots in this unit - but I really believe the best time to play it, is right before they read Chapter 6 with its horrific recounting of the Seven Days and their murderous mission. While their actions are completely unforgivable - this radio documentary gives what they do a context and a believability.
Lesson Overview (see also poems with notes)
Lesson Overview (see also poems with notes)
As usual on "Poems before..." day there is no quiz and you need to get started right away. I usually stand at the door and give the handout with the poems to the students as they enter (and tell them to start looking at it right away). For more specifics on the actual poems and songs - see the notes below next to the Poems & Songs handout and the notes on my Lesson Notes on the Poems (in my handwriting - also found below)
As with most (though not the last) Poems Before, break the students into small groups (it is usually best and quickest if you do this by just pointing. There are 9 poems to be distributed, and some of the poems are large - you will need to purposefully make the groups for those poems larger (perhaps 3-4 students instead of the usual 2). You should encourage those larger groups to split the especially long poems (and give these more students) into sections - tackled by mini-groups within their group. There are also a few poems, quotes, and a song that you will do together as a class
Give the students about 5-8 minutes to prepare their poems - you will need the rest of the time to go over them (and listen to the songs) as a class. Once they are done (or time is up) - you can begin tackling the poems together. By now, being the 8th time I've done poems before a book this way - the students are much more comfortable - and you'll be surprised how quickly they get through it - but even more - how intelligent their interpretation is.
Once you begin the discussion, remind students that they are to write notes directly on their handouts as the group is reading the poem aloud (always how they should begin their presentation). Anything is fine - but as always with poetry - What is the story? What is taking place? See my page On Poetry. They can link it to other things - but first we need to figure out what's happening in the poem. Here are the poems and songs See the PDF of my copy of the Poems with my Notes - for my take on the poems - the things I'd be sure to bring up.
"Failing and Flying" by Jack Gilbert. Wow - so much here in this poem. Song of Solomon has so much to do with flying - and it also has to do with the act of attempting and of little triumphs. For thoughts on the other poems see my handwritten notes on the poem (found in a PDF below) - Group 1
"Wings" by Miroslav Holub - Group 2
"Roots" by John Piller - Group 3 - another huge theme in this novel - the importance of roots and sticking by them
"If We Must Die" by Claude McKay - Group 4 - Song of Solomon concerns itself with the Civil Rights movement and with civil rights over a century. This poem and the next epitomize and introduce students to the sentiments they will encounter in the novel.
"Justice" by Langston Hughes - usually given to one student (if possible a person of color)- or read and discussed together as a class.
from "A Wreath for Emmett Till" - Group 5 - Emmett Till and his murder play a pivital role in the book - it's good to know as much as possible going into it.
"In Flight" by Jennifer Sweeney - Group 6
"Before you knew you owned it" by Alice Walker - Group 7 - And now we get to a poem about letting go of material goods - one of the major themes of Song of Solomon and one of the reasons that I love teaching this book so much to seniors.
"The Names by Billy Collins" - Group 8 (Large, and they can break the poem up) or Read as a Class
an excerpt from "The Song of Solomon" - rarely gone over during class and yet, I want the students to have this as they are reading to see where the title (and much of the sentiment) of the novel comes from.
"Two Stones with One Bird" by Charles Berstein- very small, read together
An excerpt from "The Things They Carried" - usually just point out (remember students are to keep these poems in their books as they read folded up). What a great allusion to an earlier read - the weight the men carried in Vietnam - the weight that Milkman and others carry and must find a way to shed.
Buying Earth by Philip Levine - read together, time permitting.
The bookmark for this novel has the titles of the poems on it - so it will bring this class - these ideas to the forefront as they are doing their reading. Also remind them to fold these poems up (the handout) and keep them in their book for easy viewing. At the end of class, remind them of what is due - there will be a quiz - and to follow their bookmarks (which have those titles from the poems on them) and read ahead.
The Poems with Notes
The Poems with Notes
The Poems with my notes see below for student handout
The Poems with my notes see below for student handout
Obviously, every teacher, just as every student will have a different take on these poems and songs (just as I would expect them to add and subtract their own verse). I believe these poems and song compliment what is happening in the next lesson - note there are no notes for page 6 of this packet as it is an excerpt from the "Song of Songs" from the Bible and is mainly included (in the student handout) for the students to reference as they are reading the novel.
Handout - Poems & Song
Handout - Poems & Song
Poems before Song of Solomon Handout: Docx PDF
The novel, The House on Mango Street, has many ideas, and many themes. The poems - as always - cover some of the ideas and themes that will be encountered in the book. Some of these include - what exactly is "home", the idea of the "other", women's place in society, find our true path
In most of my handouts that have text to be analyzed - I make sure to leave a wide margin for the students to write notes (both as they're reading and as we talk about the texts as a class). I will usually have these on a desk by the door and students will grab or be given one as they enter the room. These poems are given plenty of room for students to take notes on.
Bookmark with Poem Titles Docx PDF
PoemsbeforeSoS_03062018.mp3Class Recordings
Class Recordings
Audio of our discussion of Poems before Song of Solomon
Audio of our discussion of Poems before Song of Solomon
We look at (in small groups), read aloud, and discuss poems that are thematically linked to Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon. Make sure you have the poems (found on our website). The poems are about names, flying, leaving things behind and more.
Remote Enhancements
Remote Enhancements
These poems - really work well in a Remote setting. You do have to make sure that you have remote grouping set up.
For all effects and purposes, this is our last Opening Discussion of a novel in my World Literature Class. The year flies by and it's impossible to see where the time goes - but there you have it. There is a kind of "meta" nature to this lesson. I will go over the idea of this chapter (specifically the first 15 pages of this chapter) as a kind of "overture". As in a Musical Overture, these pages will introduce us to the characters, ideas, and themes that will be present throughout the novel. I mentioned in the intro to this book that I wanted to give my students a "second" reading though this is only their first.
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
Thoughts on the Lesson
Thoughts on the Lesson
I think the quote at the top of this page: I believe Icarus was not falling as he fell, but just coming to the end of his triumph," by Jack Gilbert really sums up so much of what the students will read in this incredible novel.
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