Dylan Thomas' poem is a contemplation of death. Although many eighth graders do not have direct experience with death, they know what it is like to fight for something. Thomas writes, "Rage, rage against the dying of the light." This plea from the speaker to press passionately to the finish line without giving up can be compared to many things the adolescent reader must go through, such as peer pressure, life decisions and standing up for what is right. Students can also use this as a springboard to learn about rhyme and repetition, as well as symbolism.
Robert Frost has many accessible poems for eighth graders. "The Road Not Taken" employs an engaging rhyme scheme and rhythm, and is deep in symbolism. Eighth grade is a time of discernment for students; they are struggling with decisions about friends, extracurricular activities and future plans. The poem describes a speaker who is at a fork in the road, describing two paths. He writes, "And I, I took the one less traveled by/And that has made all the difference." This poem is a great starting point for discussions about choices in young people's lives.
Maya Angelou paints a picture of an imprisoned animal, employing a metaphor that lasts throughout the poem. Despite being held in captivity, the caged bird still has a song to sing. The famous poem works for eighth graders because they often feel imprisoned by parental expectations, peer pressure and self-esteem issues. This poem has a tight rhyme scheme and rhythm, and is a good tool for an eighth grader to understand the art of the poet. This poem also features the stanza as a tool.
Although Langston Hughes was a major influence of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s, his poetry resonates today; eighth graders would relate to his longings for freedom and his big dreams. Students can learn about personification through the way the dream is given human qualities. The tone, which is the author's attitude toward the subject, is rather dark and shows the struggles of the African-American to realize his dreams. The poem ends starkly with Hughes writing about his dream, "Maybe it just sags/like a heavy load./Or does it explode?"