Teach This Poem: “The Coming of Light” by Mark Strand

Look at this picture of a menorah by skpy.

The following activities and questions are designed to help your students use their noticing skills to move through the poem and develop their thinking skills so they understand its meaning with confidence, using what they’ve noticed as evidence for their interpretations. Read more about the framework upon which these activities are based.

1. Warm-up: What comes to mind when you hear the word light? Look at this picture of a menorah. What stands out to you? What do you notice about the light? What might light represent?

2. Before Reading the Poem: Listen to “Ma’oz Tzur” by Leslie Odom Jr., featuring Nicolette Robinson. As you listen, what words or sounds stand out to you, even if you do not understand the lyrics? Why? What does the song make you feel? Why?

3. Reading the Poem: Silently read “The Coming of Light” by Mark Strand. What do you notice about the poem? Note any words, phrases, or poetic structures that stand out to you and any questions you might have.

4. Listening to the Poem: Enlist two volunteers and listen as the poem is read aloud twice. What did you hear that you did not previously notice when you were reading the poem? Write down any additional words and phrases that stand out to you.

5. Small Group Discussion: Share what you noticed about the poem with a small group of students. What does the title of the poem make you think about? Why? How is light represented in the poem? What similarities or differences can you find between the poem, the picture of the menorah, and “Ma’oz Tzur”? 

6. Whole Class Discussion: What does this line mean to you: “the coming of love, the coming of light”? What themes does the poem explore? How? 

7. Extension for Grades 7-8: Create a visual representation (collage, drawing, sculpture, etc.) of the poem. Share your artwork with the class. How did you represent the light? 

8. Extension for Grades 9-12: Read more poems about Hanukkah. Discuss the poems with a group. What themes and connections do you notice? Write a poem inspired by a theme you noticed or a holiday that is personally meaningful to you. Share your poem with the class.

Find more poems to read and share during the winter holiday season, including poems curated for kids, and more lesson plans featuring poems such as “Winter is good - his Hoar Delights (1316)” by Emily Dickinson, “Burning the Old Year” by Naomi Shihab Nye, and “Tamales on Christmas” by Christian Robinson.

Septet: a seven-line stanza, or unit of seven lines of verse, rhymed or unrhymed, also known as a rhyme royal.