English 9 Poetry Presentations

Part 1 10 points
Tell us the title & author of the poem you will read and 3 specific things you like about it.
Title: If We Must Die
Author: Claude McKay
1.It has alot of interesting rhymes and metaphors/simlies, good figurative language in general.
2. It has a lot of different meanings, it leaves some mystery.
3. The poem is also a sonnet but it does not look or feel like a sonnet, its just different.

Part II 25 points
Expressively perform your poem. You may memorize up to 10 lines for extra credit (one point for
each perfectly memorized line).

If We Must Die
Claude McKay, 1889 - 1948

If we must dielet it not be like hogs hunted and penned in an inglorious spot,
While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs,making their mock at our accursed lot.
If we must dieoh, let us nobly die, so that our precious blood may not be shed In vain
then even the monsters we defy shall be constrained to honor us though dead!
Oh, Kinsmen! We must meet the common foe though far outnumbered, let us show us brave,
And for their thousand blows deal one deathblow! what though before us lies the open grave?
Like men well face the murderous, cowardly pack, pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!

Part III 20 points

Describe the MOOD of the poem using one or more of our tone words. Point out some word
choices that support that tone in the poem.
Mood Words
hopeful
confident
distressed
gloomy
overwhelmed

Word Choices That Illustrate the Mood

inglorious
precious
hunted
penned
deathblow
outnumbered
nobly
murderous

Describe the tone of the poem using one or more of our tone words. Point out some word choices
that support that tone in the poem.
Tone Words
proud
hopeful
desperate
grim

Word Choices That Illustrate the Tone

mock
nobly
defy
outnumbered
brave
honor
inglorious
precious
Explain 2 examples of figurative language in the poem.

What kind of figurative language?

Quote from the poem that uses figurative language

How does the figurative language add meaning or

richness to the poem? (You can use the purpose
column on your tools hand out if you need help)

If we must dielet it not be

like hogs

The simile adds depth to the

meaning. The soldiers in the
poem might die very soon, but
they dont want to be treated like
some animal that can be breed
and eaten and thrown out. The
soldiers want an honorable death
fighting for their country.The
soldiers do not want to die like
pigs and not be honored.
The purpose of this metaphor is
to make the enemy in the war
seem like animals, or very wild.
The mad, hungry dogs is
probably referring to the
germans in a world war.The
enemy is described as dogs
because of how ruthlessly they
kill or how they torture.The poet
also says making their mock at
our accursed lot, which probably
means that the enemy is invading
their country or home and
ruthlessly killing their
people.However the accursed lot
could be the jewish population
and the hungry dogs could be the
germans.So it would mean that

Put your choice in ALL CAPS

Indirect Metaphor
SIMILE
Personification
Imagery
Direct Metaphor

DIRECT METAPHOR
Indirect Metaphor
Simile
Personification
Imagery

While round us bark the mad

and hungry dogs,
Making their mock at our
accursed lot.

the germans are mocking or

killing the jewish population.

Notes about scoring...

In a STANDARD LEVEL presentation...
Student explained 2 examples of figurative language in the poem.
Student described the tone of the poem using one or more of our tone
words. Point out some word choices that support that tone in the poem.
In an ADVANCED LEVEL presentation...
Student analyzed at least two nuances in words with multiple meanings or
language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful based on denotation, connotation,
or figurative usage.
Student discussed how the form or rhythm of the poem helps convey the
poems message.

How to Prepare to be EXPRESSIVE

Memorizing a Text
Why? Its good for your brain.
How? One line at a time. Once you have one, add another.
Analyzing a Text
Answer the following questions. The answers will help you know how to perform the text.
Who is speaking? What are they like? maybe an army or the jewish
population.They are very honorable, and brave,
To whom are they speaking? Is there an actual or implied audience? they are
probably talking to the enemy army, maybe the germans. It is a implied audience.
What is the speaker talking about? What conflict?The speaker is talking about a
war probably WW2 and they are in the brink of destruction.
How is the speaker talking (e.g. vocabulary, tone)? rhythmically, and very
serious.
Practicing for Performance
Follow directions to execute and learn from a practice performance.
1. Grab one or more people to be your audience. Consider having someone record
you on your phone so you can see the performance for yourself. If no audience is
available, practice in front of a mirror or in a corner
2. Practice walking in, smiling, and making a quick survey with your eyes to
connect with your audience.
3. Check that the evaluator is ready with eyes up before you begin.
4. As you speak, have your audience member(s) evaluate the following:
Content
Do you include all the parts of the outline?
Delivery
Verbal
-Are you too loud or too soft for the space?
-Do you pause/slow/quicken your pace for effect?
-Do you use variety in tone and expression?
-Does expression match the language, tone, and mood of the story?
Nonverbal
-Do you make eye contact with people (or pretend people) around
the room?
-Does your facial expression match the tone of the content?
5. Be sure to pause between when you finish your poem recitation and go back into
your speech. After the speech, get feedback from your audience.