Spring: Paul Laurence Dunbar
Grade Level: 9-12 grades
Subject/Content: English/Poetry Analysis
Summary of Lesson: Students explicate poems with a Spring theme
Focus Questions: What does the season "Spring" symbolize in poetry?
Resource(s): Biography Resource Center: African Americans, LitFinder
Procedures:
- Instruct students to use Biography Resource Center: African Americans to research Paul Laurence Dunbar. Ask the students what major contributions he made to American Literature (he was the first African American writer to be accepted into the cannon of literature)
- Once the class has discussed Dunbar's significance as a writer have the students group into groups of three to four. Have them use LitFinder to locate and explicate one of Dunbar's Spring poems: "Spring Song," "Spring Fever," "A Spring Wooing"
- Instruct students to answer the following questions:
- Why does Dunbar employee the spring season in this poem?
- What does the season symbolize?
- Connect the symbolism to what you know about his life
- Bring the groups back to the large group and have them share their thoughts
Steps/Activities by Student(s):
- Research the life of Paul Laurence Dunbar using Biography Resource Center: African Americans. Search for Dunbar's literary significance
- In groups of three to four, use LitFinder to locate and explicate one of Dunbar's poems about spring
- Answer the following questions with your group:
- Why does Dunbar employee the spring season in this poem?
- What does the season symbolize?
- Connect the symbolism to what you know about Dunbar's life
Outcome: Students will understand that Dunbar uses the theme of spring to symbolize hope, new beginnings, love and rebirth
Related Activities: Students locate and analyze other poems with a spring theme. They then try to find poems about the other seasons and discuss what each of the other seasons could symbolize in literature
Standard Date: Approved 1998
Content Standard(s):
- NL-ENG.K-12.1: Reading for Perspective
- NL-ENG.K-12.2: Understanding the Human Experience
- NL-ENG.K-12.3: Evaluation Strategies
- NL-ENG.K-12.4: Communication Skills
- NL-ENG.K-12.6: Applying Knowledge
- NL-ENG.K-12.8: Developing Research Skills
- NL-ENG.K-12.9: Multicultural Understanding
- NL-ENG.K-12.11: Participating in Society
- NL-ENG.K-12.12: Applying Language Skills
Performance Indicators:
- At Level 1, the student is able to:
- Identify poems with a specific theme
- At Level 2, the student is able to:
- Analyze the poem focusing on symbolism
- At Level 3, the student is able to:
- Connect the authors use of symbolism to his life
Computer Literacy and Usage Standards 9-12:
- The student will demonstrate proficiency in the care and use of computer based technology
- The student will develop skills using a variety of computer resources to increase productivity, support creativity, conduct and evaluate research and improve communications
ISTE NETS for Students
- Creativity and Innovation
- Communication and Collaboration
- Research and Information Fluency
- Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
- Technology Operations and Concepts
Information Power; Information Literacy Standards 1-4:
- The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively
- The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently
- The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively
- The student who is an independent learner is information literate and appreciates literature and other creative expressions of information
- The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information