Unit 2: Metaphorically Speaking

English 8 Honors

Metaphorically Speaking

This unit of study explores the ways in which speakers and writers use metaphorical language to develop meanings and convey understandings about literature and life. Students will consider the many types of metaphors and metaphorical language, including allegory, allusion, personification, and simile.

Enduring Understandings

Most people are metaphorical most of the time – in what they think, do, and experience.
Metaphorical thinking is about noticing what is similar and what is different, especially when it is not obvious.
Metaphors allow words to be more than words.

Essential Questions

Why do we use so many metaphors?
How do I move beyond the surface to reach deeper meanings?

Key Unit Experiences

Self-Selected Reading & Library Visits

We visit the library every 3 weeks in class and read in class daily. Be sure to bring your books!

Language Study

Language Study skills of focus for this unit include ways to combine sentences, semicolons, capitalization, and spelling.

Writing Territories

Students will expand on their topics for writing, which will be utilized with their Quick-Writes and the Culminating Assessment Project. Students can also develop ideas from this list during the application phase of Language Study.

Thinking in Metaphors

Students will write metaphors, consider an array of authors’ metaphorical language, practice identifying metaphors in short excerpts from lyrics, and work in small groups to analyze sets of longer lyrics for metaphorical language and its effect on meaning.

Poems That Say More

Students will continue to consider the role of metaphors in shaping our understandings and the ways in which we communicate, focusing on the author’s message and how metaphorical language impacts and improves theme, tone, and mood in three poems. Students will analyze the impact of metaphorical language in poetry through a short, 1-2 paragraph interpretive response.

Metaphors of Poe

Students will consider the role of symbolism and metaphors in creating meaning and mood in Poe’s “The Raven,” “Annabel Lee,” and “The Tell-Tale Heart.” The lesson concludes with students converting “The Tell-Tale Heart” into a poem structure to highlight metaphorical language.

Extended Metaphor: The Pearl

Using Steinbeck’s novella The Pearl, students will look at explicit meaning & comprehension, implicit meaning using symbolism resources, and theme development. Students will conclude the experience by participating in a World Café.

Culminating Assessment Project (CAP) - Me, the Metaphor

At the end of this unit of study, you will be asked to create a metaphorical representation of yourself in written or visual form. You can use the I am a Guitar video and other models shown in class as inspiration, but also feel free to consider other forms for this work – a collage, a book, a music video, etc.

To be successful on this assignment, you will need to be able to do the following things well:

listen, speak, and discuss using appropriate grade-level skills (8.1 B)
analyze and apply author's craft (8.9 B, C, D, F)
use the writing process to compose and revise/edit for appropriate conventions (8.10 B, C, D, E)
use genre characteristics and craft to compose texts (8.11 A)

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