4A1 - The Hill We Climb (self-study)

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

A

In this assignment, you will continue studying Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem 'The Hill We Climb'. You will watch and listen to a part of her recitation, and then answer some questions about it. 

The Hill We Climb - part one

Listen to the first part of the poem on the next slide, and read along. Afterwards, you will get some questions about it. 

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.

RECAP

This passage contains the poetic devices repetition (bold) and alliteration (underlined).

In Part One of the poem, can you find other examples of repetition and alliteration?

(Answer in the next slide)

What examples of repetition and alliteration can you find in Part Three of the poem?

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? What is Gorman saying here? Summarize this in your own words.

(Answer in the next slide)

What Gorman is trying to say in this part of the poem is ...

The Hill We Climb - part three

Listen to the third part of the poem on the next slide, and read along. Afterwards, you will get some questions about it. 

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)

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.

Read these excerpts. What is Gorman saying in this part of the poem? What themes is she discussing? 

(Answer in the next slide)

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.

What is Gorman saying in this part of the poem? What themes is she discussing?

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?

What events is Gorman referring to in the passage about democracy? Explain in your own words, and be specific.

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?

What is interesting (language-wise) about this passage is ..

The Hill We Climb - part two

Listen to the second part of the poem on the next slide, and read along. Afterwards, you will get some questions about it. 

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)

Other examples of repetition and alliteration in Part One of the poem.

What are, in your opinion, the two best lines of the poem?