Searching for Home: The Lives of Lucy Maud Montgomery
Activity 3.0 - Poetry & Identity
Teacher’s Guide
Introduction
Activity
The majority of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s stories were written and
published during the formative years of Canada’s nationhood. The
backdrops for her novels are familiar and iconic, even their moods
reflect the socio-cultural attitudes of the times. This is particularly
evident in Rilla of Ingleside, a novel that focuses on the impact of World
War I on rural Canadian life. Lucy Maud Montgomery not only used
well-known places in her stories, but also symbols, icons, and objects
from her personal life. Her writing truly was a collage of her life. Lucy
Maud Montgomery’s symbolic writing style distinctly identifies her as
a famous Canadian literary figure. In this activity, students will collect,
organize, and repurpose symbols and iconic images in order to create
different types of poetry that distinctly define Lucy Maud Montgomery’s
identity.
Purpose
1. Introduce the term Identity and discuss its importance to self and
nation.
2. Brainstorm what it means to be Canadian or what symbols/objects define
Canadian identity. Write the ideas on the board or overheads.
3. Use the Lucy Maud Montgomery brief biography to create an overview
of her life which can be read aloud or worked through as a class.
(see Supplemental reading). Ask students to consider who Lucy Maud
Montgomery was and why she is a famous Canadian?
4. Students can use the notes sections to write down any information
about Lucy Maud Montgomery’s life. Suggest a minimum of eighteen
Students will gain a thorough understanding of how symbols and iconic
images can be used to create mood and meaning beyond their physical
appearances. Students will conduct their own research to collect
symbols, images, words, and objects from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s
(18) points.
5. Lead the class through the definition and example of an acrostic poem,
available in the resource section. Have students use the information
life in order to create a comprehensive visual interpretation of her
they have collected to create an “acrostic” style poem using Lucy Maud
identity.
Montgomery’s name. The purpose of the activity is to use key words to
define Lucy Maud Montgomery and recognize her status as a Canadian
Outcome
•
•
•
Students will gain an understanding of (individual and Canadian)
identity
Students will understand how symbols, objects, characters, and
places can be used to convey different meanings and moods.
Students will learn to appreciate novels as historical and social
artefacts
literary figure. Students could work in groups.
6. Have students create another poem in the style of their choice. Students
will then take turns presenting their poems to the class.
www.lmmrc.ca/exhibit
Materials intended for non-commercial, academic use only. Reproduction of learning material is permitted for classroom use only.
Copyright © 2008, University of Guelph. All rights reserved.
TM
L. M. Montgomery is a trademark of Heirs of L.M. Montgomery Inc.
Searching for Home: The Lives of Lucy Maud Montgomery
Activity 3.0 - Poetry & Identity
Teacher’s Guide
Resources
Materials
•
Student handouts
•
Computer (with Internet Access)
•
Scrap paper
•
Pencil or pen
•
Art supplies (paint, pencil crayons, glue, fabric etc.)
Extension/Bonus Activity
•
Use the concept of the acrostic poem to look at Canadian
identity
•
Example of Acrostic Poem from Step 5.
Lucy Maud Montgomery and create a visual representation of
www.lmmrc.ca
•
the image/symbol using a variety of media and materials
Lucy Maud Montgomery Research Centre - Biography and chronology
•
L.M. Montgomery’s Personal Scrapbooks and Book Covers
Ask students: How does Lucy Maud Montgomery contribute to
Submit students poems to children’s magazine (eg “What If?
Magazine”)
www.ourontario.ca
•
•
Canadian identity?
http://lmm.confederationcentre.com/
•
Students can choose a single image or symbol to represent
•
Photograph and image database (search “Lucy Maud Montgomery”)
Notes
http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/literature/topics/1630/
•
CBC Digital Archives - Biographical videos and learning modules
www.lmmontgomery.ca/
•
L.M. Montgomery Institute University of PEI
http://www.whatifmagazine.com/index.html
•
What If? Magazine
www.lmmrc.ca/exhibit
Materials intended for non-commercial, academic use only. Reproduction of learning material is permitted for classroom use only.
Copyright © 2008, University of Guelph. All rights reserved.
TM
L. M. Montgomery is a trademark of Heirs of L.M. Montgomery Inc.
Searching for Home: The Lives of Lucy Maud Montgomery
Activity 3.0 - Poetry & Identity
Teacher’s Guide
Example of Acrostic Poem
Montgomery, Lucy Maud. Journals of L. M.
Montgomery, Volume 7. p.67. Guelph: University
of Guelph, L. M. Montgomery Collection.
www.lmmrc.ca/exhibit
Materials intended for non-commercial, academic use only. Reproduction of learning material is permitted for classroom use only.
Copyright © 2008, University of Guelph. All rights reserved.
TM
L. M. Montgomery is a trademark of Heirs of L.M. Montgomery Inc.