Hank Williams: My Inspiration

Student Organizer Questionnaire

Section #1

Were Williams's friends and family members close to him? Explain what makes you think they were or weren't.
How did they suggest that others learn more about him?
Besides his life, what were his other sources of inspiration?

Section #2

What is the premise of the song you chose?
What does the author, Hank Williams, seem to be feeling?
What language features tell you what Williams is feeling? (Consider: What words does he choose? How would you describe the vocabulary of the song? What rhythms does he use? Are the rhymes exact or off somehow? Is the melody sometimes at odds with the lyrics? What words does he emphasize, either through repetition or through their placement in song passages that are musically different?)

Section #3

If you had to guess, based only on this song, what would you say about Williams's:

state of mind
personality
love life
family situation
emotional state?

Do you think your guesses are accurate? Why or why not?

Section #4

If you have trouble coming up with ideas for a poem or song, you can use these questions to generate inspiration.

Choose one of the three themes below and answer the questions:

1. Adversity: When were you most scared? What scared you? What were you afraid would happen? What did happen?

2. Love: Whom do you love most in the world? Why? Write down one memory of being with that person. Where were you? What did your environment look/ sound/ smell/ feel like? What did the other person say? What did you say?

3. Goals: Describe your ideal life. Where would you live? What would you do? What would you look like? Why do think that's your ideal?

After you have written down your answers, circle the most important words from your answers.

Choose a form of song or poetry that you think relates to your experience, or just choose a rhythm that feels comfortable to you. Using the words you circled, tell a story (fictional or true) that fits the song/poetry form or the rhythm. Remember to make it clear who is telling the story.

If you want your poem to rhyme, you can use The Rhymer Web site (http://www.rhymer.com/).

For more information, see Writing Poetry: A Beginner's Guide

Section #5

When you are listening to or reading your partner's poems/lyrics, answer the following questions about their work to help you provide constructive feedback:

1. What is the main idea of this poem/lyric?
2. What word choices, rhythms, or rhymes tell you that?
3. What is the main emotion of this poem/lyric?
4. What did you like most about this poem/lyric?
5. Do you feel that this poem/lyric helps you to understand its author?

If you are confused about the answers to any of these questions, ask your partner to explain what he or she intended.