Using Pop Culture to Teach Literature

1. Using Pop Culture to Teach Literature Walter E. Brown, Sr. walterb29@yahoo.com

2. Worth 1,000 words

3. Definition of Poetry • Literary expression that emphasizes the line, not the sentence, as the unit of composition. • Characteristics of poetry include • Emotional, imaginative language • Use of metaphor, simile, onomatopoeia, etc. • Divided into stanzas, not paragraphs • Use of rhyme and regular patterns of meter

4. Musical history

5. Categories of Poetry • Lyric Poetry • Narrative Poetry • Imagist Poetry • Confessional Poetry • Haiku

6. Lyric Poetry • Poetry that expresses a speaker’s personal thoughts and feelings • Expresses the observations of a single speaker • Achieves “…a musical quality…through rhythm and such other devices as alliteration and rhyme.” • Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes (2000)

7. Papa was a Rolling Stone(N. Whitfield, B. Strong) • It was the third of SeptemberThat day I'll always remember'Cause that was the day my daddy diedI never got a chance to see himNever heard nothin' but bad things about himMama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truthAnd Mama just hung her head and said, SonChorus:Papa was a rolling stoneWherever he laid his hat was his homeAnd when he diedAll he left us was alonePapa was a rolling stoneWherever he laid his hat was his homeAnd when he diedAll he left us was alone • Hey, Mama, is it true what they sayThat Papa never worked a day in his life?And Mama, some bad talk goin' around goin' around townSayin' that Papa had three outside children and another wife • And that ain't rightHey, talk about Papa doing some storefront preachingTalking about saving your soulAnd all the time leachingDealing in debt and stealing in the name of the LordMama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truthAnd Mama hung her head and saidChorus • Hey Mama I heard Papa called himself a jack of all tradesTell me is that what sent Papa to an early grave?Folks say Papa would beg, borrow, steal to pay his billsFolks say Papa wasn't much on thinkin'Spent most of his life chasin' women and drinkingMama, I'm depending on you to tell me the truthAnd Mama looked up with a tear in her eye and said, SonChorus • <End>

8. Lyric Poetry • Ode • An ode is an elaborate lyric poem expressed in a dignified and sincere way. • Many songs we consider ballads would be classified as odes in the literary sense.

9. “Daughters”(John Mayer) I know a girl She puts the color inside of my world But she's just like a maze Where all of the walls all continually change And I've done all I can To stand on her steps with my heart in my hands Now I'm starting to see Maybe it's got nothing to do with me Fathers, be good to your daughters Daughters will love like you do Girls become lovers who turn into mothers So mothers, be good to your daughters too Oh, you see that skin? It's the same she's been standing in Since the day she saw him walking away Now she's left Cleaning up the mess he made So fathers, be good to your daughters Daughters will love like you do Girls become lovers who turn into mothers So mothers, be good to your daughters too Boys, you can break You'll find out how much they can take Boys will be strong And boys soldier on But boys would be gone without the warmth from A woman’s good, good heart On behalf of every man Looking out for every girl You are the god and the weight of her world So fathers, be good to your daughters Daughters will love like you do Girls become lovers who turn into mothers So mothers, be good to your daughters too

10. Narrative Poetry • Verse that tells a story • Ballads • “Richard Cory”- Edward Arlington Robinson • “Richard Cory”-Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel • Epics • Milton’s Paradise Lost • Randy Newman’s “Louisiana 1927” • Elegies

11. “Richard Cory” • Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored and imperially slim. And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked, But still he fluttered pulses when he said, "Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich--yes, richer than a king-- And admirably schooled in every grace: In fine, we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place. So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head. • -Edwin Arlington Robinson They say that Richard Cory owns one half of this whole town With political connections to spread his wealth around Born into society, a banker's only child He had everything a man could want: power, grace, and style But I work in his factory And I curse the life I'm living And I curse my poverty And I wish that I could be Oh I wish that I could be Oh I wish that I could be Richard Cory The papers print his picture almost everywhere he goes Richard Cory at the opera, Richard Cory at a show And the rumor of his parties and the orgies on his yacht! Oh he surely must be happy with everything he's got Chorus He freely gave to charity, he had the common touch And they were grateful for his patronage and they thanked him very much So my mind was filled with wonder when the evening headlines read: "Richard Cory went home last night and put a bullet through his head" Chorus

