The Poet X

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“The Poet Y Is You”

Emulating the style of Xiomara’s poetry in The Poet X, students will write their own poems and, in doing so, learn more about the history and significance of this groundbreaking literary movement.

Poetry—and specifically slam poetry—helps Xiomara express the pain, pleasure, and heartache of growing up as an Afro-Latina in New York City. Much like Xiomara, slam poetry is a major part of Elizabeth Acevedo’s evolution as a writer and performer.

In this exercise, you will write three pieces of your own slam poetry. Like Xiomara’s poems, each piece should convey something unique to your own experience. Perhaps your poems will reveal a fact that few people know about you, shed light on a community that is often silenced and in need of a voice, or simply express an intense feeling that is important to share.

• Read through Power Poetry’s “5 Tips for Slam Poetry” before writing your poems. Each poem should be only a few brief stanzas.
• After you have completed your poems, read one aloud for the class. Try to perform with as much “rhythm and passion” as possible, as recommended by Power Poetry.

Teaching Suggestion: You may opt to make this into a longer assignment rather than a single session to give students more time to write and prepare for their performances. If you opt to keep this activity to a single class period, students might be reminded that their poems need not be perfect. If you decide to make this into a longer assignment, encourage students to dig deeper into Power Poetry’s tips for writing and performing, such as “Advice on Stage Fright from Slam Poets” and “5 Tips for Reading Poetry Aloud.”

It may be beneficial for students to utilize the “Poetics” section of Acevedo’s website and listen to her reading her own slam poetry: “Rat Ode,” “Laying on of Hands,” “Afro-Latina,” and “Hair.” (Content Warning: Occasional profanity).

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who may struggle with this writing assignment, you might have them write only one poem and allow them to work with partners to develop it. Suggest that partners brainstorm ideas together and give each other feedback throughout the writing and performing process. For advanced learners—and especially those learners who are not shy in their writing/performing abilities—you may choose to add a competitive element to this activity. In a typical slam poetry competition, each poet receives scores from 0 to 10 from 5 randomly selected judges. You can elect students to be the judges, or perhaps even bring in other teachers or school administrators for the competition. The winner(s) of the slam poetry competition might display their work for the school community. 

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. The only pieces of prose in the novel are assignments that Xiomara has written for Ms. Galiano’s English class.

• What does the literary form of The Poet X, a novel in verse, say about Xiomara’s personality? (topic sentence)
• Compare and contrast Xiomara’s prose style to her poetry style. What do the differences reveal about Xiomara?
• In your conclusion, explain how Xiomara’s poetry connects to her experience of Growing Up, as well as her processing of feelings of Guilt and Shame.

2. In Part 2, Xiomara boldly tells Father Sean what she thinks of the parable of Adam and Eve.

• What is it about the story of Adam and Eve that makes Xiomara so angry? (topic sentence)
• Research Adam and Eve and the various interpretations of the story. What are the core themes?
• In your conclusion, describe a version of the Bible story that might resonate with Xiomara, who balks at the notion of temptation.

3. As a young gay man from a Catholic, Dominican family, Xavier faces challenges of his own.

• What expectations around masculinity are present in Xiomara’s poetry? (topic sentence)
• Analyze 2 or 3 of Xiomara’s poems that explicitly deal with masculinity and describe them in relation to Xavier’s experience.
• In your conclusion, answer this question: How might femininity and Xiomara’s conception of girlhood be the flip side of the expectations faced by Xavier? Describe how binary (either/or) thinking might negatively impact both Xiomara and Xavier.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Xiomara was delivered via caesarean section 50 minutes after her twin brother was born. What does it mean, symbolically, that Xiomara was poised to enter the world “feet first”? Discuss the symbolism of this scenario from Mami’s point of view, and explain how this relates to Xiomara’s character development, particularly in terms of her Growing Up and Separating from Her Parents.

2. Write a character sketch of Xiomara’s mother from the perspective of Caridad, Xiomara’s oldest friend. Focus on the elements of Mami’s character that Xiomara might find difficult to see. As you write your sketch, consider the following questions: How does Caridad experience (or not experience) Guilt and Shame concerning her religion, which might influence how she views Mami? What qualities might Caridad be able to appreciate in Mami that Xiomara cannot? How might Caridad advise Xiomara, to help her better understand and feel some gratitude for Mami?

3. At no point in this novel do any characters use the word “feminist.” Do you feel Xiomara would embrace the term, or do you think she would find the label difficult? If you think she might find it difficult, explain how so. Consider how Xiomara understands womanhood, in her terms of her own Adolescent Sexuality but also in terms of her Guilt and Shame related to her religion. Is there anyone in the novel who might readily embrace the term “feminist”? Support your response with evidence from the text.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What mythical Greek monster does Xiomara imagine as her mother when she wants to repel unwanted attention from men and boys?

