Next, we read a classic myth from Greek mythology about Orpheus and Eurydice. In reading this myth, we were looking for the stages of the hero's journey and the archetypal figures that the hero (Orpheus) encounters on his journey. I read the story aloud to the class so that everyone could underline pieces of the text or take notes as we read.
Upon completing the story, everyone used the hero's journey note sheet to map out the elements of the story.
In the last ten minutes of class, we looked at making a found poem based on this story. One of the elements we addressed with found poems was that while the words cannot be altered from the text their arrangement on the page can be manipulated to add meaning in the overall poem. In class, I used the poem "Down..." by Jim Morrison (of The Doors) as a simple illustration of how word positioning on the page is used to control the reader's experience and understanding of the words on the page. This is a tool people can use to their advantage in writing found poems.
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In this poem, the word "down" is repeated and staggered on a different line leading to "deep" and "below." The reader's eyes have to descend, as though down stairs, leading to where the main imagery of the poem has been buried. Reading the words of the poem becomes a journey as it would be to travel to this place where "secret fires glow." This shows one way in which meaning can be added to a poem without adding extra description or words.
Handouts:
Homework:
If you did not do so in class, complete the hero's journey notesheet for the Orpheus and Eurydice myth.
Begin selecting words and phrases for the Orpheus and Eurydice found poem.
Complete missing work and revise any assignment that scored below a 92.
In school: 192.168.8.7/Pinnacle/PIV
Outside of school: http://pinweb.lisbonschoolsme.org/pinnacle/pin
