Bored on this Snow Day?

This week, our AP Literature class analyzed the poem Bored by Margaret Atwood.

You can view the poem here:

https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/bored/

After analyzing the poem, students produced their own discussion questions and discussed them in self-selected groups. 

Then, we got down to business...




No, not to defeat the Huns...to WRITE OUR OWN POETRY. 

Students were prompted to write their own "Bored" poems, explaining what they have learned from boredom--or what they could learn from boredom. 

Here are a few of their poems:

It is often
one's mind experiences
It's own greatest

when idle, when unoccupied.


Time is slow when bored
I've learned to try new tactics
Creativity


"A Minute of Boredom"
Dew drops, tip tap, tip tap,
glistening on green leaves.
I notice discarded bread eaten by birds,
laughter of a child--and adult?
Sat still, I feel...
Bored?
The drum of daily live
prevents loneliness...boredom?
Sun shining, babies whining, notice through...boredom?
Sat beneath the sun, 
I observe bees on flowers,
trees towering over toddlers,
my hands still...
they have nowhere to be.
Dew drops going tip tap, tip tap, 
still glistening?
But I have been bored for 
only a minute.


"The Art of Boredom"
Boredom is rarely boring.
Driving down a country road
with the windows down
is the freest feeling.
Mind clear, and clear skies.
Boredom is the goal.


"Get Bored"
Did you know?
    Ants can be killed by a parasitic fungi.

Did you know
    If you listen to the Sponge Bob
    Squarepants theme at 1/5th the
    speed, it sounds like a modern masterpiece?

Did you know
    If you look at the thesaurus for 
    synonyms you're bound to find
    a word that rhymes?

Did you know
   If you graph 4cos20+2=z
   you might get a 3D slinky on 
   your 2D computer screen?

Did you know
    if you stopped reading 
    this boring poem and 
    got bored, you could have
    figured this out yourself.



"Boredom"
When I am quite bored
My still idle brain will roar
Memories are stored


"Bored"
Are we there yet?
The flat, desolate prairie stares at me.
Waiting, waiting, waiting.
There't nothing to do.
"Stop fighting your sister."
C'mon. I'm bored, 
I'm hungry, 
I have to go to the bathroom.
"It's only a two hour ride.
You'll be fine."
I'm gonna die of boredom.
"One day you will enjoy your 
rides."
No. I won't.

He was right.


"Boredom"
A sober wake up call
that awaits us all.
The silence, the nothingness
The beauty, the significance
You sit in the darkness reflecting
Holding onto everything,
Stupid, worthless,
Peaceful, perceptiveness
Boredom, destructive downfall
Boredom, a key to all.


So, today, as you relish your Snow Day, think about all that's available to you when you are "bored."  And maybe take some of your classmates' advice.