Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 23: The Poetry of Jim Morrison

This activity is designed to help students recognize how lyrics by the rock-poet Jim Morrison connect with themes from diverse and respected traditional works. While William Blake's influence on Morrison is often noted, this activity focuses on the connections between two of his songs and Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and T. S. Eliot's 'Ash Wednesday.' Additionally, this activity provides opportunities for the study of poetic concerns such as meter, form, language, and tone as well as literary interpretations of the lyrics. The activity may be used as an introduction or follow-up to units on poetry, Sophocles and/or T.S. Eliot.