River Words: Haunted by Waters

Inspiration

The connection between human beings and rivers is widespread and deep. Brainstorm, either in small groups or as a class unit, lists of books, films, songs, and poems that refer to rivers. Post lists and encourage students to add to them throughout the study. Perhaps individual or class points could be given for every added title.

Again, brainstorm with students to list the words that could refer to rivers and river systems; here are some to get you started:

Creation

Have students construct phrases or sentences utilizing as many of the above words to describe non-water related subjects or events, such as:

Some sentence examples:

Have students share their examples and think of additional situations or topics that might lend themselves well to river metaphors. Students could write their favorites on large pieces of paper to be posted, or could use the computer to make each look more impressive, and then post them.

Focus again on the word lists. Construct poems with the following structures:

Structure # 1:

Example:

Structure # 2:

Write a poem to answer the basic questions of: who? what? where? when? and why?

Ask students to write several poems. It gets easier. As it gets easier, they can abandon the structure and construct their own. For some students, asking the river questions, or talking to the river, is inspiration for poetry writing. Have students share their work in both preliminary and final forms.

Bring in some movie reviews from the paper and perhaps Xerox the brief movie summaries often found in the weekend sections of daily newspapers. Discuss what it is the reviewers highlight and the kind of language used. Then ask students to create brief reviews for movies with the following titles (or they can come up with title of their own). Be sure that the river plays a part in the story. Some Examples:

Reflection

"Of course, now I a too old to be much of a fisherman, and now of course I usually fish the big waters alone, although some friends think I shouldn't. Like many fly fisherman in western Montana where the summer days are almost Arctic in length, I often do not start fishing until the cool of the evening. Then, in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise. Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters." -Norman Maclean, The River Runs Through It

In what ways might someone be "haunted by waters"? What is the one into which "all things merge"? And what is the river that runs through it? What words might the rocks hold?

It could be easily said from looking over the long lists of books, films, and songs with references to rivers (many more if you add lakes, the sea, the ocean, and rain and other forms of precipitation) that humans as a species are "haunted by waters." What are your thoughts on explanations for this fascination?

FACTS:

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