17 Kinds of Hungry

Writing Workshop

Workshop Title: Hunger

Step 1

Ask your students, “What’s a memory from your childhood that you remember fondly? Where was this? What do you remember of the setting?” Briefly discuss.

Step 2

Read “17 Kinds of Hungry” by Adrian Matejka. When you’re done, discuss the “silver lining” the speaker finds in their environment. What elements of their environment were the speaker able to find comfort in, despite its obvious “imperfections”?

Step 3

Say, “Choose a time in your life (or a single moment) that you cherish, despite its “imperfections.” Jot down as many sensory details as possible to describe this place and time.” Then give your students a few minutes to brainstorm.

Step 4

Ask your students to compose a poem similar in sentiment to “17 Kinds of Hungry” in which they fondly reminisce about a specific time or place from their past.

Step 5

When the students are done, have them share their responses with one another.

The full presentation may be found HERE.

Analytical Lesson

Area of Focus: Various

Step 1

This lesson allows students to analyze various concepts and skills, so it is recommended that you have covered several of the “standalone” lessons before assigning this one.

Step 2

Start by reading the following poem, “At Last We Killed The
Roaches” by Lucille Clifton, to your students. As you are reading,
ask them to pay particular attention to the setting of the piece.

Step 3

Ask your students to describe the setting, as depicted in the poem. What assumptions can they make about the financial state of the speaker and their family based on the setting of the piece? Briefly discuss.

Step 4

Ask your students if this is a poem just about hardship or
destitution? What is it ultimately about?

Step 5

Now read “17 Kinds of Hungry” by Adrian Matejka. As you are
reading, ask your students to pay particular attention to the speaker and how their set of circumstances mirror those of the speaker of Clifton’s piece.

Step 6

Briefly discuss the piece. How do the two poems use the setting to convey the emotions and memories of its speakers and characters?

Step 7

Ask your students to open the following document and go over the introduction and directions with them. In this assignment, your students are going to identify specific elements of the setting and how they reveal the complex memories of the speaker. Once you’ve gone over the directions, give your students time to work.

Step 8

When your students are done, read through the poem and have your students raise their hands and “interrupt you when you’ve read over an element of the setting they’ve discussed. Have them share their insights.