Ekphrasis: Using Art to Inspire Poetry

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Packet of Ekphrastic Poems
  
  
• Paint Me a Poem: Poems Inspired by Masterpieces of Art by Justine Rowden (Boyds Mills, 2005) (optional)
  
  
• Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art, edited by Jan Greenberg (Abrams, 2001) (optional)

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   3 – 8  |  Student Interactive  |  Writing Poetry

Line Break Explorer

The interactive explores the ways that poets choose line breaks in their writing. After viewing the demonstration, students are invited to experiment with line breaks themselves.

 

Grades   K – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Writing Poetry

Acrostic Poems

This online tool enables students to learn about and write acrostic poems. Elements of the writing process are also included.

 

Grades   K – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Writing Poetry

Diamante Poems

This online tool enables students to learn about and write diamante poems.

 

Grades   K – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Writing & Publishing Prose

Printing Press

The interactive Printing Press is designed to assist students in creating newspapers, brochures, and flyers.

 

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PRINTOUTS

• Perspectives in Writing Ekphrastic Poetry
  
  
• Ekphrastic Poetry Booklet Checklist
  
  
• Ekphrastic Poetry Booklet Rubric
  
  
• Prewriting Chart
  

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WEBSITES

• The Poet Speaks of Art
• Ekphrasis: Poetry Confronting Art
• Audio Recording of "Vincent" from Don McLean Online
• Poetic Forms & Techniques
• The Art Institute of Chicago
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• The Louvre
• American Masters Database of Visual Artists
• “Vincent” lyrics

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PREPARATION

• Make copies of Perspectives in Writing Ekphrastic Poetry handout, Ekphrastic Poetry Booklet Checklist, Ekphrastic Poetry Booklet Rubric, and Prewriting Chart.
  
  
• Preview and select several ekphrastic poems (including the lyrics to “Vincent”) to use for discussion. As you choose poems for this lesson, look for a variety of perspectives from which the poems are written. Also note the types of poetic devices being used (e.g., sound devices such as alliteration, metaphors or similes, rhyme, imagery, etc). For a ready collection of poems, use the Academy of American Poets’ Ekphrasis: Poetry Confronting Art, which includes a list of poems in the left sidebar, or poems from The Poet Speaks of Art from Emory University. Once the poems are chosen, assemble the collection in a packet and make copies to share with students.
  
  
• Depending on your students’ familiarity with reading and writing poetry, you may wish to create a handout that defines the poetic devices you plan to use. Refer to the Poetic Forms & Techniques for brief definitions and examples of poetic devices.
  
  
• If not using an LCD projector, prepare overhead transparencies of artwork and accompanying poetry.
  
  
• Test the ReadWriteThink Printing Press, Acrostic Poems, Line Break Explorer, and Diamante Poems to familiarize yourself with the tool and ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page.

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