The Rose That Grew From ConcreteAnother Look at

Poetry

Brief Bio Go straight to Tupac’s poetry

Review Poetic device

s

Tupac ShakurTupac is well known for his Thug Life image, he had those very same words tattooed across his belly. Most people never knew that Tupac renounced his Thug Life, thought it was stupid, and a thing of the past. Tupac Shakur was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1971. Early in his life, he moved to Baltimore , MD, where he attended The Baltimore School for the Performing Arts. At this school, Tupac left a lasting impression on his teachers and was showing tremendous potential. Unfortunately, Tupac was unable to continue his education.

Tupac bio cont…Tupac as a rap star had accomplished so much in the short time he was making music. His stunning talent also got him a role in the motion picture, "Juice" in 1992. The role made Tupac a household name and showed the world that music may not be Tupac's #1 attribute. Tupac eventually released a second album "Strictly for my N*****" which featured songs like "I Get Around " and "Keep Ya Head Up". This album increased the popularity of the already talented rapper, it had even bigger success than his first album. The next year in 1993 he starred along side Janet Jackson in the motion picture, Poetic Justice. He also was featured in Above the Rim.In 1995 he released "Me Against the World", which sold millions and was in the #1 spot on Billboard’s chart for five weeks in a row. His latest CD which was released in 1996 is" All Eyez on Me" which was the first solo rap artist double CD pack in history, and it came out on top its first week spending 4 weeks at #1 and sported the number #1 “How do you want it?” This CD just has too many great songs to name. While on his way from a boxing event in Las Vegas, Tupac Shakur was assassinated by bullets of unknown gunmen on September 13, 1996. His murder was never solved.

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Tupac, mostly known for his rap music, was an avid poet. He wrote all the time; most of his writings became rap lyrics but many became poems. Some of those poems where collected and published in an anthology called,

The Rose That Grew From Concrete.You will read some of those poems and identify within those poems poetic devices. Some poems will have more than one, some poems will have none. Your job is to decide if the statement given is true or false.

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SIMILEMETAPHOR

PERSONIFICATIONONOMATOPOEIA

SYMBOLISMALLITERATION

RHYMETHEME

The following terms are some of the poetic devices you will be identifying. If you feel the need to review some of those poetic devices, please click on them.

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SIMILEA comparison between two objects using a specific word or comparison such as “like,” “as, “ or “than”

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METAPHORConnects two ideas or objects and asserts that they are sameRead Tupac’s poem and click a metaphor.

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PERSONIFICATION

an object or idea is represented as a person

human action

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ONOMOATOPOEIA

•a word that imitates or suggests the source of the sound that it describes•used to amplify and intensify the readers’ sensory •a very popular technique used in comic books

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SYMBOLISMsomething that represents a larger idea or value

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ALLITERATION•the repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of words.•Tongue Twisters rely on alliteration

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RHYMErefers to the repetition of the end sounds of words

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THEMEthe overall (sometimes underlying) message in the poem; what the poem is about Return to Poetic

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The Rose that Grew from Concrete

True or false:Tupac uses symbolism

in this poem.

Did you hear about the rose that grewfrom a crack in the concrete?Proving nature's law is wrong itlearned to walk with out having feet.Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,it learned to breathe fresh air.Long live the rose that grew from concretewhen no one else ever cared.

TRUE

FALSE

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That is true!

The Rose is a symbol of a person, perhaps Tupac himself, who overcame

many obstacles.NEXT POEM

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WRONG!

The Rose is a symbol of a person, perhaps Tupac himself, who overcame

many obstacles.

NEXT POEM

END

If There Be Pain

If there be pain, all u need 2 do is call on me 2 be with you And before u hang up the phone u will no longer be alone Together we can never fall because our love will conquer all

If there be pain, reach out 4 a helping hand and I shall hold u wherever I am Every breath I breathe will be into u 4 without u here my joy is through my life was lived through falling rain so call on me if there be pain

Tupac uses plenty of rhyme in this poem.

TRUE

FALSE

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YOU’RE RIGHT!

Remember, Tupac was also a rapper. Most of his poems rhyme.

NEXT POEM

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WRONG!

Remember, Tupac was also a rapper. Most of his poems

rhymeNEXT POEM

END

Sometimes I Cry

The theme in this poem could probably be sadness and loneliness.

Sometimes when I'm alone I Cry, Cause I am on my own. The tears I cry are bitter and warm. They flow with life but take no form I Cry because my heart is torn. I find it difficult to carry on. If I had an ear to confide in, I would cry among my treasured friend, but who do you know that stops that long, to help another carry on. The world moves fast and it would rather pass by. Then to stop and see what makes one cry, so painful and sad. And sometimes... I Cry and no one cares about why.

TRUE

FALSE

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TRUE

Sadly enough, this poem is about loneliness. Tupac never married and there is no record of a special someone other than his mother. So its safe to assume that Tupac was lonely and this poem reflects that.

NEXT POEM

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NOPE!

Sadly enough, this poem is about loneliness. Tupac never married and there is no record of a special someone other than his mother. So its safe to assume that Tupac was lonely and this poem reflects that. So that was true.

NEXT POEM

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GodWhen I was alone and had

nothing I asked 4 a friend 2 help me bear the pain no on e came except...GOD

when I needed a breath 2 rise from my sleep no one could help me except....GOD

when all I saw was sadness and I needed answers no one heard me except ....GOD

so when I am asked who I give my unconditional love 2 look for no other name except.....GOD!

Tupac uses alliteration in this poem.

TRUE

FALSE

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NOPE!

That is not true!However there is a lot of repetition.

NEXT POEM

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YOU’RE RIGHT!

That is false. There are no lines, but one, where more than two words begin with the same sound. There is also a lot of repetition.

NEXT POEM

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A River That Flows Forever

Now this poem has alliteration.

As long as some sufferThe River Flows ForeverAs long as there is painThe River Flows ForeverAs strong as a smile can

beThe River Flows ForeverAnd as long as u R with

mewe'll ride the River

Together

TRUE

FALSE

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Yup!

There is tons of alliteration in this poem;…flows forever….…as…as…strong…smile…and…as…as…

One last poem END

Nope!

It was true. There is tons of alliteration in this poem;…flows forever….…as…as…strong…smile…and…as…as…

One last poem END

Written in his own writing

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Need Extra Credit?

Click here.Also check out some

Tupac videos

THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE

To read more poetry from Tupac

Shakur you can purchase this book

at most book stores. You will be

surprised to discover the deep

intelligence and the many facets of this

controversial musician, actor,

poet, and philosopher.

START OVER

END

Need Extra

Credit?Click here.Also

check out

some Tupac

videos.

VideosGet to know Tupac a little better through this ten minute

interview. Tupac interview about growing upMusic video "Dear Mama“ Music video "Changes“ Music video "I Ain't Mad At Ya”Tupac did a concert in 2012. Don’t believe me?

check it out!Extra Credit!

Listen closely to the lyrics in one of the music videos, and on a seperate sheet of paper, list all the poetic devices you hear Tupac use.

orWatch the other videos and write a one page report summarizing what

you saw.