Poetry Comparison

1. Poetry Comparison L.O. To learn how to make comparisons between poetry.

2. What does it mean to compare? To identify similarities or differences between two or more people, places or things. What are the similarities and differences between a rock star and an opera singer?

3. What are the similarities and differences between a rapper and a poet?

4. What are the similarities and differences between J Cole and Tupac?

5. You will be given lyrics from a J Cole and Tupac song. TSLAP both songs and then make comparisons between the two.

6. Theme: What is the main topic of the song? Are there any additional topics being explored? What ideas are explored about those topics? Are the ideas complex or universal? Yeah, my intuition is telling me there'll be better days I sit in silence and find whenever I meditate My fears alleviate, my tears evaporate My faith don't deviate, ideas don't have a date But see I'm growing and getting stronger with every breath Bringing me closer to Heaven's doors with every step As we speak I'm at peace, no longer scared to die Most n****s don't believe in God and so they terrified It's either that or they be fearing they gon' go to Hell Asking the Father for forgiveness, got 'em overwhelmed As if He's spiteful like them white folks that control the jail See I believe if God is real, He'd never judge a man Because He knows us all and therefore He would understand The ignorance that make a n**** take his brother life The bitterness and pain that got him beating on his wife I know you desperate for a change let the pen glide But the only real change come from inside (Come from inside) But the only real change come from inside (Come from inside) But the only real change come from— In cemeteries or in chains I see men cry But the only real change come from inside… Structure: What ideas are explored in each verse?Is it the same or does it change? Why? Does the song have a rhyme scheme? Why has the artist chosen to use rhyme in this way? Is there repetition of words/phrases/ideas within the song? What effect does this have? Has punctuation or enjambment been used? Effect? Language: What language techniques are used in the song? What particular words or phrase stand out? What imagery is created for the audience? Attitudes: What are the main thoughts and feelings of the speaker? What do you think the artist is trying to highlight about their own attitude to the theme/subject? Personal Response: How do you feel about key themes and ideas in the song? How might your individual experience affect your interpretation of the song?

7. Theme: What is the main topic of the song? Are there any additional topics being explored? What ideas are explored about those topics? Are the ideas complex or universal? I see no changes, all I see is racist faces Misplaced hate makes disgrace to races We under, I wonder what it takes to make this One better place, let's erase the wasted Take the evil out the people, they'll be actin' right ‘Cause both black and white are smokin' crack tonight And the only time we chill is when we kill each other It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other And although it seems heaven-sent We ain't ready to see a black president It ain't a secret, don't conceal the fact The penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks But some things will never change Try to show another way, but you stayin' in the dope game Now tell me, what's a mother to do? Bein' real don't appeal to the brother in you… We gotta make a change It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes Let's change the way we eat Let's change the way we live And let's change the way we treat each other You see the old way wasn't workin' So it's on us to do what we gotta do to survive Structure: What ideas are explored in each verse?Is it the same or does it change? Why? Does the song have a rhyme scheme? Why has the artist chosen to use rhyme in this way? Is there repetition of words/phrases/ideas within the song? What effect does this have? Has punctuation or enjambment been used? Effect? Language: What language techniques are used in the song? What particular words or phrase stand out? What imagery is created for the audience? Attitudes: What are the main thoughts and feelings of the speaker? What do you think the artist is trying to highlight about their own attitude to the theme/subject? Personal Response: How do you feel about key themes and ideas in the song? How might your individual experience affect your interpretation of the song?

8. Differences Differences Similarities

9. Yeah, my intuition is telling me there'll be better days I sit in silence and find whenever I meditate My fears alleviate, my tears evaporate My faith don't deviate, ideas don't have a date But see I'm growing and getting stronger with every breath Bringing me closer to Heaven's doors with every step As we speak I'm at peace, no longer scared to die Most n****s don't believe in God and so they terrified It's either that or they be fearing they gon' go to Hell Asking the Father for forgiveness, got 'em overwhelmed As if He's spiteful like them white folks that control the jail See I believe if God is real, He'd never judge a man Because He knows us all and therefore He would understand The ignorance that make a n**** take his brother life The bitterness and pain that got him beating on his wife I know you desperate for a change let the pen glide But the only real change come from inside (Come from inside) But the only real change come from inside (Come from inside) But the only real change come from— In cemeteries or in chains I see men cry But the only real change come from inside… I see no changes, all I see is racist faces Misplaced hate makes disgrace to races We under, I wonder what it takes to make this One better place, let's erase the wasted Take the evil out the people, they'll be actin' right ‘Cause both black and white are smokin' crack tonight And the only time we chill is when we kill each other It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other And although it seems heaven-sent We ain't ready to see a black president It ain't a secret, don't conceal the fact The penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks But some things will never change Try to show another way, but you stayin' in the dope game Now tell me, what's a mother to do? Bein' real don't appeal to the brother in you… We gotta make a change It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes Let's change the way we eat Let's change the way we live And let's change the way we treat each other You see the old way wasn't workin' So it's on us to do what we gotta do to survive Questions to consider: What do J Cole and Tupac think is fundamental for change to take place? What issues do they feel occurs within their communities that prevent change? How do they feel about the prison system? Why do you think they both mentioned this in their songs? What language or structural devices are used to present their ideas? What effect does this have on the reader?

10. Both songs are titled Change. Compare J Cole and Tupac’s thoughts and feelings about change and how it is needed in order to improve society. J Cole- Change Yeah, my intuition is telling me there'll be better days I sit in silence and find whenever I meditate My fears alleviate, my tears evaporate My faith don't deviate, ideas don't have a date But see I'm growing and getting stronger with every breath Bringing me closer to Heaven's doors with every step As we speak I'm at peace, no longer scared to die Most n****s don't believe in God and so they terrified It's either that or they be fearing they gon' go to Hell Asking the Father for forgiveness, got 'em overwhelmed As if He's spiteful like them white folks that control the jail See I believe if God is real, He'd never judge a man Because He knows us all and therefore He would understand The ignorance that make a n**** take his brother life The bitterness and pain that got him beating on his wife I know you desperate for a change let the pen glide But the only real change come from inside (Come from inside) But the only real change come from inside (Come from inside) But the only real change come from— In cemeteries or in chains I see men cry But the only real change come from inside… Tupac- Changes I see no changes, all I see is racist faces Misplaced hate makes disgrace to races We under, I wonder what it takes to make this One better place, let's erase the wasted Take the evil out the people, they'll be actin' right ‘Cause both black and white are smokin' crack tonight And the only time we chill is when we kill each other It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other And although it seems heaven-sent We ain't ready to see a black president It ain't a secret, don't conceal the fact The penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks But some things will never change Try to show another way, but you stayin' in the dope game Now tell me, what's a mother to do? Bein' real don't appeal to the brother in you… We gotta make a change It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes Let's change the way we eat Let's change the way we live And let's change the way we treat each other You see the old way wasn't workin' So it's on us to do what we gotta do to survive Sentence Starters: Both J Cole and Tupac…however… The artists use similar/contrasting methods to… This is evident when… This makes the audience feel/think/question… Both had similar/con • Alternatively… • In contrast… • On the contrary… • On the other hand Similarly… In comparison… Likewise… In the same way…

11. Use discourse markers to show comparison Highlight similarities or differences Compare techniques (language/structure/ theme) Comparison Both writers use… to… • Discourse Markers: • Alternatively… • In contrast… • On the contrary… • On the other hand… Similarly… In comparison… Likewise… In the same way… The writers use contrasting methods to…