31 pages • 1 hour read
Linda PastanTo a Daughter Leaving Home
Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1998A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Activities
1. Imagine that you are a son or daughter about to leave home for the first time. Think of a special memory you have of a parent and describe it in a free verse “letter” to them. What memory or feelings would you share with them? Utilize figurative language and sound devices that enhance your theme. When finished, share your poem with a partner. Using Loom, iMovie, or Animoto, film a slam poetry presentation of your poem. For examples of slam poetry, check out poet Taylor Mali, or poets from Def Poetry, all on YouTube.* Share your video with the class.
* Note to teachers: Preview student selections of slam poetry for appropriateness.
2. Pastan uses the extended metaphor of bicycle riding in “To a Daughter Leaving Home.” Think of a metaphor that could describe your life experience. A mountain? A garden? A battle? A window? A journey? Write a micropoem about your life using your metaphor. For a micropoem, you may only use 280 characters—the character limit on Twitter. You will need to be thoughtful about word choice in this short poem: Every word counts. When finished, tweet your poem to the class Twitter account, or share on Google Drive.
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