Sometimes when I want to remember a feeling or an emotion I experienced at a particular time in my life, I look to my journals because the memories are not enough. The words I put to those memories help bring back the details. What a tremendous power words have to change our lives!
Exercise One: What are some words that you enjoy? Pick words that you like the sound of, words that provide clear images to you. See how many words you can come up with.
Exercise Two: Read the following poem entitled "The Jabberwocky," by Lewis Carroll, out loud: http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/jabber/jabberwocky.html
Reflection Questions:
1. What did you think about that poem?
2. What were some words that jumped out at you?
3. Did you realize that lots of those words weren't even real words, but ones that he made up? Why do you think this poem is so famous despite its lack of "real words"? (For "definitions" of the made-up words, check out this Wikipediaarticle.)
Now, you will become a words smith! Write a poem in which you make up your own words! Even though you are making up a word, you should be fully aware of what it means, and if you do a good job, readers should be able to intuitively know what you mean by the word because of the context you create for it. Finish it and bring it to class next time. Be ready to share your work.
Fun Fact: Neologisms are words that have been "made up" by someone but are becoming part of the language. They have not been officially adopted yet, but enough people use them that they are recognizable. Let's see if you can create some!!
Source: http://smallworldathome.blogspot.com/2009/01/smallworlds-wordsmithery-good-words.html
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