6.3 Symbols in Poetry
Completion requirements
Critical Thinking
Introductory Sentence
Begin with an introductory sentence that will include:
This will be followed by a very short (one or two sentence) summary of your understanding of the big ideas.
The final sentence in your introduction will answer: What is the poem's big idea and how did you choose to symbolize it? This will be your controlling idea.
It might look like: "Al Pitman's poem "Cooks Brook" presents the idea of facing one's fears and bravery even when faced with possible danger.
Body Sentences
Once you have planned the introduction, the rest will flow from it. You must refer to specific words and phrases in the peom and explain how they represent the symbolism. In the next part of your paragraph,
Concluding Sentence
Your concluding sentences will restate your main points and revisit your controlling idea/thesis statement as it applies to the symbolism in the poem.
View the rubric to see how your work will be assessed.
6.3 Symbols in Poetry
Critical Thinking
The Assignment
Step 1: Choose one poem from the previous page and create visual representation of a symbol to represent the poem. This can be hand-drawn or you can find images online. Be sure to properly cite your image selection(s).
The Extra Help tab provides details for citing images and attribution.
Note: Your representation should not reflect the literal actions or events that take place within the poem, but the symbol that those acts/events represent.
For example, the poem "Cooks Brook" on pp. 134-135 of Sightlines 10 is about youth being dared to jump off of a cliff into the river below. A picture of a cliff and a person jumping off of it is a literal representation of the symbol of bravery. A frightened child looking under their bed for monsters is a symbolic representation of bravery.
For example, the poem "Cooks Brook" on pp. 134-135 of Sightlines 10 is about youth being dared to jump off of a cliff into the river below. A picture of a cliff and a person jumping off of it is a literal representation of the symbol of bravery. A frightened child looking under their bed for monsters is a symbolic representation of bravery.
Step 2: In a one-paragraph critical response, explain your choice of symbol. Review Writing Paragraphs tutorial. Be sure you clearly identify which
poem you selected in your response and include specific quotations from the poem which support your chosen symbol.
Step 3: Visit the Extra Help tab for a possible format for organizing your paragraph. Properly attribute your image if you found it online:
only select images which are labelled as being Creative Commons.
Step 4: Submit your symbol and paragraph for assessment.
Remember! Your symbol should reflect the idea or emotion being expressed in the poem. It should not include images which are directly referenced in the poem itself.
Citing Images
It's important that when you search for images you are doing an Advanced Search and selecting images that are free to use or share. Even though they are free to use and share, you still need to properly cite your source and attribute the author
of the image. Pixsy.com gives great step-by-step directions on what to do.
Here is a properly attributed image from one of my monthly newsletters:
Student Exemplar:
The exemplar does not reference a poem, but does explore the symbolism of a text through visual representation. Use this as an example for organization and and how to discuss specific aspects of a text and how they convey symbolism and how that is reflected in your own symbol choice.Review Thesis Statements in Unit 2 to develop your controlling idea for your paragraph. Remember, critical response paragraphs are objective: Avoid using 1st person pronouns. You are writing a paragraph: format it accordingly.
Determine your thesis and then choose specific words and lines from your chosen poem which support your ideas. Remember, the focus is on how the message of the poem is represented by your chosen symbol.
Introductory Sentence
Begin with an introductory sentence that will include: - Author, title, and type of literature your response will be based on.
- What the author is saying through his/her poem.
The final sentence in your introduction will answer: What is the poem's big idea and how did you choose to symbolize it? This will be your controlling idea.
It might look like: "Al Pitman's poem "Cooks Brook" presents the idea of facing one's fears and bravery even when faced with possible danger.
Body Sentences
Once you have planned the introduction, the rest will flow from it. You must refer to specific words and phrases in the peom and explain how they represent the symbolism. In the next part of your paragraph, - Refer to specific details in the speech that connect to your controlling idea
- Explain how they relate to the topic
- Remember to properly format your quotations for poetry. When quoting poetry/songs/Shakespeare, use a / to show where the line breaks are and put the lines you reference in brackets after the quote.
Example: My favourite line of poetry is, “Twinkle, twinkle / little star, /how I wonder / what you are” (lines 1-4).
Concluding Sentence
Your concluding sentences will restate your main points and revisit your controlling idea/thesis statement as it applies to the symbolism in the poem. - Name your assignment Lastname, FirstnameELA101_6.3Symbols.
- Submit your assignment for assessment.
- If you are submitting a Google document, copy and paste the sharing link into the online text space. Ensure share settings are set to "Anyone with the link can comment."
- If you are submitting a Word or PDF document, upload the file.
View the rubric to see how your work will be assessed.
6.3 Symbols in Poetry