Objective
Robert Frost once was asked, "Is there one basic point to all fine poetry?" He
responded, "The phrase and what do I mean by a phrase? A clutch of words that gives you a clutch at the heart" (Kahn 98). It is this "clutch" that makes poetry so intriguing to me. I hope that while I discuss this war poetry unit with my students they will have the opportunity to read and listen to the selections and explore the phrases that clutch at their heart.
Most English teachers hope to inspire a love of words in their students. It is my hope that this unit will do just that by encouraging students to enjoy reading poetry and see the power behind it. In addition, the issues at the heart of this poetry are surrounding us in the newspaper and television and should inspire lively discussions of their own opinions concerning the current war. Bringing current issues into the discussion will hopefully bring relevance and reality into the discussion of poetry. An added bonus will be the involvement of my male students, who often think poetry is for girls.
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