Our Identities. Our Verses.
6B English 4 2014
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8B English 4 2014
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O Me! O Life! by Walt Whitman
Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,
Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish, Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d, Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me, Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined, The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life? Answer. That you are here—that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. Source: Leaves of Grass (1892) |
What Will Your Verse Be?
In J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield says,
“I was trying to feel some kind of good-bye. I mean I’ve left schools and places I didn’t even know I was leaving them. I hate that. I don’t care if it’s a sad good-bye or a bad good-bye, but when I leave a place I like to know I’m leaving it. If you don’t you feel even worse.” You are leaving Chapin High School – saying goodbye. Make sure that in the joy of leaving there is at least a moment of conscious goodbye.
One of the hardest things about teaching seniors is saying goodbye to them. Many of my seniors were those gawky, awkward freshmen four years ago who wandered into Portable 13 ¾. Others are the faces of those that I’ve seen and come to know in the hall, library, and cafeteria. Regardless, all of you walked into my room at the beginning of this year a little different – younger, less confident, more stressed? – than the you who sits in front of me today. And I need just one more thing from you. |
Read Whitman’s poem O Me! O Life! Write a page that explains your “identity” or how “you may contribute a verse.” Who is the “you” leaving CHS? What will be your contribution – your meaningful contribution – amid “eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renewed…”? How do you see yourself as a part in the “powerful play” of life? Think of this as your final statement, your final philosophy upon leaving this chapter of your life. Who are you now, and how will you contribute later?
Format & Submission: Please aim to write one full double-spaced page of content.* The document needs to be typed. Please also include a headshot of yourself that you like. This assignment is meant to give you a lot of freedom in how you choose to address it. Please email this to me by Sunday, May 18, 2014 by 5pm. Remember to include the picture of yourself. We will “present” them during one of the three class periods following the due date.
*You may certainly write a think piece style response/essay, or you may be more creative. In the past, I’ve received the following, which all worked well:
Format & Submission: Please aim to write one full double-spaced page of content.* The document needs to be typed. Please also include a headshot of yourself that you like. This assignment is meant to give you a lot of freedom in how you choose to address it. Please email this to me by Sunday, May 18, 2014 by 5pm. Remember to include the picture of yourself. We will “present” them during one of the three class periods following the due date.
*You may certainly write a think piece style response/essay, or you may be more creative. In the past, I’ve received the following, which all worked well:
- an interview with oneself
- a series of poems
- a play
- a fictional story that served as an allegorical answer
- a letter
- two songs composed for the guitar – student actually performed them for us
- an operatic aria (that was Jackie’s)
- a self-portrait with an accompanying explanation
One more time: Move my soul.