Wallace Stevens: Poems Lesson Plan

Musical Interpretations

Kind of Activity:

Mixed Media

Objective:

Students will listen to compositions inspired by "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" and analyze how the poem is represented in music.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.7

Structure:

Just as Stevens was interested in music and influenced by it, so have musicians been similarly influenced by his work. "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" in particular has inspired composers. Here is a list of some pieces written after "Thirteen Ways:"

• "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird", by Lukas Foss
• Thirteen Ways, by Thomas Albert
• "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird", by...