Walt Whitman's "O Me! O Life!" – Activities, Analysis, and Questions

Engage your students with this comprehensive and interactive study packet on Walt Whitman’s iconic poem, “O Me! O Life!”. Designed for middle and high school learners, this resource delves into the poem’s profound themes, vivid symbolism, and masterful use of figurative language. Whether you’re focusing on critical analysis, close reading, or creative thinking, this packet has everything you need to bring Whitman’s timeless message to life.

What’s Included:

-Warmer Activity: Two engaging starter activities to spark curiosity and introduce key ideas.

-Vocabulary Section: Prepares students to understand and analyze challenging words in the poem.

-Line-by-Line Paraphrase & Interpretation: Breaks down the poem’s meaning for easier comprehension.

-Figurative Language: In-depth exploration of metaphors, repetition, and imagery.

-Themes & Symbolism: Comprehensive analysis of central themes like purpose, despair, and hope.

-10 Short-Response Questions with Answer Key: Test understanding of themes, symbolism, and figurative devices.

-Follow-Up Activities: Two creative and analytical activities, including a PEEL paragraph writing exercise and a collaborative visual project.

Why Choose This Resource?

-Aligned with Common Core Standards (CCSS).

-Perfect for building critical thinking, literary analysis, and writing skills.

-Ideal for class discussions, group work, and independent learning.

-Fully editable and easy to integrate into your lesson plans.