Study Unit

The study unit is available online at the ideas.wisconsin.edu web site. It includes a 7 minute video of a reading of "My Life By Water" with scenes from Lorine's life and Blackhawk Island.

The intent of this unit is to provide students in a twentieth-century literature class with an awareness of who Lorine Niedecker was as a woman and poet. Students will read about the life of Niedecker, the beliefs of the Objectivist poetry movement, and experience watching a short video of Blackhawk Island with a poem read aloud. After the short unit students should have a written paper applying some of the ideas of the Objectivist poets to poems written by Lorine Niedecker.

The study unit is designed to meet the following criteria:

• It is appropriate for general high school students.
• It complies with Wisconsin's Academic Standards for Reading/Literature at the twelfth grade level.
• The unit can be rolled into a larger unit on 20th century poetry, Wisconsin writers, or general poetry. It can encompass at least 2 40-minute teaching periods.

Lesson One: Introduction to Niedecker and the Objectivists Lesson Two: Biographical Poetry Lesson Three: Objectivist and Political Poetry

Additional Materials:

• A short biography of Lorine Niedecker
• Background knowledge on the Objectivist poets
• Poems needed for the lessons
• A bibliography for further interest
• Short biography slide presentation
• Video/DVD materials
• List of speakers available for presentations on Lorine and her poetry
• Printable bookmarks with photos and Lorine's poetry. Series 1   Series 2