7b Compare/Contrast Poems

1. Fill in the blanks with the titles of your two poems. List as many similarities and differences
between your song and poem as you can. Focus on the poetic elements that you analyzed
previously (structure, diction, tone/mood, and theme).
Differences unique to Wings
by Macklemore

Similarities between Wings

and Black Friday

Differences unique to Black

Friday by Kevin Leake

Refers to
consumerism/how
people focus too
much on appearance
There is
alliteration
There is
consonance
Specifically
talks about shoes
Choice of
diction builds subject
up to knock it down
Theme is
about not letting items
define you

Revolves
around the want for
items
Assonance is
present
Reveals
problems that affect
the country
Reveals
negative connotation
Rhyme
scheme varies

Refers to
Black Friday chaos
Choice of
diction through and
through reveals
subject to be terrible
Theme is to
reveal how chaotic
Black Friday is

2. Pick 2 main similarities and 2 main differences between the two poems. Use complete
sentences!

Similarity 1

Explain the similarity/difference

Give 1-2 examples that illustrate

this similarity/difference

The first similarity is they both

revolve around the want for items.

For example, in Wings, he

states,We want what we can't
have, commodity makes us want
it So expensive, damn, I just got to

flaunt it Got to show 'em, so

exclusive, this that new shit
A hundred dollars for a pair of
shoes I would never hoop in Look
at me, look at me, I'm a cool kid. In

Black Friday, the author states,

Shopping madness hit the towns
Customers fighting like savaged
clowns Ripped stuff down from the
shelves stacked high And within
minutes the TVs and gadgets went
dry.

Similarity 2

The second similarity is they both

reveal problems that affect the
country.

From Wings, it says, It started

out, with what I wear to school
That first day, like these are what
make you cool...This dream that
they sold to you. From Black
Friday, Leake says, Reports came
in from everywhere This place is a
battlefield they dont care Shocking
behaviour and violence broke out.

Difference 1

The first main difference is that the

themes are different. Wings is
about not letting items define who
you are, while Black Friday
portrays the absolute dangers and
chaos of Black Friday.

For example, from Wings,

Macklemore describes, That's my
air bubble and I'm lost if it pops We
are what we wear, we wear what
we are But see I look inside the
mirror and think Phil Knight tricked
us all. From Black Friday, Leake
describes, It was deadly like a war
picture scene.

Difference 2

The second difference is that

Wings choice of the song builds up
the importance of the subject
(shoes) only to knock it down while
Black Fridays choice of diction
reveals that the subject (Black
Friday) is terrible through and
through, beginning of the poem to
the end.

For example from Wings, And I

was like, momma, this air bubble
right here, it's gonna make me fly
I hit that court, and when I jumped,
I jumped, I swear I got so high
I touched the net, mom I touched
the net, this is the best day of my
life. From Black Friday, the
beginning of the poem is Fists
flying people crying On this crazy
day black Friday What a disgrace
as the hunters race Christmas
bargains with a punch in the face,
and ends with Supermarkets were
forced to close their doors
When the crowds rushed in they
forgot civil laws It was a shameful
site and the customers werent
polite Those black Friday shoppers
they did fuss and they did fight.

3. You will create an illustrated poster that shows these similarities and differences. It can
beeither digital or on paper. Plan how you will represent these similarities/differences with
imagery.
Explain the similarity/difference

What image will represent this

similarity/difference?

Similarity 1

The first similarity is they both

revolve around the want for items.
Black Friday shoppers want
everything on the shelves, and the
people in Wings, wanted things,
especially shoes, to flaunt.

People fighting for expensive

shoes.

Similarity 2

The second similarity is they both

reveal problems that affect the
country. Black Friday reveals
how Black Friday is an extremely
violent day in many areas of the
country. Wings reveals how many
people rely too much on
appearance (what you wear, etc.).

A girl in front of a mirror in

expensive looking clothes with
expensive looking background
furniture with an arrow pointing to a
picture of the US.

Difference 1

The first main difference is that the

themes are different. Wings is
about not letting items define who
you are, while Black Friday
portrays the absolute dangers and
chaos of Black Friday.

On one side of the poster, Black

Friday can be an aisle in a store
where clowns are fighting for
supplies. On the other side, for
Wings, it can be represented by
shoes glowing in a persons hand,
but then throwing them away..

Difference 2

The second difference is that

Wings choice of the song builds
up the importance of the subject
(shoes) only to knock it down while
Black Fridays choice of diction
reveals that the subject (Black
Friday) is terrible through and
through, beginning of the poem to
the end.

For Wings it can be represented

by shoes glowing in a persons
hand, but then throwing them away.
For Black Friday it can be
represented by people fighting for
supplies from day to night.

4. Start working on your poster! It must include:

Both titles
Both authors/artists

 4 images total (at least) that represent 2 similarities and 2 differences between
the poems
4 quotes total (at least) that represent 2 similarities and 2 differences between
the poems