Climbing Change

​Climbing Change: The Power of Poetry and Persuasion

By Maria Ellenberger

​Squirrel Appreciation Day

• Poets use complex ideas, imagery, rhythm, and strong word choices to challenge injustice.

• The blend of artistic expression and calls for change can empower people to take action and stay resilient

• Amanda Gorman gained national recognition when she performed at the 2021 presidential inauguration.

• At age 22, she became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history

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Empowering Poetry

Multiple Choice

How did Amanda Gorman's personal challenges influence her journey as a poet?

• Her speech impediment inspired her to strengthen her skills, using poetry for self‑expression and empowerment.

• Struggling with dyslexia led her to rely more on visual storytelling than on writing poetry.

• Early confidence challenges pushed her toward public speaking, helping her develop a strong and inspiring voice.

• Growing up with limited access to books caused her to turn away from literature and pursue a different path.

• The main message about life or human nature in a piece of writing. 

• A single text can have multiple themes that reveal deeper meaning. 

• Themes can be stated directly or implied through elements like metaphors, allusions, and word choice. 

• Common themes explore universal truths, emotions, and both social and personal issues. 

Theme

Weak Theme Attempts

• Friendship. (Just a topic, not a message.)

• The theme is that the character goes to school and learns stuff. (Too plot‑based; not a universal message.)

• Don’t be bad. (Overly vague and not meaningful.)

• Families can be complicated because this family fights a lot. (Too specific to the story; not universal.)

• The message is to do your homework. (Not a deep message about life or human nature.)

• COVID crisis (U.S. officially surpasses 20 million cases)

• Kamala Harris becomes first Black, first Asian, and first female vice president

• President Biden's Inauguration (COVID restrictions)

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​2021 Context

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a possible theme of Gorman's poem?

• Hope, unity, and love are powerful forces that allow a nation to rise above its divisions.

• A nation can only find unity when everyone ignores their differences and pretends problems don’t exis

• Unity can be achieved only when everyone agrees on the same political beliefs

• Hope is unrealistic in the face of national hardship.

Open Ended

In your own words, what does Gorman say about what the U.S. is like and her vision for its future?

And yes, we are far from polished. / Far from pristine. / But that doesn’t mean we are
striving to form a union that is perfect. / We are striving to forge our union with purpose, / to compose a country committed to all cultures, / colors, characters and conditions of man.

• makes a direct comparison by stating that one thing (usually abstract) is another (usually concrete)

• does not use any special words to compare

• “We’ve braved the belly of the beast.”
  Hardship or crisis compared to being inside a beast.

​Metaphor

Open Ended

Explain what Gorman means in ONE of these metaphors:

"The loss we carry, a sea we must wade."
OR
"We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace."

History in the Poem

• We, the successors of a country and a time / where a skinny Black girl
  descended from slaves and raised by a single mother/ can dream of becoming president, / only to find herself reciting for one.

• Because being American is more than a pride we inherit; / it’s the past we step into and how we repair it.

• For while we have our eyes on the future, / history has its eyes on us.

We will not be turned around
or interrupted by intimidation,
because we know our inaction and inertia
will be the inheritance of the next generation.


All of these "I" words is an example of what?

Word Choice

• Sentences or phrases run over the line break without a pause or terminal punctuation (period, question mark)

• Emphasizes words & can build tension

• "Somehow, we’ve weathered
  and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken"

• "When day comes, we step out of the shade
  aflame and unafraid."

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​Enjambment

Open Ended

In one sentence, summarize the main message of Gorman's poem.