Mad Girl's Love Song Lesson Plan

Villanelles

Kind of Activity:

Creative Writing

Objective:

Students will analyze the poetic structure Plath uses, explore other examples, and write one of their own

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.5; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.4

Structure:

Divide students into four groups. Give each group one of the following mentor poems, and ask them to analyze its use of rhyme, meter, and repetition.

Dylan Thomas, "Do not go gentle into that good night"

Tim Seibles, "Zombie Blues Villanelle"

Elizabeth Bishop, "One Art"

Rita Dove, "Testimony, 1968"

After 5-10 minutes, ask students to read their poems aloud to the rest of the class and to share...