Phillis Wheatley

Connotation in Phyllis Wheatley's Poetry
This lesson is part of a unit studying the elements of poetry, including various forms of diction, tone, figures of speech, symbols, and meter. It takes approximately one to two days and should be preceded by a general introduction to Wheatley's life and times in order to place the works in their cultural context.

The Hand of America's First Black Female Poet
Listen to a 2005 NPR report about the sale of a document Wheatley wrote.

Phillis Wheatley
On this page, a brief biography. Follow links to activities, discussion questions, and support materials.

Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)
Some approaches to teaching Wheatley's poetry in the context of her life.

Poems by Phillis Wheatley
Hypertext comments and postreading questions for "On Being Brought From Africa to America," "To S. M., a Young African Painter, On Seeing His Works," and "On Imagination."

Poet Phillis Wheatley
Students edit a short paragraph about Wheatley. This activity is designed for elementary students.

Questions on Phillis Wheatley's Poetry
Questions on "To the Right Honourable William, Earl of Dartmouth, His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for North-America, Etc." and "To S. M., a Young African Painter, on Seeing His Works."

Words are Wonderful
This model vocabulary/reading unit focuses on Wheatley. It is designed for grades 3/4.