Answer to Question #300025 in English for Maree

Question

Read the poem below and respond to the questions that follow.

Letters on the page

Worlds created in my mind

I live many lives.

2.1 You want to encourage your FAL students to read more and have decided to use the poem above to inform your discussion with them. In about 2 short paragraphs, explain how you would use the poem to guide your lesson with your class. Begin by identifying this type of poem and defining its typical features, then go on to describe how you could use it in your discussion with your students. (10)

Answer 1

The poem above is an example of a haiku. Haikus are ancient forms of poetry originating from Japan that posses a standard format. These poems have 17 syllables that are spread out in three lines. The lines, in turn, have a specific five-seven-five syllable arrangement, thereby encasing the entire poem in this structure. The poem has been constructed in accordance with these rules. It has three lines. The first line has five syllables: | le | tters | on | the | page |

The second line has seven syllables: |Worlds | cre |a |ted | in |my | mind |

The third line has six syllables: |I | have | lived |ma |ny | lives |

The poem can be examined from several aspects in order to encourage further reading and research in FAL students. There can be a class exercise requiring an examination of the different types of poems before centering on haikus. This would encourage students to conduct research to find out what types of poems exist and their features and significance. Questions can be created concerning the origin of haikus to encourage research into historical records, and thus fostering the need for thorough understanding of an issue.