Using Parody in the Classroom

    Using parodies of poems is an excellent way for educators to introduce students to the varied rhythms and rhyme patterns of poetry. Students can gain confidence in creating their own original works by “transforming” famous poems. Classical poetry tends to have “heavy” themes such as death or adult  love, in language too dense and uninteresting for most elementary and middle-school students. On the other hand, children do benefit by (and often enjoy) being exposed to the variety of poetry’s rhyme and rhythm patterns.  

   

   

      

    Parodies provide the perfect bridge so that students can appreciate different poetic forms while reading and writing about topics that are fun and meaningful for their age level. Students can develop a personal connection to a famous poet they admire, experimenting with writing in a similar style or using specific poems as direct  inspiration. This exercise, in turn, might provide motivation for them  to learn more about their chosen poet or that time period.

   

   

   

    Many writers have played with parody, including the famous “transformations” by Lewis Carroll. Students can use all sorts of written works for their own inspiration including nursery rhymes and songs. (For recent good examples see Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs by  Alan Katz, and Mary Had a Little Jam  by Bruce Lansky.)

    Let the creative games begin!

Judy Love

Free Downloadable Teacher Guides:

Teacher’s Guide to I Must Go Down to the Beach Again

Read the original classical poems that inspired these books:

I Must Down to the Beach Again- source poems

Because I Could Not Stop My Bike- source poems

Ideas for Rhyme in the Classroom; Happy Poetry Month08.pdf

To parody or not to parody (or even IS it parody?):

Check out the controversy in my blog entry at Charlesbridge Publishing