War Woman!
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Painting of Nancy Morgan Hart
by Louis S. Glanzman.
National Geographic, October 1975.
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_Writing Heroic Poetry
Preparation:
Read (and sing) some examples of poems and songs that commemorate famous deeds, such as Longfellow’s “Paul Revere’s Ride” or a Johnny Cash ballad. Throughout history, people have celebrated heroic events and characters by writing poems and songs about them.
Materials:
The story, “War Woman!” from The Tree that Owns Itself and Adventure Tales from Georgia’s Past (Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 1996)
Or short biographical sketch of a historical figure (See the sketch of Nancy Hart, below)
Or picture-book-biography of a historical figure
Pen/cil & paper
Procedures:
Have students choose writing partners.
Start by introducing/refreshing students about the simple poetic form, the name (“acronym”) poem: The only “rule” of this type of poem is that the first letter of each line - when read vertically - spells the name of the hero/ine. (If the writer wants to get more complicated, s/he can add rhyme, or make every word in a line alliterate. For a longer poem, write a separate verse for the hero’s first and last names.)
Here’s an example of a name poem that I wrote in honor of Nancy Hart, the gutsy Revolutionary War fighter nicknamed the “War Woman” of Georgia:
Headstrong heroine,
American Amazon,
Revolutionary War Woman,
Triumphant Nancy Hart!
Tell the partners to choose a historical figure and write a name poems about this hero/ine. As the students write, circulate around the tables and share examples to inspire the rest of the group.
Be sure to leave the last ten minutes for the poet/partners to read aloud their verses. (This will be more fun if they hold their pencils near their lips and pretend they’re talking into microphones.)
Next, give a mini-lesson on another form of poetry that makes great hero/ine verse - the limerick.
Display the guidelines for this form: A limerick is a funny, five-line poem. Tell the students that its humor depends on both rhythm and rhyme. The first, second, and fifth lines are longer and rhyme with each other. The second and fourth lines are shorter and rhyme with each other. The first line of a limerick usually begins “There was” or “There once was.” The last line is the “punch line,” like in a joke. (Hint: Young writers tend to get bogged down if you tell them how many syllables or beats should be put in each line. Instead, read aloud a couple of examples, emphasizing the rhythm.)
Here’s a limerick that I wrote about Nancy Hart:
There once was a woman named Nancy
Who made British soldiers quite antsy.
She cooked up a meal,
Which they thought a good deal,
‘Til she served up their hides good and fancy!
Hint: If students are getting stuck with their rhythm or rhymes, give a suggestion or two. Point them toward a thesaurus or rhyming dictionary to find words of different lengths or sounds. Have historical references handy so kids can look up details of battle, dress, or customs.
Follow Up:
A great way to follow up the writing session is by “publishing” these hero/ine verses on “parchment.”
(Pretend “parchment” is easily made by dunking sheets of typing paper into tea-water...
Here’s how: Heat some water and add tea bags, then cool and pour into a cookie pan with sides. After dunking, hang the paper with clothespins on a makeshift line. The paper will dry tan, splotchy, and wrinkly – like parchment.)
Write on the “parchment” with Sharpie markers for the “look” of ink. Better still – clean off some turkey feathers and let the young poets dip these quill pens into India ink!
Biographical Sketch: Nancy Hart
Nancy Hart was a freedom fighter in the backcountry of Georgia and South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. She fought in the famous battle of Kettle Creek. She was also a spy for the American patriots. Native Americans nicknamed her War Woman in tribute to her bravery and her marksmanship. She was also known as Aunt Nancy, a skilled cook and midwife. She is the only woman who has been honored by having a Georgia county named for her. There is also a Georgia highway, a city, and a state park named for her.
Nancy Morgan Hart was born in North Carolina. She married Benjamin Hart and moved to Georgia in the 1770's. The Hart family lived on Wahatchee Creek in what is now Elbert County. They had eight children. Ben Hart was a lieutenant in the Georgia Militia. After the Americans won their independence, the Harts moved to Brunswick, where Ben was a justice of the peace and a justice of the inferior court. Ben Hart died in 1790, and Nancy remarried, but her second husband died shortly after the marriage. Nancy moved with her son John to Kentucky. She died around 1812 and was buried in the family cemetery in Henderson County, Kentucky.
Nancy Hart's role during the Revolutionary War has become legendary. In a well-known incident, she detained five Tory soldiers at her log cabin, under the guise of cooking them a meal. When she had won the soldiers' confidence with food and liquor, she began to disarm them, passing their muskets stealthfully to her daughter, Sukey. A soldier caught her stealing his musket, Nancy shot him, then held the others captive until her husband's band of militia could arrive. Nancy urged the militia to hang the captives, claiming that these soldiers were responsible for the ambush and murder of John Dooly, a celebrated patriot and neighbor. According to the legend, Nancy sang "Yankee Doodle" as she marched the soldiers out to be hanged.
Nancy also spied on enemy troops. In another incident, she fashioned a raft by tying logs together with a grapevine. Then she rafted across a river to reach a Tory camp and bring back news about troop numbers and weapons. In another tale, she pretended she was deranged so she could roam through the enemy ranks, picking up information. (You can read my version of this tale by clicking here: The Spy Who Went Crazy)
Part of the Nancy Hart legend is her striking appearance: She stood nearly six-feet tall, strong and muscular. It was said that she towered over her skinny husband, Ben Hart. Nancy had blazing red hair and her eyes crossed when she stared. She had an ugly face, her skin scarred by smallpox. She scowled fiercely at opponents, and her speech was rough.
