Month: April 2019

After teaching an entire novel, many teachers naturally seek to end the unit with something fun that will drive home the important themes and topics discussed throughout the book. Easily we can turn to the countless movie adaptations of our novel. However, there are some interesting and fun alternatives. There are countless songs and albums that are either based off of or directly influenced by our favorite literary works. We can utilize these songs to connect more with students who might prefer music over film.

We also must consider what a song written about a book means. The composers and writers of the songs were at one point the readers of the same books we are studying. Therefore, the contents of the song represent an interpretation of the text. These songs can be used to access new perspectives and new interpretations. We look to academic articles and papers to get new interpretations of a text, so why can’t we look at other forms of media? We can start a lesson over the novel by playing a corresponding song and getting students interested.

Almost every classic piece of literature has a song that has been written about it. Musicians have been drawing inspiration from novels for years and will for years to come. While there are countless songs based on literary texts, here are some of my personal favorites:

Songs	Books
1984 – David Bowie	1984 – George Orwell
White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane	Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carrol
Lolita – Lana Del Rey	Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
Lost Boy – Ruth B	Peter Pan – J. M. Barrie
If I Die Young – The Band Perry	Lady Shallot – Lord Tennyson
Mastodon – Blood and Thunder	Moby Dick – Hermann Melville
Ramble On – Led Zeppelin	Lord of the Rings – J. R. R. Tolkien
One – Metallica	Johnny Got His Gun – Dalton Trumbo
For Whom the Bell Tolls – Metallica	For Whom the Bell Tolls – Ernest Hemingway
Dante’s Inferno – Iced Earth	The Divine Comedy – Dante Alighieri
Feed My Frankenstein – Alice Cooper	Frankenstein – Mary Shelley
Behind the Wall of Sleep – Black Sabbath	Behind the Wall of Sleep – H. P. Lovecraft
Communion of the Cursed – Ice Nine Kills	The Exorcist – William Peter Blatty
Brave New World – Iron Maiden	Brave New World – Alduos Huxley
Home – Breaking Benjamin	The Wizard of Oz – Frank Baum
Rime of the Ancient Mariner – Iron Maiden	Rime of the Ancient Mariner –Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Lord of the Flies – Iron Maiden	Lord of the Flies – William Golding

For students who are particularly interested in music, you may want to recommend them check out ‘concept albums’. ‘Concept Albums’ are albums that follow a theme or concept, and, on many occasions, they tell a story who’s plot progresses with each song. For me, concept albums revived a love for story and storytelling that had been driven out of me due to the mandated reading of school. I have always had a fondness and am inclination to be drawn to a great story. Concept albums were a combination of my love for music and my love for story. Here are a few of my personal favorites:

Leviathan – Mastodon

Every Trick in the Book – Ice Nine Kills

Nightfall in Middle Earth – Blind Guardian

In conclusion, there are many ways to utilize music to accompany the teaching of literature. If I didn’t cover a novel you are teaching in this list, there may very likely be a song that fits your desired text. Keep this in mind next time you are looking for different mediums to accompany a text you are teaching.

This a short and fun assignment to get your students writing creatively. Many students complain that they can’t think of what to write about. Here they can choose their own prompt through simply choosing songs they enjoy.

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Music and songs can be a useful source of inspiration for your writing. Usually soundtracks are developed to accompany another work, such as a movie. However, in this assignment we will reverse that! We will be developing a soundtrack first, then creating a short story inspired by our soundtrack.

• Step One: Choose five of your favorite songs and create a playlist.

• Step Two: Arrange the songs so that each song may serve as a soundtrack to your story.

• Step Three: Compose a creative piece that takes your reader through a journey that is inspired by the songs you chose.

Length Requirement: 400-500 words

Genre: You may choose to write a short story, write a poem, or write an epistolary piece (letters/diary format). Approach the assignment however you would like, as long as it is creative!

Note: Please include either a screenshot of the playlist or a list of the songs you chose to accompany your story.

EXAMPLE:

The Other Side

By Austin Vincent

I stared at the sign on the fence ahead of me that read “None Shall Pass.” I knew I had to get to the other side of town before it got dark, and the sun was about to set. I needed to take the shortcut; I needed to hop the fence. I had a birthday party to get to, and I wasn’t missing it for the world.

