Pupils read a short biography of Walt Whitman and a portion of Whitman's epic poem "Song of Myself." Readers then respond to a series of comprehension questions.

Concepts

american literature, walt whitman, romanticism, realism, free verse, epic poetry, reading comprehension

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• If using the worksheet for guided practice, model how to use sentence context to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words like loafe and abeyance
• Include in the study of Whitman and poems from Leaves of Grass
• Have class members craft their own "Song of Myself"

Classroom Considerations

• Print a test copy of the worksheet in black and white to check for legibility
• Scholars should be familiar with the characteristics of American romanticism and realism

Pros

• Also includes discussion questions for pairs or small groups

Cons

• No answer key included

Common Core

RL.9-10.1 RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.4 RL.9-10.5 RL.11-12.1 RL.11-12.2 RL.11-12.4 RL.11-12.5