Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tsmith62]

Hi,

I'm a little conflicted about this upcoming English festival my school has planned. I'm going to introduce a poem and one of our best students is going to recite it. She's put together a great PowerPoint and has got the poem completely memorized with the right pronunciation, tempo, and word stress.

The only problem is: the poem (Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken") is actually an ironic poem and it seems all the other teachers and students read it as it's popularly read: an inspirational assertion of individualism.

So part of me thinks who cares, chances are no one in the audience may know the real meaning of the poem. So I could just look the other way.
But on the other hand the teachers and students are asking me about the poem, it's content, and it's meaning. For instance "why is it titled the road not taken when the famous line is "the road less travelled by"? "why does it suggest he took the one less travelled only later to reveal they were both evenly travelled? I know the answers to these questions I just don't want to jeopardize all the preparation and hard work everyone's put into performance. And it's far too soon to start from scratch with something new.

So far I've just been trying to keep as vague as possible in my explanations (and in my speech to introduce the poem) to avoid ruffling any feathers. I don't want to lie, as my coworkers and this student in particular, are exceptional. But on the other hand I don't want to tell the truth and ruin their all their hard work. I don't even know the Korean etiquette about bringing something like this up.

So what do you think I should do, just ignore it and proceed as if the poem was inspirational and run the risk of getting found out after-the-fact? Or should I come clean and risk ruining the entire presentation?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

If 50% of my students could read that and get merely the 'popular' interpretation I'd be delighted. I'd love to have your problem.

[marlow]

I'd spill it, although I imagine the complexity of doing this will hurt your head.

[cruisemonkey]

Ironically, I wouldn't go down the road of trying to explain it to them. None of my co-teachers would understand, much less the students.

Take the easy road!

[Poemer]

Just explain that her interpretation is one of several valid ways of engaging with the poem as a reader. You can introduce that idea without totally shitting on all her hard work. She can replace "this means" language in her powerpoint with "I think this means" language.

Or, if she is really that into the project, let her do her presentation as is, but talk to her later about the lines that lend shades of irony to the poem that she might have missed. She might find it interesting.

[ddeubel]

My own feeling is NO WAY! Poetry explained is no poetry at all. Much like a joke.

First off, if the person isn't ready for the meaning, no explaining will do any good.

Second, poetry is meant to be discovered for one's self. It is not like learning how to fine tune a carburetor.

Third, a great poem "Like the Road not Taken" has many meanings. Some what the author probably consciously meant, many others he didn't. This is why poetry is so truly linked to our soul and individual freedom.

I think it would be really cool if you played Robert Frost reading the poem - right after her reading. With his great Winston Churchillian baratone voice. Click karaoke under the TEACH tab on EFL classroom and you can get it in karaoke under the Poetry category. Just first, download the player there, a quick and easy download....

Good luck,

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

[Cornfed]

What exactly is ironic about the poem?