Introduction
By Shelby Stevlingson (Ohio University)
Designed for freshmen in high school
This webquest serves as an introduction to poets,
such as Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath, and Maya Angelou
Introduction
Last week we learned basic terms and styes of poetry! This week we are diving into real poetry, but first we are going to learn about some poets before we read their work. Today, you and a partner (if you choose to work with someone else) will be partaking in three assignments today. You have all of class to finish these assignments; therefore, there is no need to rush. Follow along with the WebQuest in order to complete the assignment. Plus, all of the questions you will need to answer for this assignment are in the "Process" section of the WebQuest. Now, let's get started. Have fun and good luck!
Task
Your Task:
You are to research specific poets and discover background information on them before we dive into their poetry! The research will help you to grasp a better understanding on the meanings and themes of their poems.
Process
Before reading peotry, you are to research some poets! You (and your partner) will use the websites provided to answer the questions related to the poets. This research will help you understand the poets better, and hopefully master their poems.
Edgar Allan Poe
http://www.poemuseum.org/life.php
1. What images normally come to mind when someone hears the name "Edgar Allan Poe"?
2. Poe was more than just a poet, right? Name three other types of literature he wrote.
3. When was Poe born?
4. How did his relationship with his first fiance end?
5. What magazine did he write for and helped make popular?
6. Describe/ explain some troubles that Poe faced in his lifetime. There are many different answers for this question.
Sylvia Plath
http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/sylvia-plath
1. When was Sylvia Plath born?
2. When and how did her father die? How is he decribed as a father to Plath?
3. What are some personal troubles that Plath faces and achievements she reached while attending Smith College?
4. Who did she marry and later divorce?
5. What is her most famous book? Describe her health status while she was writing this book.
6. How did Sylvia Plath die?
Maya Angelou
1. When and where was Angelou born?
2. During what era did she grow up in (what national conflicts were going on at the time)?
3. Similar to Poe, Angelou was more than just a poet. Name three other positions she is celebrated for.
4. Describe her life after graduating high school.
5. What group did Dr. Martin Luther King ask her to join?
6. What are some awards that Angelou received?
Extra Credit Response
Which poet did you find most interesting? Please give a brief
explanation for your answer.
Evaluation
Answer the questions in a complete sentence or more on a piece of notebook paper. You will get a point for each question you answer correctly. Therefore, this WebQuest is out of 18 points (three poets and six questions per poet); the extra credit question is worth two points. You and your partner can research together but each of you must write your own responses.
Conclusion
By doing this assignment, I hope you have learned some interesting information about three poets whose works we will be focusing on next week! With this information, you will be able to comprehend the meanings behind their poems and recognize certain details in their poems which can be related to their lives.
Credits
I based my webquest on Jenni Riggi's (Chapman University) webquest "Poets and Poetry", which can be found at this URL: http://questgarden.com/28/83/6/070115113110/index.htm
The three websites used for research can be found at each URL:
http://www.poemuseum.org/life.php
http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/sylvia-plath
I made this WebQuest through the site:
https://www.createwebquest.com/
Permission:
Permission is granted by me to use and modify this webquest for educational reasons as long as the orginial authorship is credited.