12. Louisiana 1927 • What has happened down here, is the winds have changedClouds roll in from the north and it started to rain It rained real hard, and it rained for a real long time Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline The river rose all day, the river rose all night Some people got lost in the flood, some people got away alright The river had busted through clear down to Plaquemine Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline Louisiana, LouisianaThey're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away Oh Louisiana, Louisiana They're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away • President Coolidge come down, in a railroad train With his little fat man with a note pad in his hand President say "little fat man, oh isn't it a shame, What the river has done to this poor farmer's land" Oh Louisiana, Louisiana They're trying to wash us away, you're trying to wash us away Oh Louisiana, oh Louisiana They're trying to wash us away, oh Lord, they're trying to wash us away They're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away

13. Elegy • Poem that mourns a death or other great loss. Loss may be also be symbolic. • Tim McGraw • “O Captain, My Captain” by Walt Whitman • Symbolic loss may be loss of innocence, loss of love, loss of idealism • “Superman” by Five for Fighting

14. “Live Like You Were Dying” • He said I was in my early forties with a lot of life before me when a moment came that stopped me on a dime and I spent most of the next days looking at the x-rays Talking bout the options and talking bout sweet time I asked him when it sank in that this might really be the real end how’s it hit you when you get that kinda news man what’d you do and he said I went sky diving I went Rocky Mountain climbing I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter and I gave forgiveness I’d been denying and he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying. He said I was finally the husband that most the time I wasn’t and I became a friend a friend would like to have and all the sudden going fishin wasn’t such an imposition and I went three times that year I lost my dad • well I finally read the good book and I took a good long hard look at what I’d do if I could do it all again • and then I went sky diving I went Rocky Mountain climbing I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter and I gave forgiveness I’d been denying and he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying. Like tomorrow was a gift and you got eternity to think about what’d you do with it what did you do with it what did I do with it what would I do with it? Sky diving I went Rocky Mountain climbing I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu and then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter and I watched an eagle as it was flying and he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying. To live like you were dying (4 X)

15. “Superman” • I can't stand to fly • I'm not that naïve • I'm just out to find • The better part of me • I'm more than a bird • I'm more than a plane • I'm more than some pretty face beside a train • And it's not easy to be me • I wish that I could cry • Fall upon my knees • Find a way to lie • 'Bout a home I'll never see • It may sound absurd • But don't be naïve • Even heroes have the right to bleed • I may be disturbed • But won't you concede • Even heroes have the right to dream • And it's not easy to be me • Up, up and away, away from me • Well it's alright • You can all sleep sound tonight • I'm not crazy or anything • I can't stand to fly • I'm not that naïve • Men weren't meant to ride • With clouds between their knees • I'm only a man in a silly red sheet • Digging for kryptonite on this one way street • I'm only a man in a funny red sheet • Looking for special things inside of me, inside of me • Inside of me, yeah inside of me, inside of me • I'm only a man in a funny red sheet • I'm only a man looking for a dream • I'm only a man in a funny red sheet • And it's not easy…It's not easy to be me

16. Imagist Poetry • Poetry movement, started in 1912, aimed at “clarity of expression through the use of precise, visual images.” • Ezra Pound, Amy Lowell • Kenny Rogers’s “Coward of the County”

