INVENTED “I” NOTES:
Directions:
Once you have identified a picture for this exercise and someone in it
whose voice you will take on, identify at least 10 specific concrete nouns in the picture itself. Then, create responses to the questions below
as you believe the person in your picture would respond. Please be specific; remember -- events
are made up of sounds, smells, tastes, textures, and visual images. These responses can be used to create your
poems or monologue. (If you draw a blank
on any one question, move on and come back to it later.) You should answer at least ¾ of the questions.
10
specific concrete nouns in the picture: Name/Date
of photo: _____________________________
1. What is your name? How did you get your name?
2. What
do you do in life? Elaborate on what you
do and why you do it.
3. What is your most treasured possession?
Describe & tell something about it.
4. What is your earliest memory? How has that experience affected your life?
5. What do you consider your most
distinctive physical characteristic?
Compare it to something.
6. Identify something you want, but are
afraid to ask for.
7. What is your biggest weakness or
vulnerability?
8. What is one thing you would change
about your life to date?
9. What's
boiling just beneath the surface?
10. Recount
a dream you remember having.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Based on
your historical time period:
Name three critical historical events that have
impacted your life –in
a small or large way. Describe each and/
explain why.
11.
12.
13.
Name three historical
facts about you which have been researched.
14.
15.
16.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
In the
event portrayed in the picture: [Be as specific as
possible with these answers!]
17. Where
are you? [e.g., landscape, country,
building, etc.]
18. Who
else is a part of this moment?
19. What
is happening?
20. When is it happening? [e.g., day,
time of day, year, season, etc.]
21. Why are you being photographed?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Complete the following
statements:
(You might use one of
these lines to begin your poem.)
22. I have
lost....
23. I want....
24. I have forgotten....
25. No one knows....
26. My story is
like a…
27. Silence is
like a …
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Exploded Images: Make a list of three images that come
to mind when you think back on your life. Then,
explode each image into figurative language
(image/simile/metaphor/personification/hyperbole etc.)
28.
29.
30.