YEAR 9POETRY & IDENTITY

WHAT DOES IDENTITY MEAN?

THINK, PAIR, SHARE activity:

- You have been asked to write the definition of

identity for the Oxford dictionary. You are not

allowed to use any words that are similar to identity

(i.e. “identify”).

We will share some ideas as a class and try to come

up with an agreed definition.

HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF?

Make a list of all of the things that you think are

“identifying features” about yourself:

Some ideas may include

- age - gender

- ethnicity - hair colour

- where you live - eye colour…. Etc

DISCUSSION CARDS

In groups (7), you will work through answering a

series of questions on the discussion cards. These

are to help you start talking about YOURSELF and

WHO YOU ARE

CONNECTIONS – POETRY & IDENTITY

What are the connections between poetry and

identity? Why are these two ideas combined for this

unit?

BIOPOEM

One of the most basic forms of identity poetry is a

BIOPOEM

This has a set FORMAT – 11 lines are used to

describe a person, answering specific questions

about them.

Today we are going to be writing our own

BIOPOEMS… but first, let’s look at an example:

BIOPOEM FORMAT

First name:

Sister (daughter, son, brother, wife, friend etc etc) of . . .

Lover of . . . (3 things/people/animals etc you love)

Who feels . . . (3 feelings or opinions)

Who needs . . . (3 needs)

Who gives. . . (3 gifts)

Who fears . . . (3 fears)

Who would like . . . (3 wishes)

Resident of . . . (place)

Street name:

Last name:

BIOPOEM EXAMPLEKatniss

Sister of Primrose

Lover of nature, physical things, and music 

Who feels anger towards the capitol, protective of her family and friends, and

confused about love.

Who needs support, faith and breathing space

Who gives all for her family, her friends, and her community.

Who fears the loss of those she loves, falling in love, and having children who

would be put through

the Capitol’s torture.

Who longs for freedom, protection and justice.

Resident of District 12

Everdeen

HOMEWORK TASK..

Write a BIOPOEM (using the same format) for a

character in your favourite novel or film…

Write a PARAGRAPH that describes the book that

you have been reading so far for our library sessions.

Discuss the main themes and ideas in the book.

POETRY IN MUSIC…

So many music artists use SONGS the same way that

poets use POETRY (for expressing their identity, self,

thoughts and feelings, etc…)

Listen to this song. Your task is to try and find as many

LANGUAGE FEATURES as possible within the song (e.g.

simile, metaphor, repetition, alliteration, onomatopoeia,

rhyme).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKlpcsW-VX0