A Dream Deferred: Literary Devices Analysis for Students

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Activity Overview

Template and Class Instructions

Rubric

Activity Overview

When teaching poetry, it is often helpful to refresh or introduce students with technical words. “Simile", "alliteration", "consonance", "imagery", and “parallelism” are a few important terms.

After you have read the poem, ask your students to do a scavenger hunt using the Storyboard Creator. Give them the list again and have them create a storyboard that depicts and explains the use of each literary element in the poem. They will have an absolute blast and gain mastery of the words.

Literary Element Examples in “Harlem" (A Dream Deferred)

	DESCRIPTION	EXAMPLE
Alliteration	Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words in a sentence or line	“What happens to a dream deferred?”
Imagery	The use of descriptive or figurative language to create vivid mental imagery that appeals to the senses	“Does it stink like rotten meat?”
Parallelism	A form of repetition in a sentence or thought that emphasizes an idea or deepens the reaction to the idea	“Does it dry up / Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore– / And then run?”
Consonance	The repetition of similar consonant sounds at the ends of words	“Or crust and sugar over–”
Simile	A comparison using 'like' or 'as'	“Maybe it just sags / Like a heavy load.”

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Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that shows five examples of poetic language in “Harlem" (A Dream Deferred).

Click "Start Assignment".
Identify use of literary elements in the poem.
Put the type of literary element in the title box.
Give an example from the text in the description box.
Illustrate the example using using a combination of scenes, characters, and items.

Literary Text Analysis Template with Multiple Cells

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Group

Type of Activity: Figurative Language

Switch to: Common Core • Arizona • California • Colorado • Florida • Georgia • Iowa • Kansas • Maryland • Massachusetts • Nebraska • New Jersey • New York • North Carolina • Ohio • Oklahoma • Pennsylvania • Texas • Utah

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Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Literary Elements Rubric

Create a storyboard that shows different literary elements from the story.

	Proficient	Emerging	Beginning
Identification of Literary Elements	All literary elements are correctly identified.	Most literary elements are correctly identified.	Few literary elements are correctly identified.
Illustration	Illustrations show attention to the details of the story and demonstrate connection to the literary elements.	Illustrations demonstrate connection to the literary elements.	Illustrations show little connection to the literary elements.
Description of Literary Elements	Descriptions clearly explain what the literary elements do to enhance the story.	Most descriptions tell what the literary elements do to enhance the story.	Descriptions are unrelated to the literary elements.
Spelling and Grammar	Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding.	Spelling is very inaccurate and hinders full understanding.	Text is very difficult to understand.

Copy Activity*

Activity Overview

When teaching poetry, it is often helpful to refresh or introduce students with technical words. “Simile", "alliteration", "consonance", "imagery", and “parallelism” are a few important terms.

After you have read the poem, ask your students to do a scavenger hunt using the Storyboard Creator. Give them the list again and have them create a storyboard that depicts and explains the use of each literary element in the poem. They will have an absolute blast and gain mastery of the words.

Literary Element Examples in “Harlem" (A Dream Deferred)

	DESCRIPTION	EXAMPLE
Alliteration	Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words in a sentence or line	“What happens to a dream deferred?”
Imagery	The use of descriptive or figurative language to create vivid mental imagery that appeals to the senses	“Does it stink like rotten meat?”
Parallelism	A form of repetition in a sentence or thought that emphasizes an idea or deepens the reaction to the idea	“Does it dry up / Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore– / And then run?”
Consonance	The repetition of similar consonant sounds at the ends of words	“Or crust and sugar over–”
Simile	A comparison using 'like' or 'as'	“Maybe it just sags / Like a heavy load.”

Copy Activity*

Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that shows five examples of poetic language in “Harlem" (A Dream Deferred).

Click "Start Assignment".
Identify use of literary elements in the poem.
Put the type of literary element in the title box.
Give an example from the text in the description box.
Illustrate the example using using a combination of scenes, characters, and items.

More options

Copy This Storyboard

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Group

Type of Activity: Figurative Language

Switch to: Common Core • Arizona • California • Colorado • Florida • Georgia • Iowa • Kansas • Maryland • Massachusetts • Nebraska • New Jersey • New York • North Carolina • Ohio • Oklahoma • Pennsylvania • Texas • Utah

Copy Activity*

Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Literary Elements Rubric

Create a storyboard that shows different literary elements from the story.

	Proficient	Emerging	Beginning
Identification of Literary Elements	All literary elements are correctly identified.	Most literary elements are correctly identified.	Few literary elements are correctly identified.
Illustration	Illustrations show attention to the details of the story and demonstrate connection to the literary elements.	Illustrations demonstrate connection to the literary elements.	Illustrations show little connection to the literary elements.
Description of Literary Elements	Descriptions clearly explain what the literary elements do to enhance the story.	Most descriptions tell what the literary elements do to enhance the story.	Descriptions are unrelated to the literary elements.
Spelling and Grammar	Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding.	Spelling is very inaccurate and hinders full understanding.	Text is very difficult to understand.