National Adult Literacy Database

This curriculum unit, part of a series developed for use in adult literacy and basic education programs, is aimed at learners who are independent readers and writers, and are ready to develop critical thinking, reading, and viewing skills.

It includes four poetry studies, each anchored by one main poem that highlights one of the following techniques: metaphor; personification; repeated sounds; and symbol.

The main poems and songs in this section were chosen for their accessibility to Northern adult learners and their appropriate reading level. Additional poems in the learning activities vary in their reading levels to allow for individual choice.

The authors note that at this level, learners move beyond the recognition of ideas and poetic techniques to the expression and defence of personal interpretation; the acceptance of ambiguity and multiple meanings; and the recognition of not only what the author is saying but how the message is communicated.