|
||||||||||||||||
Patriotic Contributions from New Jersey People
Not only is poetry an important part of your English class but in your History class as well. Much can be discovered about the people and the places of a particular period just by looking at the historical context clues within a given poem. Your mission is to read the poem written for the Irick Infantry, a regiment from New Jersey and to answer the questions that follow. Finally, you will draw some conclusions about the author and the time period by creating your own historical fiction.
You can choose from the following methods to create your historical fiction piece. Click on the link for more details:
MOVIES Write a scene for a movie based on the poem. As the producer you have a "creative license" which allows you to add as many twists, controversies, trauma, and excitement as you believe will captivate the largest number of viewers. Use dialogue as well as stage direction in your piece of creative writing.
SHORT STORIES You have been contracted to make Leah Blackman' s poem come alive through your renowned writing abilities. By using your acquired knowledge of Women in the Civil War to "paint" the historically accurate background. In addition to written information, use your critical eye to look at some pictures of the women in action during the Civil War Era.
ILLUSTRATION AND DESIGN Many poems have been illustrated in children's books. Using the verses of the poems as your test (the written part of the book), create an illustrated children's book for the poem.
MUSIC Set the poetry to music. As many musicians have done for their music, you will use poetry as your lyrics for a song. You will need to create a melody for the verses of this poem and then perform it for your class. Traditional and/or creative musical instruments can be used.
TIME CHANGE This poem was written early in the war in June of 1861.How would it have been different if it was written in June of 1865 as opposed to when it was really written in June of 1861.
OPPOSITION Write a reply from the opposing point of view. This poem indeed has a DISTINCT PERSPECTIVE. Your job is to rewrite the poem from the opposite perspective in support of the Confederate Army.
MEET MISS REBECCA PEERS Leah Blackman was not, of course the only woman who contributed her poetry to the war effort. There were many others. Yet as we focus on the women of New Jersey, we meet Ms. Rebecca Peers whose poetry was published as a songsheet in Camden, New Jersey.
In additon to your answers to the questions, you will be responsible for providing the verses from the poem that support your reply.
The following poem was most likely circulated throughout the Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey area via a songsheet. The songsheet was later uncovered in New Brunswick, New Jersey in the Special Collections Archives at Rutgers University. Further research on the whereabouts of the author of the poem as well as the reasons this author would write this poem included phone calls to the Library Company of Philadelphia and a trip to Tuckerton, New Jersey.
Courtesy of Library Company of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
An Address, By the Ladies of Little Eggharbor,
To the Irick Infantry, of Little Eggharbor
After you have read and reflected on the poem answer the following questions.
1. During which era in American History was this poem written? Which verses in the poem indicate this?
2. Where was this poem written? Which verses in the poem indicate this?
3. Who wrote this poem? Was this person male or female? Adult or child? Rich or poor? To which verses within the poem did you refer to to get your answer?
3a. Meet the author of this poem! Compare your answers before meeting the author to your answers after meeing the author. If you are ready, click here.
4. What kind of opinions did the author hold about the event described in the poem? Did the author feel strongly about the cause? Which verses in the poem indicate this?
5. How does the author feel about the soldiers? Which verses in the poem indicate this?
6. Were these soldiers well trained in the military? How can you tell?
7. What were the peoples' opinions of the soldiers as described in the poem? Which verses in the poem indicate this?
8. How does the author feel about dying in battle? Which verses in the poem indicate this?
9. The author mentions places such as Eggharbor and Columbia. Do they exist?
10. Jefferson Davis is mentioned in the poem. What historical relevance does this person have? How is Jefferson Davis depicted by the author?
11) What sort of emotion is exhibited from this poem? What are some keywords that aid you in your conclusion?
12) For what purpose might this poem have been written? Use historical references to support your answer.
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
HISTORICAL FICTION
Although you have answered the above questions relating to this poem, not all questions have been answered. Your job therefore is to fill in these holes through a creative historical fiction piece much like the producers of movies like Pearl Harbor,Ben Hur, The Gladiator, and The Patriot have done. You will create a fictional story incorporating the events described in the poem as well as other historically accurate background material gathered from our study of the Civil War.
YOU CAN CREATE THIS THROUGH A VARIETY OF WAYS...Review all of your choices and complete the one that fit you the best!