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William Ernest Henley

1849–1903

Born in Gloucester, England, poet, editor, and critic William Ernest Henley was educated at Crypt Grammar School, where he studied with the poet T.E. Brown, and the University of St. Andrews. At age 12 Henley was diagnosed with tubercular arthritis that necessitated the amputation of one of his legs just below the knee; the other foot was saved only through a radical surgery performed by Joseph Lister. As he healed in the infirmary, Henley began to write poems, including "Invictus." Henley was a close friend of Robert Louis Stevenson, who reportedly based his Long John Silver character in Treasure Island in part on Henley.

Poems

Invictus

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Dream Deferred -- or "Harlem" by Langston Hughes

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Dream Deferred -- or "Harlem" by Langston Hughes

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What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--
And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

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THE DESTINIES OF TWO MEN WHO SHARE ONE NAME

Melissa Block and Michele Norris

2010

In this informational text, the topics of destiny and fate are explored when two men with similar backgrounds and the same name find themselves to be in two very different places in life. Pair “The Destinies of Two Men Who Share One Name” with “Knock Knock” and ask students to discuss what is influential when shaping one’s identity. What roles do families play in shaping identity in these two texts?

9th-10thPoem THE BLACK MAN'S BURDEN

Reverend H.T. Johnson

1899

Reverend H.T. Johnson wrote this poem in response to Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden.” Pair “The Black Man’s Burden” with “Knock Knock” and ask students to discuss how poetry is used to shed light on prejudice. Why is poetry a powerful tool to inform people on prejudice, as well as empower those who encounter it?

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KNOCK KNOCK

by Daniel Beaty  2013

The following resources include videos, audio clips, and other multimedia that provide context or dimension for this text.

KNOCK KNOCK

2:52

In this video, Daniel Beaty performs his poem “Knock Knock.” Ask students to pay attention to Beaty’s tone and the words he emphasizes. What are the effects of his performance choices?

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Karen Thompson Walker

What fear can teach us
Fear and Imagination -- novelists? story behind Moby Dick

11:30

Now playing

Imagine you're a shipwrecked sailor adrift in the enormous Pacific. You can choose one of three directions and save yourself and your shipmates — but each choice comes with a fearful consequence too. How do you choose? In telling the story of the whaleship Essex, novelist Karen Thompson Walker shows how fear propels imagination, as it forces us to imagine the possible futures and how to cope with them.

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Booktalk Assignment - The Outsiders By S.E. Hinton - YouTube

▶ 2:10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhGaNJkw228

Feb 25, 2013

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The Outsiders Themes                                                                                    Society and Class. Much of the action in The Outsiders is driven by class conflict.....                                                                                                        Loyalty. Loyalty is a point of pride, honor, and principle for Ponyboy Curtis, star player in The Outsiders....                                                                              ...Love. ...Violence. ...Isolation. ...Appearances. ...Education. ...Choices.

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The Outsiders Themes                                                                                    Society and Class. Much of the action in The Outsiders is driven by class conflict.....                                                                                                        Loyalty. Loyalty is a point of pride, honor, and principle for Ponyboy Curtis, star player in The Outsiders....                                                                              ...Love. ...Violence. ...Isolation. ...Appearances. ...Education. ...Choices.

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Texts:

THE STOLEN PARTY

by Liliana Heker  1982 -- short story -- (easy reading level /complex )

https://www.commonlit.org/texts/the-stolen-party

THE SONG OF THE SHIRT

by Thomas Hood  1843 -- poetry (higher level reading)

https://www.commonlit.org/texts/the-song-of-the-shirt

Other paired texts suggested in commonlit.org:
https://www.commonlit.org/texts/the-song-of-the-shirt/paired-texts

TED TALK 1: (mid level)
Paul Piff: Does money make you mean?
It's amazing what a rigged game of Monopoly can reveal. In this entertaining but sobering talk, social psychologist Paul Piff shares his research into how people behave when they feel wealthy. (Hint: badly.) But while the problem of inequality is a complex and daunting challenge, there's good news too.

http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_piff_does_money_make_you_mean

TED Talk 2 (higher level)
Richard Wilkinson: How economic inequality harms societies
Interactive Transcript:  http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_wilkinson/transcript?language=en