I use this assignment to start the plunge into Shakespeare's, Midsummer Nights Dream. This activity of writing a sonnet with an analysis, helps the student understand Shakespeare's rhythms, sentence structure and use of rhymes in his work. Writing sonnets and using multimedia to communicate the essence or message of the sonnet, made it a more engaging project and a successful project for most of my students. Success was calculated by evaluating the quality of the sonnets, the depth of the accompanying analysis and the creativity of the multimedia as an extension of this assignment.
Acacia Appeal
An acacia stands above the vast plains
A barren craton filled with golden grass
Leaves flourish as water flows through their veins
Minute in the Savanna biomass
The umbrella is fortified by spines
Encircled by dry leaves, burnt by the sun
Hiding the oasis shrouded by vines
A giraffe wanders, and the search has begun
Stumbling upon this tedious test
He avoids the thorns and consumes dried leaves
A second giraffe draws near, seeking the best
Dazed by the barrier that keeps out thieves
Hunger drives this tetrapod through blockades
And finds what is coveted in the shades
Calder/Kelcie * We open up our sonnet with an acacia tree. . . .. Paper continues under Comments
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Acacia Appeal Analysis
We open up our sonnet with an Acacia tree, in the vast golden grass plains of Africa. "Minute in the savanna biomass" signifies how small the acacia is in comparison to the world. However, this "small" tree is significant as it provides life for all its kind, just as women provide new life as well. Though women are so small compared to the world, life could not go on without them.
The second stanza describes the tree in further detail, going into a specific species, the umbrella acacia. "The umbrella is fortified by spines, hiding the oasis shrouded by vines." As one gets higher up, the branches accumulate with thorns, which is where the rich leaves thrive. Each leaf represents a different girl, and this tree, as a whole, represents the female kind. All the leaves together form an umbrella of shade in the dry hot plains, protecting and shielding creatures from the blistering sun. It provides comfort, just as women provide protection and comfort. However the burnt leaves toward the lower edge do not block the sun entirely, often flaking off and unreliable. The wise choice is to search for the shaded leaf, in other words the girl who you will trust.
The dried up leaves burnt by the sun represent women that are "easily obtainable", as they are closer to the ground, so not as much effort is needed to obtain them. There is no challenge. These women don't have enriching or praised qualities. "Encircled by dry leaves, burnt by the sun, hiding the oasis shrouded by vines". Meaning that the more worthy girls are surrounded, or hidden by the many other distracting girls who too easily offer themselves. These girls however, lay higher up in the acacia surrounded by thorns that pose as obstacles that man must go through to get the more desirable girl. We use the word "oasis" because in the hot plains an oasis is what's coveted, just as mankind covets a true partner. "A giraffe wonders, and the search has begun", with the giraffe representing the male race looking for love and the perpetuation of its kind.
With our line "Stumbling upon this tedious test" we wanted the reader to envision man literally floundering in the process of learning about love. It's a test of ones will power. Either reaching for the highly desirable leaves on top, that's harder to find and energy consuming, or just sticking to the easily obtainable, dry, unappetizing leaves hanging low. This giraffe, like many men, will fail this test, and opt for the easily obtainable girls. Nevertheless, there are some good men, who look for the best when faced with this tedious test.
The last stanza "Hunger drives this tetrapod through blockades, and finds what is coveted in the shades" depicts how the few men when confronted with this challenge, forth the energy to get the worthy girls. These great men, who know what they want and determined, will challenge the tree, shoving through the burnt leaves, dodging thorns, and pushing through the vines which obscure the path, to find the so desired mouth-watering forest green leaf, the perfect girl.
In our sonnet, "Acacia Appeal" we also wanted the readers to come to some realization of what kind of partner they are as this relates to everyone. For girls to question themselves, are they truly a lush green leaf worth the challenge. And for boys, if they are the one who can keep their eyes on the prize, and is willing to use their extra energy to push through obstacles until obtaining the perfect girl; or if they take the easy route and pick the girls who pose no challenge.
Although some of us may not like to think of what kind of leaf or giraffe we are, at some time we have to face reality. So when reflecting on who we are, we may realize the flaws, then change for a better self.
* All images are original. Appleworks and Power point was used to create this project. Our song was bought on itunes. Calder/Kelcie
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