Poetry and LyricsPoetry and Lyrics

Using Billy Joel to Teach Using Billy Joel to Teach PoetryPoetry

POETRY!!!POETRY!!!

MUSICMUSIC

&&

LYRICSLYRICS

Poetry: What Makes It Poetry: What Makes It Different?Different?

The poet chooses each word for a The poet chooses each word for a reason. Each word has a purpose reason. Each word has a purpose and meaning.and meaning.

BEAUTIFUL or GORGEUOUS?BEAUTIFUL or GORGEUOUS?

PROUD or ARROGANT?PROUD or ARROGANT?

Poetry: What Makes it Poetry: What Makes it Great?Great?

Poetry connects to the reader and allows Poetry connects to the reader and allows for diverse interpretation.for diverse interpretation.

What does it mean to you?What does it mean to you?

How can you relate to the poem?How can you relate to the poem?

Make connectionsMake connections

Make it your own!Make it your own!

Why Billy Joel?Why Billy Joel?

The lyrics of Billy Joel’s songs often The lyrics of Billy Joel’s songs often hold symbolism or tell a story.hold symbolism or tell a story.

The lyrics are relatively easy to The lyrics are relatively easy to interpret.interpret.

The lyrics are fun to illustrate.The lyrics are fun to illustrate.

GUESS THE SONGGUESS THE SONG

““We Didn’t Start the Fire”We Didn’t Start the Fire”

List PoemList Poem

Filled with historical events studied in Filled with historical events studied in other classes.other classes.

Related to current events (students are Related to current events (students are able to update)able to update)

Catchy rhythmCatchy rhythm

Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnny Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnny Ray, South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe Ray, South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio, Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, DiMaggio, Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, Television, North Korea, South Studebaker, Television, North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe, Rosenberg's, H-Korea, Marilyn Monroe, Rosenberg's, H-bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom, Brando, bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom, Brando, The King and I, And The Catcher In The The King and I, And The Catcher In The Rye, Eisenhower, Vaccine, England's got a Rye, Eisenhower, Vaccine, England's got a new queen, Marciano, Liberace, Santayana new queen, Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbyegoodbye

Exercise OptionsExercise Options Choose five topics to research and write Choose five topics to research and write

about. Why are they mentioned in the about. Why are they mentioned in the song? What is their historical importance?song? What is their historical importance?

Create a poster-collage based on the people, Create a poster-collage based on the people, places, and events listed in the song. places, and events listed in the song. Arrange chronologically, by importance, or Arrange chronologically, by importance, or in categories (politics, entertainment, war, in categories (politics, entertainment, war, etc.)etc.)

Write your own verse based on the last Write your own verse based on the last thirteen years. Include at least twenty thirteen years. Include at least twenty items. These can be people, places, or items. These can be people, places, or events.events.

GUESS THE SONGGUESS THE SONG

““Only the Good Die Young”Only the Good Die Young”

Loaded with SymbolismLoaded with Symbolism

Presents an Argument to DebatePresents an Argument to Debate

Deals with StereotypesDeals with Stereotypes

Come out Come out VirginiaVirginia, don't let me wait, don't let me wait

You Catholic girls start You Catholic girls start much too latemuch too late

But sooner or later it comes down to But sooner or later it comes down to fatefate

I might as well be the oneI might as well be the one

They showed you a They showed you a statuestatue and told you to and told you to praypray

They built you a They built you a templetemple and and locked you locked you awayaway

But they never told you the But they never told you the price that you price that you paypay

For things that you might have done.....For things that you might have done.....

Only the good die youngOnly the good die young

Exercise OptionsExercise Options

Write about the symbolism in the poem. Write about the symbolism in the poem. What do specific words mean? Why did he What do specific words mean? Why did he choose these words?choose these words?

Write your own persuasive poem arguing Write your own persuasive poem arguing one side of an argument. (Partner Project: one side of an argument. (Partner Project: Each partner argues a side)Each partner argues a side)

Write a poem that uses heavy symbolism Write a poem that uses heavy symbolism along with a explanation essay on what along with a explanation essay on what the poem means and why you chose the poem means and why you chose specific words.specific words.

GUESS THE SONGGUESS THE SONG

No idea? Let’s try this…No idea? Let’s try this…

““It’s Still Rock-n-Roll to Me”It’s Still Rock-n-Roll to Me”

Deals with peer pressureDeals with peer pressure

Ties in fashion and pop-cultureTies in fashion and pop-culture

Deals with perception: what makes Deals with perception: what makes something “cool”?something “cool”?

What's the matter with the clothes I'm What's the matter with the clothes I'm wearing?wearing?

"Can't you tell that your tie's too wide?""Can't you tell that your tie's too wide?"

Maybe I should buy some old tab collars?Maybe I should buy some old tab collars?

"Welcome back to the age of jive."Welcome back to the age of jive.

Where have you been hidin' out lately, Where have you been hidin' out lately, honey?honey?

You can't dress trashy till you spend a lot of You can't dress trashy till you spend a lot of money."money."

Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new soundEverybody's talkin' 'bout the new sound

Funny, but it's still rock and roll to meFunny, but it's still rock and roll to me

Exercise OptionsExercise Options

Write a similar poem using more Write a similar poem using more modern fashion trends.modern fashion trends.

Write an essay on how the poem Write an essay on how the poem deals with peer-pressure. deals with peer-pressure.

Create a poster-collage based on two Create a poster-collage based on two categories: “cool” and “uncool”categories: “cool” and “uncool”

Other Billy Joel Songs to UseOther Billy Joel Songs to Use

““Piano Man”Piano Man” ““The Entertainer”The Entertainer” ““Captain Jack” (mature students Captain Jack” (mature students

only)only) ““The Longest Time”The Longest Time” ““River of Dreams”River of Dreams” ““Uptown Girl”Uptown Girl”