Consider the ways in which Jack responds to poems over the course of the novel. Was his initial response to poetry similar to your response to the questions in the Personal Connection Prompt? Why or why not? Read the poems in the Paired Resources and compare your responses with Jack’s. Which poems do you share a similar sentiment on? Which poems do you feel different about? Why?

Teaching Suggestion: This Prompt invites students to connect their response from the Personal Connection Prompt within the context of the novel. The theme of The Purpose of Poetry reflects Jack’s journey. Initially, he is skeptical of poetry, but with time, he finds himself asking questions, engaging in the material, and eventually taking enjoyment and pleasure from the poetry assignments. This is reflected in the structure of his responses, which also become lengthier and more detailed over the course of the year. Based on the nature of the questions, this Prompt may work well as a take-home assignment.

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

CREATIVE WRITING: “Write Your Own Poem”

In this activity, students will use one of the poets referenced in the novel as inspiration for their own poem.