Using Music to Understand Themes

September 30, 2014

E.Q: How do we learn from identifying themes?

Obj: I can identify multiple literary devices.

Starter:

Listen to One Day by Matisyahu

Video

Lyrics:

Sometimes I lay
Under the moon
And thank God I'm breathing
Then I pray
Don't take me soon
'Cause I am here for a reason
Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around because...
All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play
One day [x6]
It's not about
Win or lose
Because we all lose
When they feed on the souls of the innocent
Blood-drenched pavement
Keep on moving though the waters stay raging
In this maze you can lose your way (your way)
It might drive you crazy but don't let it faze you no way (no way)
Sometimes in my tears I drown (I drown)
But I never let it get me down (get me down)
So when negativity surrounds (surrounds)
I know some day it'll all turn around because...
All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play
One day [x6]
One day this all will change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence
Down with the hate
One day we'll all be free
And proud to be
Under the same sun
Singing songs of freedom like
One day [x2]
All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play
One day [x6]

Identify a theme in the song.

Vocabulary:

Simile:A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things. Unlike a metaphor, a simile draws resemblance with the help of the words “like” or “as”. Therefore, it is a direct comparison.

 Example: Her cheeks are red like a rose

Metaphor:a figure of speech which makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things or objects that are poles apart from each other but have some characteristics common between them.

Example: My brother was boiling mad 

Voices

Cheerful

Angry

Bored

1.  Modeling

Together we will identify similes, metaphors, and themes in the song from the starter.

2.  Analyze your song.

• You must paraphrase each verse/chorus.

• Identify any similes and metaphors.

• Elaborate on what that figure of speech means.

 Based on your analysis, identify a theme.

Explain your reasoning.

3.  Mini-Project Proposal

You will create one large overarching simile or metaphor to represent the theme of the book you are reading.

Each component of simile/metaphor must be explained in detail.

Once you have your simile/metaphor you will create a representation of this idea.

Your representation may be in the form of the following:
 

Poster

Poem

Collage

Song

Etc.

Each figure of speech must have an explanation.  

In your notebook explain your large overarching simile and medium you will use.

EXAMPLE:

Fear is like fire.

The wood is the mental part of the fear. It is where it is born.

The match is what the person is afraid of. It sparks the fear.

The fire is the reaction.  Do you run or face it?

Closure:

Did you like using your song to understand figures of speech?

Why or why not.