sideshow

Writing Workshop

Workshop Title: Overshadowed

Step 1

Have the students brainstorm a list of issues that they feel are often overlooked or overshadowed in our society. Then discuss.

Step 2

Read Danez Smith’s “sideshow.” Then discuss the poem with your students, focusing on the larger idea Smith is trying to present.

Step 3

The poem utilizes an extended metaphor, a metaphor that is developed in great detail, sometimes encompassing an entire work. Discuss the metaphor in this poem and what they use the metaphor to make a comparison to.

Step 4

Tell the students that they are going to be writing a poem in the same manner as “sideshow,” by incorporating a metaphor – that is sustained throughout the piece – to bring attention to an important issue that is overlooked.

Step 5

Give the students time to write their poem. Then, when they are done, have them share their responses with one another.

The full presentation may be found HERE.

Analytical Lesson

Area of Focus: Figurative Language

Step 1

Go over the introductory lesson if your students are not familiar with the concept of “figurative language.” The introductory overview focuses on the general concept of figurative language, so if you’re looking for a more focused explanation on the specific term they’ll be focusing on in this lesson, an extended metaphor, you may click on the following link.

Step 2

Start by showing your students the following video. *Content warning: Discussion of Self-Harm.

Step 3

Read the poem “sideshow” by Danez Smith with the class, paying particular attention to Smith’s larger message they wish to convey and the metaphor they use to arrive at that message.

Step 4

As a group, discuss the purpose of the poem. Then have them discuss the extended metaphor in the poem and how the general concept of a “sideshow” is effective in illustrating Smith’s message.

Step 5

Have the students pair up and discuss how the specific components of the metaphorical play contribute to Smith’s complex perspective. The assignment may be completed in the following document.

Step 6

When done, discuss their analysis as a group and share the exemplar student essay to compare their responses.