A) Cerberus

B) Hydra

C) Medusa

D) Cyclops

2. To Xiomara, what kind of friend does Jesus feel like?

A) One who never seems to answer her calls or letters

B) One who invites himself over and texts her too much

C) One who always forgets her birthday

D) One who borrows things from her and forgets to give them back

3. Mami is angered when Xiomara refuses communion at church one Sunday. What is Xiomara’s punishment?

A) She must attend evening Mass with Mami every night that week.

B) She must pray the rosary at least 2 times each day.

C) She must apologize directly to Father Sean.

D) She is sent to bed that evening without any supper.

4. Which of the following best describes why Ms. Galiano is a role model for Xiomara?

A) She works in a profession doing what she is most passionate about.

B) She has amassed wealth through smart investments and made a nice life for herself in a wealthy part of Manhattan.

C) She always speaks her mind, even when it gets her in trouble with the school’s administration.

D) She is a smart, confident Latina who loves poetry just as much as Xiomara.

5. What is the subject of the first poem Xiomara reads to Aman, and why does it strengthen their bond?

A) The poem is about Mami; Aman also has a difficult relationship with his mother.

B) The poem is about Papi; it reminds Aman of his mother, who is far away in Trinidad.

C) The poem is about Xavier; Aman has always wondered what it would be like to have a brother.

D) The poem is about her love of poetry; Aman feels just as strongly about the written word, though he prefers novels.

6. What does Xiomara mean when she writes that Xavier’s “book smarts mean / I couldn’t even copy his homework”?

A) Because Xavier is so intelligent, he goes to a school for gifted students, and Xiomara cannot copy his homework because she is physically distant.

B) Because Xavier is on a different plane of intelligence, she cannot even understand the ideas/concepts written in his homework.

C) Because Xavier is so smart, Xiomara feels a pressure to distance herself from him to avoid sullying his “gifted” reputation.

D) Because Xavier is the “good” twin for being a diligent student, Mami physically separates Xiomara and Xavier when it comes time to study.

7. When Xiomara imagines her future for an essay in Ms. Galiano’s class, what business does she imagine opening, and where is it located?

A) A café in Spain

B) A poetry nonprofit in Jamaica

C) A restaurant in Cuba

D) A center for young women in the Dominican Republic

8. Upon kissing Aman for the first time, to what animal does Xiomara compare her heart?

A) A kitten, playing with a ball of string

B) A grasshopper, leaping and jumping

C)  A finch, learning to fly

D) A stallion, racing through the plains

9. What strategy does Xiomara discuss using to hide her developing body and turn it into “an invisible equation”?

A) She wears all-black clothing.

B) She conceals her body in large sweaters.

C) She only goes out in the early morning and the late evening, when fewer people are around.

D) She always slouches, curving her back to hide her breasts.

10. Whom does Xiomara choose as the subject of a paper for her English class about a person who is misunderstood by society?

A) Papi

B) Mami

C) Caridad

D) Xavier

11. For what reason is Xiomara sorry for the incident involving kissing a boy?

A) Mami cannot understand that kissing is natural.

B) She cannot control her sexual urges.

C) Her religion takes a puritanical view about romantic relationships.

D) She was caught.

12. What does Xavier give to Xiomara for her birthday?

A) A silk scarf

B) A paper lantern

C) A gold-plated pen

D) A leather notebook

13. When Mami finds Xiomara’s book of poems, how does she attempt to destroy them?

A) She lights her notebook on fire with a match.

B) She throws it out of the window.

C) She dumps a glass of water on her notebook.

D) She rips out each page of the notebook, one by one.

14. The day after Xiomara’s blow-out fight with Mami, what tips Ms. Galiano off that Xiomara has suffered a traumatic incident?

A) Xiomara has red-rimmed, puffy eyes when she comes into class.

B) Xiomara is wearing the same clothes as the day before.

C) Xavier writes an anonymous letter to Ms. Galiano.

D) Xiomara tells Ms. Galiano that she no longer cares about poetry.

15. At the post-poetry slam celebration, why does Papi ask Xiomara to dance with him?

A) He wants to teach Xiomara the bachata.

B) He suddenly realizes that he’s never danced with her before.

C) Poetry is good for the mind, but dancing is good for the body.

D) Dancing with someone is a good way to tell them you love them.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. On the first day of school, Xiomara walks into her high school and greets the security guards by name in a way that offers her “a way to get closer / to escape.” What is meant by “escape” here? What is she escaping from?

2. In Part 2, Xiomara begins referring to Cody by his name rather than the nickname “White Boy.” What does this reveal about the evolution of her character?