TED Talks
TED: A meditation on Rumi and the power of poetry | Leili Anvar
In an ode to the Persian language, author Leili Anvar unfurls the work of 13th-century mystic poet Rumi and reflects on how poetry gives meaning to our lives.
TED Talks
TED: The power of unconventional thinking | David McWilliams
From World War I to the 2008 economic collapse and beyond, history shows that economists don't always see the future as clearly as they think they do, says economist David McWilliams. Using the words of W.B. Yeats, McWilliams makes the...
PBS
Why This Poet Says There Is No 'Single Story Spun On A Single Tongue'
Erica Dawson, a professor and writer, said she was surprised while on book tour recently to be faced with the same question over and over again, about speaking for "the black experience." Black poets never went away. We don't only...
PBS
Stuck behind bars, a writer found a way to connect to the world
Reginald Dwayne Betts grew up an honor student with hopes for college, but went to prison at 16 for carjacking, his first run-in with the law. Reading, and poetry in particular, became a comfort and gave him a new identity. The writer,...
PBS
Why this poet says there is no single story spun on a single tongue
Erica Dawson, a professor and writer, said she was surprised while on book tour recently to be faced with the same question over and over again, about speaking for “the black experience.” Black poets never went away. We don’t only...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: Why Shakespeare loved iambic pentameter - David T. Freeman and Gregory Taylor
Shakespeare sometimes gets a bad rap in high schools for his complex plots and antiquated language. But a quick peek into the rhythm of his words reveals a poet deeply rooted in the way people spoke in his time - and still speak today....
TED Talks
Natalie Merchant: Singing old poems to life
Natalie Merchant sings from her poetry-inspired album "Leave Your Sleep," which pairs lyrics from poets -- from Gerard Manley Hopkins to a near-forgotten 10-year-old girl in Brooklyn -- with simple melodies and her unmistakable voice....
TED Talks
TED: If I should have a daughter ... | Sarah Kay
If I should have a daughter, instead of Mom, she's gonna call me Point B ... began spoken word poet Sarah Kay, in a talk that inspired two standing ovations at TED2011. She tells the story of her metamorphosis -- from a wide-eyed...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: What makes a poem a poem? - Melissa Kovacs
What exactly makes a poem - a poem? Poets themselves have struggled with this question, often using metaphors to approximate a definition. Is a poem a little machine? A firework? An echo? A dream? Melissa Kovacs shares three recognizable...
Curated Video
Acquiring Vocabulary
This video, entitled "Acquiring Vocabulary," shows how to examine vocabulary words in poetry for better comprehension.
Curated Video
Sound Elements
This video, entitled "Sound Elements," explains various sound devices used in poetry.
Curated Video
How to TPCasTT a Poem
Howcast - Don't sell yourself short by thinking that a poem is beyond you. The poet had a message, so use the acronym for "Title, Paraphrase, Connotation, Attitude, Shifts, Title, and Theme" to guide you as you figure it out.
Curated Video
How to Write a Poem in Iambic Pentameter
The most common meter in poetry, iambic pentameter is famously associated with William Shakespeare. Here's how you can rhyme like a modern-day bard.
Curated Video
Edinburgh – Scotland’s Historic Capital
Edinburgh Castle, perched atop an extinct volcano in the old town, is Scotland's most visited castle and a historic stronghold dating back to the 7th century. The Royal Mile connects the fortress to the Palace of Holyrood House, passing...
Curated Video
Golden Age of Islam & Houses of Wisdom
Travel back to the Golden Age of Islam, a time when science, math, medicine, and art were thriving. This video introduces the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, where scholars from many cultures came together to learn, translate, and make new...
Advocate of Wordz
National Poetry Month
We discuss the who, what, where, when, why & how, for National Poetry Month #NaPoMo. Plus, who hates this month and why? As well as a mention to the international community.
Wonderscape
The Power of Line in Poetry
The final essential element of poetry is line, which structures a poem’s verses and stanzas. Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise demonstrates the power of line through rhyme schemes, rhetorical questions, and similes, all of which enhance the...
Wonderscape
The Art of Poetry: Expression, Rhythm, and Impact
Poetry is the art of expression through words, evoking emotions and imagination. It follows specific elements—imagery, rhythm, density, sound, and line—that shape its form and impact. This program explores the essence of poetry, its...
Great Big Story
Baku's battle of words, inside the world of meykhana poetry
Step into the spirited world of Meykhana, Azerbaijan’s improvisational poetry duel, where poets like Mehman showcase their verbal prowess in Baku’s underground scene.
Curated Video
Golden Age of Islam & Houses of Wisdom for Kids | Bedtime History
Join us as we explore the Golden Age of Islam, a period of remarkable cultural, scientific, and intellectual achievement from the 8th to the 14th century. During this time, the Islamic world became a hub for knowledge, innovation, and...
Brainwaves Video Anthology
Stephanie Burt - Taylor Swift and Her World
Stephanie Burt is a literary critic and poet at Harvard University. She is teaching a new course titled "Taylor Swift and Her World," which explores the literary art of songwriting through the lens of Taylor Swift's extensive and...
Curated Video
Romantic Movement
This video discusses the influences and philosophies of the American Romantic movement, using examples from poetry of the time.
Curated Video
Creating Meaning: Structure and Sound
This video will help students understand how poetry is organized and how the sound adds to the overall meaning of the written work.
Curated Video
Word Choice: Creating Meaning with Mood and Tone
This video will help students understand and recognize the critical role and difference between mood and tone in word choice in poetry.