I pulled the brim of my cap down low and got myself ready. I took a few steps toward the fence and leapt with vigor. My hand clenched the chain link as I hoisted myself up and over the fence. As I topped the fenced and jumped down to the ground, I twisted my ankle. I bent down to check and make sure nothing was broken. Luckily, it was just a light sprain. But as I looked back up, I realized why that sign had been posted on the fence. In front of me was a giant Rottweiler with a spiked collar and everything. I was caught in between a fence I couldn’t climb and certain death that I could not run from.

I thought I was done for. Until I realized I might have a trick up my sleeve, or in my pocket rather. . .

I slowly reached down into my pocket and pulled out a Slim Jim stick I had picked up earlier. The dog switched its gaze from me to the jerky. I waved it back and forth and the dogs eyes followed. I sure hope this works. I threw the jerky as far as I could, and the dog almost fell he took off running so fast. I limped away as fast as I could toward the other side of town.

I ran through alleys past garbage cans and dumpsters weaving between the buildings of the city. The sun was beginning to set, and the alley cats were laying down and sleeping on the black top. I could see it in the distance. I made it. As I walked through the doors of the Burger King, I saw all my friends posted up in the back. The man of the hour, Chuck, said to me, “Man, you look rough.” I smiled and reached for a signature Burger Kind cardboard crown. I turned to Chuck and replied, “Huh, you think I look good now. . . you should see me in a crown!”

An album review is a great way to experiment with writing in a genre that might not be familiar. Most reviews seem to answer the burning question, “Does the product achieve its goal and/or meet expectations of the audience/consumer?” Reviews can be approached in a variety of ways, however a few main points remain consistent among “good” and “helpful” reviews. These points are: descriptions of the product (utilize expressive and descriptive writing here), a personal experience with the product (appeal to pathos here), offer a justification of praise or discontent “why is it good/bad?” (utilize argumentative writing here), and finally ending with a recommendation for or against the product.

I’ve decided to explore album reviews as a way to promote descriptive writing, expressive writing, and argumentative writing all in one place. Students can hone these skills by applying them to music that they enjoy or are interested in.

To model this, I have decided to take a look at the album that I have been listening to the most the past few weeks.

THE VALLEY – WHITECHAPEL

Tennessee metal act Whitechapel released their newest album this March (2019). This album is the band’s seventh full length release. It is a new direction for the band, implementing new sounds to the already distinctive Whitechapel sound. The pioneers of the modern deathcore sound incorporate more mid tempo grooves and ambient breaks. All of the songs retain that signature sound Whitechapel have created, while many tracks expand and push the band in a new musical direction. The opening track “When A Demon Defiles a Witch” provides the listener with a sense of the new direction in the chorus and bridge where vocalist Phil Bozeman shows of an impressive delivery of clean but emotional vocals. The clean vocals paired with an ambient but heavy instrumental create a very cinematic listening experience. The songs “Forgiveness is Weakness”, “We Are One”, and “The Other Side” showcase the original hard hitting deathcore sound Whitechapel have perfected. Songs like “Brimstone” and “Black Bear” provide hard-hitting and groovy mid tempo riffs and slow breakdowns reminiscent of the bands more recent albums. The most different song on the album is the song “Hickory Creek.” In this track Phil, for the first time, uses exclusively clean vocals. This track breeds a much more Hard Rock style. Overall, the album feels very complete. From beginning to end the album showcases the bands growing musicianship. I have connected to this album as a whole more than any other Whitechapel release. I very much appreciate the experimentation done on this album. The lyrics stand out the most for me. The lyrics are beautifully written and are inspired by true events throughout Phil’s childhood. The raw emotion seeps out of this album from beginning to end. I recommend this album not only to fans of the band but also to fans of metal in general. This album could be a good gateway for fans of the genre to be introduced to Whitechapel. 5/5 stars.

Thanks for joining me! I am an English Education major at Missouri State University. I am almost done with my undergraduate and hope to pursue a master’s in Rhetoric and Composition. In this blog, I will be combining my interest and passion for English with my interest and passion for music. I will be exploring multiple ways to utilize music in the classroom for educational purposes and for personal inspiration.

Pursue happiness with diligence. — Mastodon