American Poetry (2020)

Lesson 9
icon/ela/white

ELA

Unit 11

7th Grade

Lesson 9 of 18

Objective


Explain how the author uses repetition to develop the tone in "Life Doesn't Frighten Me."

Readings and Materials


  • Poem: “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou 

  • Poem: “Good Hair” by Sherman Alexie 

Fishtank Plus

Unlock features to optimize your prep time, plan engaging lessons, and monitor student progress.

Target Task


Multiple Choice

What is the speaker's tone in the first three stanzas?

Create a free account or sign in to view multiple choice options

Sample Response

Upgrade to Fishtank Plus to view Sample Response.

Which piece of evidence best shows the speaker’s tone in the first three stanzas?

Create a free account or sign in to view multiple choice options

Sample Response

Upgrade to Fishtank Plus to view Sample Response.

Writing Prompt

How does the repetition of “life doesn’t frighten me at all” affect the tone of the poem?

Key Questions


  • What do lines 14–16 suggest?

    1. The speaker enjoys peek-a-boo games.
    2. The speaker torments and bullies other people.
    3. The speaker can fly because she is confident.
    4. The speaker has a smug smile.
  • Read the description from lines 25–27: "Panthers in the park/Strangers in the dark/No, they don’t frighten me at all." What is the main effect of the description? 

    1. to show the speaker’s eagerness to prove her fearlessness 
    2. to suggest that the speaker is not afraid of large animals 
    3. to contrast panthers with strangers
    4. to depict the speaker’s point of view
  • Reread the lines from the poem, "I can walk the ocean floor/And never have to breathe". This is an example of:

    1. simile
    2. hyperbole
    3. onomatopoeia
    4. rhyme scheme
  • Which line best conveys the speaker’s relationship to others?

    1. Shadows on the wall
    2. Noises down the hall
    3. I go boo make them shoo
    4. Bad dogs barking loud.
  • You read the poem “Good Hair” during the A Raisin in the Sun unit; read it again to examine how the tone is developed.

    • What is the purpose of the repetition? “Hey, Indian boy, why (why!) did you slice off your braids?” 
    • How does the repetition enhance the tone of the poem?
    • How does the repetition help develop the theme of the poem? 

Vocabulary


hyperbole

Notes


If students are stuck on the Target Task, ask them to think about whether or not you believe the poet when she keeps repeating this line in her poem. Does it make her more or less confident sounding?

Common Core Standards


  • RL.7.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.
  • RL.7.5 — Analyze how a drama's or poem's form or structure (e.g., soliloquy, sonnet) contributes to its meaning.

Next

Identify and analyze the use of onomatopoeia in “The Suicide.”

Lesson 10
icon/arrow/right/large

Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

Request a Demo

See all of the features of Fishtank in action and begin the conversation about adoption.

Learn more about Fishtank Learning School Adoption.

Contact Information

School Information

What courses are you interested in?

ELA

Math

Are you interested in onboarding professional learning for your teachers and instructional leaders?

Yes

No

Any other information you would like to provide about your school?

We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students

We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students

We've got you covered with rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free