Preparation:
Read (and sing) some examples of poems and songs that commemorate famous deeds, such as Longfellow’s “Paul Revere’s Ride” or a Johnny Cash ballad. Throughout history, people have celebrated heroic events and characters by writing poems and songs about them.
Materials:
The story, “War Woman!” from The Tree that Owns Itself and Adventure Tales from Georgia’s Past (Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 1996)
Or short biographical sketch of a historical figure (See the sketch of Nancy Hart, below)
Or picture-book-biography of a historical figure
Pen/cil & paper
Procedures:
Have students choose writing partners.
Start by introducing/refreshing students about the simple poetic form, the name (“acronym”) poem: The only “rule” of this type of poem is that the first letter of each line - when read vertically - spells the name of the hero/ine. (If the writer wants to get more complicated, s/he can add rhyme, or make every word in a line alliterate. For a longer poem, write a separate verse for the hero’s first and last names.)
Here’s an example of a name poem that I wrote in honor of Nancy Hart, the gutsy Revolutionary War fighter nicknamed the “War Woman” of Georgia:
Headstrong heroine,
American Amazon,
Revolutionary War Woman,
Triumphant Nancy Hart!
Tell the partners to choose a historical figure and write a name poems about this hero/ine. As the students write, circulate around the tables and share examples to inspire the rest of the group.
Be sure to leave the last ten minutes for the poet/partners to read aloud their verses. (This will be more fun if they hold their pencils near their lips and pretend they’re talking into microphones.)
Next, give a mini-lesson on another form of poetry that makes great hero/ine verse - the limerick.
Display the guidelines for this form: A limerick is a funny, five-line poem. Tell the students that its humor depends on both rhythm and rhyme. The first, second, and fifth lines are longer and rhyme with each other. The second and fourth lines are shorter and rhyme with each other. The first line of a limerick usually begins “There was” or “There once was.” The last line is the “punch line,” like in a joke. (Hint: Young writers tend to get bogged down if you tell them how many syllables or beats should be put in each line. Instead, read aloud a couple of examples, emphasizing the rhythm.)
Here’s a limerick that I wrote about Nancy Hart:
There once was a woman named Nancy
Who made British soldiers quite antsy.
She cooked up a meal,
Which they thought a good deal,
‘Til she served up their hides good and fancy!
Hint: If students are getting stuck with their rhythm or rhymes, give a suggestion or two. Point them toward a thesaurus or rhyming dictionary to find words of different lengths or sounds. Have historical references handy so kids can look up details of battle, dress, or customs.
Follow Up:
A great way to follow up the writing session is by “publishing” these hero/ine verses on “parchment.”
(Pretend “parchment” is easily made by dunking sheets of typing paper into tea-water...
Here’s how: Heat some water and add tea bags, then cool and pour into a cookie pan with sides. After dunking, hang the paper with clothespins on a makeshift line. The paper will dry tan, splotchy, and wrinkly – like parchment.)
Write on the “parchment” with Sharpie markers for the “look” of ink. Better still – clean off some turkey feathers and let the young poets dip these quill pens into India ink!
Biographical Sketch: Nancy Hart
Nancy Hart was a freedom fighter in the backcountry of Georgia and South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. She fought in the famous battle of Kettle Creek. She was also a spy for the American patriots. Native Americans nicknamed her War Woman in tribute to her bravery and her marksmanship. She was also known as Aunt Nancy, a skilled cook and midwife. She is the only woman who has been honored by having a Georgia county named for her. There is also a Georgia highway, a city, and a state park named for her.
Nancy Morgan Hart was born in North Carolina. She married Benjamin Hart and moved to Georgia in the 1770's. The Hart family lived on Wahatchee Creek in what is now Elbert County. They had eight children. Ben Hart was a lieutenant in the Georgia Militia. After the Americans won their independence, the Harts moved to Brunswick, where Ben was a justice of the peace and a justice of the inferior court. Ben Hart died in 1790, and Nancy remarried, but her second husband died shortly after the marriage. Nancy moved with her son John to Kentucky. She died around 1812 and was buried in the family cemetery in Henderson County, Kentucky.
Nancy Hart's role during the Revolutionary War has become legendary. In a well-known incident, she detained five Tory soldiers at her log cabin, under the guise of cooking them a meal. When she had won the soldiers' confidence with food and liquor, she began to disarm them, passing their muskets stealthfully to her daughter, Sukey. A soldier caught her stealing his musket, Nancy shot him, then held the others captive until her husband's band of militia could arrive. Nancy urged the militia to hang the captives, claiming that these soldiers were responsible for the ambush and murder of John Dooly, a celebrated patriot and neighbor. According to the legend, Nancy sang "Yankee Doodle" as she marched the soldiers out to be hanged.
Nancy also spied on enemy troops. In another incident, she fashioned a raft by tying logs together with a grapevine. Then she rafted across a river to reach a Tory camp and bring back news about troop numbers and weapons. In another tale, she pretended she was deranged so she could roam through the enemy ranks, picking up information. (You can read my version of this tale by clicking here: The Spy Who Went Crazy)
Part of the Nancy Hart legend is her striking appearance: She stood nearly six-feet tall, strong and muscular. It was said that she towered over her skinny husband, Ben Hart. Nancy had blazing red hair and her eyes crossed when she stared. She had an ugly face, her skin scarred by smallpox. She scowled fiercely at opponents, and her speech was rough.