Themes



NAME:________________________________ PERIOD:______

LYRICS PRESENTATION PROJECT

One of the best ways to explore literary concepts, such as theme, speaker, tone and mood, is through the lyrics of songs. Your task is to select a favorite song and present your understanding of the song’s theme, speaker, mood, and tone. Your presentation will include the following:

• Copy of the lyrics for yourself and me

• One piece of SPECIFIC text evidence and EXPLANATION for each of the following concepts:

o Theme (message or idea)

o Speaker (character)

o Mood (how poem makes you feel)

o Tone (writer’s attitude)

A rubric is attached that explains how you will be graded. The project is worth 20 points. Also attached is a sheet that defines each concept and provides examples.

Have fun with this project, but make sure you prepare and rehearse your presentation well. You are expected to express your thoughts clearly, speak in complete sentences, use formal language and refrain from filler words such as “like”. This takes preparation and rehearsal!

Also, make sure you select an appropriate song with clean lyrics and content that you can really analyze. You may like the way a song sounds, but you may not have a lot to say about its theme or speaker. Be careful about your selection.

Theme

What is a theme?  It is an abstract idea that is expressed through a work of art.  A landscape painting might express beauty.  A song might be about love.  The story, "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," portrays the author's opinion about honesty.

Possible topics for literary themes to consider are listed below: 

Ambition

Death

Peace

War

Friendship

Jealousy

Beauty    

Loneliness

Betrayal

Love

Courage

Loyalty

Perseverance

Fear

Prejudice

Freedom

Suffering

Happiness

Truth

Duty

Patriotism

REMEMBER: THEME IS NOT ONE WORD; IT IS A STATEMENT SUCH AS: “LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND” OR “FACING YOUR FEARS IS THE FIRST STEP TO OVERCOMING THEM.”

Speaker

Who is the speaker? The speaker is the character a writer creates.

REMEMBER: DON’T FOCUS ON A TRIVIAL QUALITY SUCH AS “I KNOW THE SPEAKER IS A BOY…”

Tone

What is the tone? The tone is the writer’s attitude. Some possible tones are listed below:

Depressed

Excited

Ironic

Sarcastic

Playful

Angry

Proud

Frustrated

Threatening

Loving

Passionate

Bitter

Questioning

Challenging

Rebellious

Mood

What is the mood? The mood is the way a poem makes you feel. Some possible moods:

Sad

Scary

Excited

Suspenseful

Dismal

Depressing

Uplifting

Light-hearted

Cheery

Cheerless

Eerie

Pensive

Anxious/tense

Peaceful

DON’T CONFUSE TONE AND MOOD: TONE DESCRIBES THE WRITER’S ATTITUDE AND MOOD DESCRIBES THE AUDIENCE’S RESPONSE.

|Lyrics Presentation Rubric |

|Student name: _________________________ |

|CATEGORY |4 |3 |2 |1 |

|Cites evidence |Presents one piece of |Presents one piece of |Presents one piece of |Presents one piece of |

| |appropriate text evidence |appropriate text evidence |appropriate text evidence |appropriate text evidence |

|IF YOU REPEAT EVIDENCE, |for all four concepts: |for three concepts. |for two concepts. |for one concept. |

|IT DOESN’T COUNT!!!!! |speaker, tone, mood, theme.| | | |

|Explanation |Explains how text evidence |Explains how text evidence |Explains how text evidence |Explains how text evidence |

| |supports opinion for all |supports opinion for three |supports opinion for two |supports opinion for one |

| |four concepts: speaker, |concepts. |concepts. |concept. |

| |tone, mood, theme. | | | |

|Style |Distinguished |Sufficient demonstration: |Inconsistent demonstration:|Minimal demonstration: |

| |demonstration: | | | |

| | |-Clear and concise |-Clear and concise |-Clear and concise |

| |-Clear and concise |expression. |expression. |expression. |

| |expression. |-Formal and varied |-Formal and varied |-Formal and varied |

| |-Formal and varied |language. |language. |language. |

| |language. |-No filler words such as |-No filler words such as |-No filler words such as |

| |-No filler words such as |“like.” |“like.” |“like.” |

| |“like.” | | | |

|Presentation |Speaks clearly and loudly |Speaks clearly and loudly |Speaks clearly and loudly |Often mumbles or cannot be |

| |enough to be heard and |enough to be heard and |enough to be heard and |understood OR mispronounces|

| |understood by all audience |understood by all audience |understood by all audience |more than one word.  |

| |members throughout entire |members most of the time. |members half of the time. | |

| |presentation.  | | | |

Grade: ___________________________

Lyrics Presentation Graphic Organizer

INTRO

Restate:

Answer:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

BODY: Cite and Explain (in the text it says… This tells me)

Topic: speaker

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Topic: tone

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Topic: mood

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Topic: theme

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

CONCLUSION:

Restate:

Final thought:

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