17. “Coward of the County” • Everyone considered him • The coward of the county • He never stood one single time • To prove the county wrong • His mama named him Tommy • But folks just called him Yella • Something always told me • They were reading Tommy wrong • Now, he was only ten years old • When his daddy died in prison • And I took care of Tommy • 'Cause he was my brother's son • I still recall the final words • My brother said to Tommy • "Son my life is over • But yours has just begun“ • Promise me son not to do the things I've done • Walk away from trouble if you can • Now, it don't mean you're weak • If you turn the other cheek • And I hope you're old enough to understand • Son, you don't have to fight to be a man • There's someone for everyone • And Tommy's love was Becky • In her arms he didn't have • To prove he was a man • One day while he was working • The Gatlin boys came calling • They took turns at Becky • And there were three of them • Tommy opened up the door • And saw his Becky crying • The torn dress, the shattered look • Was more than he could stand • He reached above the fireplace • Took down his daddy's picture • As the tears fell on his daddy's face • I heard these words again • {Refrain} • The Gatlin boys just laughed at him • When he walked into the bar room • One of them got up and met him • Half way 'cross the floor • Tommy turned around, they said • "Hey look old Yella's leaving" • But you could've heard a pin drop • When Tommy stopped and locked the door • Twenty years of crawling • Was bottled up inside him • He wasn't holdin' nothing back • He let 'em have it all • When Tommy left the bar room • Not a Gatlin boy was standing • He said, "This one's for Becky" • As he watched the last one fall

18. “Coward of the County” continued • And I heard him say • I promised you dad not to do the things you've done • I'll walk away from trouble when I can • Now please don't think I'm weak • I couldn't turn the other cheek • Papa, I sure hope you understand • Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man • Everyone considered him the coward of the county

19. Confessional Poetry • Movement from 1950s • Poet writes about their own personal experiences in an open, direct style • Robert Lowell • Anne Sexton • Sylvia Plath • Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke

20. “What’s Going On?” Mother, motherThere's too many of you cryingBrother, brother, brotherThere's far too many of you dyingYou know we've got to find a wayTo bring some lovin' here today - YaFather, fatherWe don't need to escalateYou see, war is not the answerFor only love can conquer hateYou know we've got to find a wayTo bring some lovin' here todayPicket lines and picket signsDon't punish me with brutalityTalk to me, so you can seeOh, what's going onWhat's going onYa, what's going onAh, what's going on • In the mean timeRight on, babyRight onRight onFather, father, everybody thinks we're wrongOh, but who are they to judge usSimply because our hair is longOh, you know we've got to find a wayTo bring some understanding here todayOhPicket lines and picket signsDon't punish me with brutalityTalk to meSo you can seeWhat's going onYa, what's going onTell me what's going onI'll tell you what's going on - UhRight on babyRight on baby

21. Haiku • Type of Japanese poetry written in style emphasizing syllables per stanza; • Five syllables in first stanza, seven in second stanza, five in third stanza • Also has a reference to a season • “Sweet November” by The Deele • The Rose • Donna Brock  • The red blossom bends • and drips its dew to the ground. • Like a tear it falls

22. “Sweet November” • When autumn first arrived you were my ladyAnd love was written in the winter snowThen with the change of months there came OctoberAnd now i wonder where that love did goIt was the second rain of autumn we shared a feelingIt was such, such a glorious autumn dream, yes it wasBut like kids we were too shy to say to each other (one another)That together we would always like to beSomeday soon i know we'll come togetherEven though our feelings change as seasons doBut maybe sweet November will tell us the storyThat will bring us back the love that we both knew • When autumn first arrived you said you'd be my ladyAnd promised me that you would never goThen with the change of months then came OctoberAnd now i'm wondering where, where did our love goIt was the second rain of autumn we shared a feelingIt was such, such a glorious autumn dream, yes it wasBut like kids we were too shy to say to each other (one another)That together we would always like to be • Someday soon i know we'll come togetherEven though our feelings change as seasons doBut maybe sweet November will tell us the storyThat will bring us back the love that we both knew

23. Visual Connections • Connections between film and literature go beyond the obvious adaptations. • Example: LSS RI.9-10.7 • The Autobiography of Malcolm X • Interesting Adaptation of • Hamlet 1, and 2 • Mythology • Mash-ups • Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

24. Contact Information • Walter E. Brown • Caddo Parish Public Schools • ELA Curriculum Specialist • walterb29@yahoo.com • wbrown@caddoschools.org • (318) 603-6361