V4 Literature & Culture

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Introduction occasional poetry

In this lesson you are going to watch and analyse the poem `The Hill We Climb' spoken by Amanda Gorman at the inauguration of the American president Joe Biden

on 20 January 2021.

Introduction to origin. function and power of poetry.

`If ordinary writing is like talking, then poetry is like singing'

`poetry is a way of making art with language'

(Khan Academy)

Key points

• poetry is not straightforward writing. It experiments with language. Almost like `a secret code'.
• it uses figurative language to convey meaning (create imagery through metaphores, similes)
• it contains stylistic devices like repetition, rhyme, rhythm
• it's inventive
• stems from oral tradition to pass on information. Stylistic  devices helped to memorize the words.

What is an occasional poem?

`An occasional poem is a poem written to document or provide commentary on an event. It is often intended to be read or performed publicly'

“The occasional poem is a poem of direct emotional power: it is accessible, and it fosters a public relationship. It is the place were we all can meet—to offer our words, the news, and the heart of our lives—in a time of crises.”

Juan Felipe Herrera

What is the occassion here?

• 20 January 2021: Amanda Gorman became the youngest inaugural poet during President Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremony in Washington.
• she wasn’t given any direction in what to write, but that she would be contributing to the event’s theme of “America United.”
• She was about halfway finished with writing the piece when, on Jan. 6, pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol Building.

The Hill We Climb

PART ONE

See worksheet on Teams

Read part 1 first, answer the question, then watch 0:00 - 2:28

The Hill We Climb, part one

Q: What situation her country is in does Amanda Gorman describe in the first few lines? (Video 0:00 - 0:41) 

When day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade?

The loss we carry. A sea we must wade.

We braved the belly of the beast.

We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace, and the norms and notions of what “just” is isn’t always justice.

The poem is about hope and light storming out at the dawn of the new day of the America’s history, and this day is marked with Joe Biden’s becoming the 46th president of the United States of America. The author starts the poem with a short outcome of the last few years of the country’s history, and this period is distinguished as a period of ‘never-ending shade’. However, the Americans have managed to overcome this hard time having ‘braved the belly of the beast’ and now they are turning their faces to the future. This future is not perfect, and perfection is not a destination, but pursuing justice and freedom for all the American citizens is the major goal to be set and achieved. (Source: gradesaver.com

What situation does Gorman describe in the first few lines?

The Hill We Climb, part one

Q: What do you think`the dawn’ refers to? And `it'?

And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it.

Somehow we do it.

Somehow we weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished.

We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream

The poem is about hope and light storming out at the dawn of the new day of the America’s history, and this day is marked with Joe Biden’s becoming the 46th president of the United States of America. The author starts the poem with a short outcome of the last few years of the country’s history, and this period is distinguished as a period of ‘never-ending shade’. However, the Americans have managed to overcome this hard time having ‘braved the belly of the beast’ and now they are turning their faces to the future. This future is not perfect, and perfection is not a destination, but pursuing justice and freedom for all the American citizens is the major goal to be set and achieved. (Source: gradesaver.com

Q: What do you think`the dawn’ refers to?

Q: What do you think`it’ refers to

0

(video 1:15-1:40)

And yes we are far from polished.

Far from pristine.

But that doesn't mean we are

striving to form a union that is perfect.

We are striving to forge a union with purpose,

to compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and

conditions of man.

There is something in the way language is used in this passage that strengthens the message that Gorman is trying to convey. 

Read the passage aloud to yourself. Can you hear what it is? 

There is something in the way language is used in this passage that strengthens the message that Gorman is trying to convey.
Read the passage aloud to yourself. Can you hear what it is, which linguistic devices she uses??

And yes we are far from polished.

Far from pristine.

But that doesn't mean we are

striving to form a union that is perfect.

We are striving to forge a union with purpose,

to compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and

conditions of man.

There is something in the language of this passage that strengthens the message that Gorman is trying to convey. 

Read the passage aloud to yourself. Can you hear what it is? 

• Repetition
• Alliteration (repetition of consonants = beginrijm)

We've learned that quiet isn't always peace,

and the norms and notions

of what just is

isn't always just-ice.

What historical moments does this passage refer to?

- the killing by police of George Floyd (example of systemic racism within the law enforcement system after video was captured of a white cop purposely kneeling on George Floyd’s neck until he died)

- 

Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true,

that even as we grieved, we grew,

that even as we hurt, we hoped,

that even as we tired, we tried,

that we'll forever be tied together, victorious. 

What does this passage mean? 

The Hill We Climb

PART TWO

The Hill We Climb, part two

> W

It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit,

it's the past we step into

and how we repair it.

We will not march back to what was,

but move to what shall be.

For while we have our eyes on the future,

history has its eyes on us.

This is the era of just redemption

we feared at its inception.

We did not feel prepared to be the heirs

of such a terrifying hour

but within it we found the power

to author a new chapter.

To offer hope and laughter to ourselves.

It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit,

it's the past we step into

and how we repair it.

We will not march back to what was,

but move to what shall be.

For while we have our eyes on the future,

history has its eyes on us.

This is the era of just redemption

we feared at its inception.

We did not feel prepared to be the heirs

of such a terrifying hour

but within it we found the power

to author a new chapter.

To offer hope and laughter to ourselves.

We've seen a force that would shatter our nation

rather than share it.

Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.

And this effort very nearly succeeded.

But while democracy can be periodically delayed,

it can never be permanently defeated.

What is Gorman referring to here, specifically?

The Hill We Climb

Part three

The Hill We Climb, part three

> Welke nieuwe thema's introduceert Gorman in dit gedeelte van het gedicht? Hoe doet ze dat?

> Wat valt je op aan dit gedeelte van het gedicht? (op het gebied van taalgebruik / betekenis / iets anders)

> Wat voor poëtische technieken gebruikt Gorman in dit gedeelte?

We will not be turned around

or interrupted by intimidation,

because we know our inaction and inertia

will be the inheritance of the next generation.

Our blunders become their burdens.

But one thing is certain,

If we merge mercy with might,

and might with right,

then love becomes our legacy,

and change our children's birthright.

We will not be turned around

or interrupted by intimidation,

because we know our inaction and inertia

will be the inheritance of the next generation.

Our blunders become their burdens.

But one thing is certain,

If we merge mercy with might,

and might with right,

then love becomes our legacy,

and change our children's birthright.

We will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.

We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west.

We will rise from the windswept northeast,

where our forefathers first realized revolution.

We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states.

We will rise from the sunbaked south.

We will rebuild, reconcile and recover.

We've seen a force that would shatter our nation

rather than share it.

Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.

And this effort very nearly succeeded.

But while democracy can be periodically delayed,

it can never be permanently defeated.

What is Gorman referring to here, specifically?

So while once we asked,

how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?

Now we assert,

How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?

What is interesting (linguistically) about this passage?