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Consider inviting students to write their own occasional poems, or compare and contrast Gorman’s poem with other inaugural poems through history. Then, use the examples of poetic devices below to guide a discussion about how Gorman uses poetic devices to engage her audience and develop themes in her work. Start your lesson by watching Gorman perform her poem. Teaching Poetic Devices Using Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb” This puts additional pressure on the aural elements-rhyme, consonance, assonance, repetition, anaphora-that can separate poetry from other forms of literature. Inaugural poems are also unique in that, unlike a poem that is printed in a magazine, collection, or anthology, they are a predominantly auditory experience. With elements such as speaker, audience, tone, and theme made so concrete and socially relevant, students are better able to analyze how poetic devices within the poem create engagement and meaning. As an occasional poem, the work was written and recited to honor a specific event, the swearing in of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as president and vice president of the United States. Studying “The Hill We Climb” offers students a unique opportunity to access poetry. The youngest inaugural poet in United States history, Gorman wanted her poem “The Hill We Climb” to “envision a way in which our country can still come together and can still heal” without “erasing or neglecting the harsh truths . . . America needs to reconcile with.” On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman faced a unique challenge.
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