1) Read the poem to the class. Practice reading the poem, so you are able to correctly pronounce each word and read the poem with expression. You may be asked to read it twice.
2) Explain what you think the poet is trying to say by answering the questions below. Every poet has a reason for his/her words. Try your best to explain the poem thoroughly to the class. Make sure that you answer ALL of the following questions:
What is the poem about? Using CDs from the poem, carefully explain the subject matter of the poem. Our suggestion is that you break the poem down two lines at a time, and explain what is going on in the poem in those lines. At the end of your explanation, summarize what the whole poem is about.
What are the images in the poem? Do not choose a poem that does not have clear images. Choose 4-6 images and describe the senses they evoke (see the explanation below for more information). How does these images how meaning to the poem?
What is the figurative language? Find a poem that is rich with similes, metaphors, allusions, personification, hyperbole, irony, etc. Choose a minimum of 3 examples of figurative language in the poem. Explain how these words or phrases add meaning or depth to the poem. These examples may overlap with your images, and that is fine. See below for a list of common types of figurative language.
Who is the speaker? Remember that the speaker is often not the poet. Be specific. Is the speaker a man or a woman? Young or old? A certain ethnicity? Is the speaker angry? Lost? Frustrated? How does the poem inform you about who the speaker is—what clues do you get? Give CDs. Give details.
Who is the audience? Again, do not just state that the poet is addressing any readers. Think of the speaker and then decide to whom he/she is speaking. Is the audience a group of unruly teenagers? A group of knowledgeable poets? Again, be specific.
What is the theme of the poem? What is it really about? Why did the author write it?
Alone
Lying, thinking
Last night
How to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty
And bread loaf is not stone
I came up with one thing
And I don't believe I'm wrong
That nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.
Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.
There are some millionaires
With money they can't use
Their wives run round like banshees
Their children sing the blues
They've got expensive doctors
To cure their hearts of stone.
But nobody
No, nobody
Can make it out here alone.
Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.
Now if you listen closely
I'll tell you what I know
Storm clouds are gathering
The wind is going to blow
The race of man is suffering
And I can hear the moan,
'Cause nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.
Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.
Maya Angelou
Yammona,
Did you choose this poem? Whether you chose it or not, it shouldn't be too difficult for you to read it carefully a few times and then come up with some tentative answers to most of the set list of questions. There's no absolute right or wrong in these matters. You just need to form an opinion, and be able to support your opinion by referring to details in the poem.
We're not here to do all your homework for you. You have to put in a reasonable effort. If there are some parts you are having special trouble with, we can try to help you with those.
So, I suggest you tell us first how you propose to answer some of the questions, and say which are giving you the most difficulty.
Ian