Discover 3 engaging songs to teach for analyzing allusion in secondary ELA classrooms!
Hey there, fellow ELA enthusiasts! 📚✨ Are you looking to spice up your lesson plans with some music that packs a punch of literary magic? Well, you’re in for a treat!
Today, we’re diving into the world of allusions in music—a fantastic way to engage your students and explore the depths of literary references within the melodies they love. If you’re new here, we are kinda popular for recommending these 15 songs to use in ELA. We also have 15 MORE songs to use and songs to use for analyzing irony if you’re interested!
I’ve handpicked three songs brimming with allusions, perfect for analysis in your secondary ELA classrooms. These tracks not only resonate with our students’ musical tastes but also unveil the rich tapestry of storytelling and cultural references that music can offer.
So, grab your headphones, and let’s embark on this melodious journey through literature together! 🎵📖
3 Songs to Teach for Analyzing Allusion
From our blog post to lyrical journal prompt resources, we LOVE incorporating music in our literary analysis.
Now, if you are looking to incorporate pop culture in your rhetorical analysis, The Daring English Teacher has you covered with a free project. Â
Be sure to check both of those resources out if you love using music in secondary ELA like us. For now, we hope you find value in these 3 songs to teach for analyzing allusion!
“Black Parade” by Beyoncé
Beyoncé released this hit on Juneteenth in 2020. It is RICH in allusion to this important holiday, Black culture, history, and activism with references to African heritage, Black Lives Matter, and the resilience of the Black community.
“Silver Platter” by Khalid
If you’re looking for a lighthearted song to teach for analyzing allusion, this one is it! Released in 2023 for the Barbie movie, Khalid’s song alludes to Barbie and Ken’s relationship…well, more like their lack thereof.Â
Want to add a POP of pop culture to your curriculum? Check out our 2023 pop culture analysis resource bundle!
“Good Job” by Alicia Keys
Released in 2020, this song alludes to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is something all students can relate to. Keys dedicates this song to frontline workers by acknowledging their hard work and dedication during the pandemic.
Integrating songs rich in allusions into your ELA curriculum is not just innovative, but incredibly effective for deepening students’ analytical skills and engagement with literature.
By dissecting the layered meanings in these tracks, students can develop a more nuanced understanding of literary devices and how they permeate our everyday media.Â
So, don’t hesitate to press play on these songs in your next lesson plan and watch the literary analysis come alive in your classroom.
