1. The Rose That Grew From Concrete
A Look into the Poetry of Tupac Shakur
Review Poetic devices
Brief Bio
Tupac’s poetry
You’re listening to “Keep Ya Head Up”
(4:22)

2. Tupac Shakur End Return Home
Tupac is well known for his Thug Life image, he had those very same words tattooed across his belly. But most people never knew that Tupac renounced his Thug Life, thought it was stupid, and a thing of the past. Tupac Shakur was born in Brooklyn, NY in Early in his life, he moved to Baltimore, MD, with his mother and sister. Although poor and at-risk he attended The Baltimore School for the Performing Arts. At this school, Tupac left a lasting impression on his teachers and was showing tremendous potential. Unfortunately, Tupac was unable to continue his education.
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3. Start reading Tupac’s poetry
Tupac, mostly known for his rap music, was an avid poet. He wrote all the time; most of his writings became rap lyrics but many became poems. Some of those poems where collected and published in an anthology called,
The Rose That Grew From Concrete.
You will read some of those poems and identify within those poems poetic devices. Some poems will have more than one, some poems will have none. Your job is to decide if the statement given is true or false.
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Start reading Tupac’s poetry

4. Start reading Tupac’s poetry
Tupac bio cont…
Tupac as a rap star had accomplished so much in the short time he was making music. His surprising acting ability also got him a role in the motion picture, Juice in The role made Tupac a household name and showed the world that music may not be Tupac's #1 attribute. Tupac eventually released a second album "Strictly for my N*****" which featured songs like "I Get Around " and "Keep Ya Head Up". This album increased the popularity of the already talented rapper, it had even bigger success than his first album. The next year in 1993 he starred along side Janet Jackson in the motion picture, Poetic Justice. He also was featured in the film Above the Rim.
In 1995 he released "Me Against the World", which sold millions and was on the #1 spot on Billboard’s chart for five weeks in a row. His latest CD, released in 1996" All Eyez on Me," was the first solo rap artist double CD pack in history, and came out on top its first week spending four weeks at #1 and sported the number #1 “How do you want it?” single.
While on his way from a boxing event in Las Vegas, Tupac Shakur was showered by bullets of unknown gunmen on September 13, 1996.  He died a few days later. His murder was never solved.
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Start reading Tupac’s poetry

5. Start reading Tupac’s Poetry
The following terms are some of the poetic devices you will be identifying. If you feel the need to review some of those poetic devices, please click on them.
rhyme
simile
metaphor
onomatopoeia
personification
alliteration
symbolism
theme
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6. SIMILE
A comparison between two objects using a specific word or comparison such as “like,” “as, “ or “than”
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7. Return to Poetic device list
METAPHOR
Connects two ideas or objects and asserts that they are same
Read Tupac’s poem and click a metaphor.
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8. Return to Poetic device list
PERSONIFICATION
an object or idea is represented as a person
human action
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9. used to amplify and intensify the readers’ sensory
ONOMOATOPOEIA
used to amplify and intensify the readers’ sensory
a very popular technique used in comic books
a word that imitates or suggests the source of the sound that it describes
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10. Return to Poetic device list
SYMBOLISM
something that represents a larger idea or value
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11. the repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of words.
ALLITERATION
the repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of words.
Tongue Twisters rely on alliteration
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12. RHYME refers to the repetition of the end sounds of words End
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13. Return to Poetic device list
THEME
the overall (sometimes underlying) message in the poem; what the poem is about
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14. The Rose that Grew from Concrete
Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature's law is wrong it learned to walk with out having feet. Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.
Read the poem to the right. Decide if the following statement is True or false: Tupac uses symbolism in this poem.
TRUE
FALSE
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15. That is true!
The Rose is a symbol of a person, perhaps Tupac himself, who overcame many obstacles.
NEXT POEM
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16. WRONG!
The Rose is a symbol of a person, perhaps Tupac himself, who overcame many obstacles.
NEXT POEM
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17. If There Be Pain Tupac uses plenty of rhyme in this poem. TRUE FALSE
If there be pain, all u need 2 do is call on me 2 be with you And before u hang up the phone u will no longer be alone Together we can never fall because our love will conquer all If there be pain, reach out 4 a helping hand and I shall hold u wherever I am Every breath I breathe will be into u 4 without u here my joy is through my life was lived through falling rain so call on me if there be pain
Tupac uses plenty of rhyme in this poem.
TRUE
FALSE
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18. Remember, Tupac was also a rapper. Most of his poems rhyme.
YOU’RE RIGHT!
Remember, Tupac was also a rapper. Most of his poems rhyme.
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NEXT POEM
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19. Remember, Tupac was also a rapper. Most of his poems rhyme
WRONG!
Remember, Tupac was also a rapper. Most of his poems rhyme
NEXT POEM
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20. Sometimes I Cry TRUE FALSE
Sometimes when I'm alone  I Cry,  Cause I am on my own.  The tears I cry are bitter and warm.  They flow with life but take no form  I Cry because my heart is torn.  I find it difficult to carry on.  If I had an ear to confide in,  I would cry among my treasured friend,  but who do you know that stops that long,  to help another carry on.  The world moves fast and it would rather pass by.  Then to stop and see what makes one cry,  so painful and sad.  And sometimes...  I Cry  and no one cares about why.
Sometimes I Cry
The theme in this poem could probably be sadness and loneliness.
TRUE
FALSE
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21. TRUE
Sadly enough, this poem is about loneliness. Tupac never married and there is no record of a special someone other than his mother. So its safe to assume that Tupac was lonely and this poem reflects that.
NEXT POEM
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22. NOPE!
Sadly enough, this poem is about loneliness. Tupac never married and there is no record of a special someone other than his mother. So its safe to assume that Tupac was lonely and this poem reflects that. So that was true.
NEXT POEM
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23. God FALSE TRUE Review Poetic devices End
When I was alone and had nothing I asked 4 a friend 2 help me bear the pain no on e came except...GOD when I needed a breath 2 rise from my sleep no one could help me except....GOD when all I saw was sadness and I needed answers no one heard me except ....GOD so when I am asked who I give my unconditional love 2 look for no other name except.....GOD!
Tupac uses alliteration in this poem.
TRUE
FALSE
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24. That is not true! However there is a lot of repetition.
NOPE!
That is not true! However there is a lot of repetition.
NEXT POEM
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25. YOU’RE RIGHT!
That is false. There are no lines, but one, where more than two words begin with the same sound. But there is also a lot of repetition.
NEXT POEM
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26. A River That Flows Forever
As long as some suffer The River Flows Forever As long as there is pain As strong as a smile can be And as long as u R with me we'll ride the River Together
Now this poem has alliteration.
TRUE
FALSE
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27. Yup!
There is tons of alliteration in this poem; …flows forever…. …as…as …strong…smile …and…as…as…
One last poem
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28. Nope!
It was true. There is tons of alliteration in this poem; …flows forever…. …as…as …strong…smile …and…as…as…
One last poem
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29. Written in his own writing
Need Extra Credit?
Click here.
Also check out some Tupac videos
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30. THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE
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OVER
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To read more poetry from Tupac Shakur you can purchase this book at most book stores. You will be surprised to discover the deep intelligence and the many facets of this controversial musician, actor, poet, and philosopher.
Need Extra Credit?
Click here.
Also check out some Tupac videos.

31. Videos START OVER Music video "Dear Mama“ Music video "Changes“
Get to know Tupac a little better through this ten minute interview. Tupac interview about growing up
Music video "Dear Mama“
Music video "Changes“
Music video "I Ain't Mad At Ya”
Tupac did a concert in Don’t believe me? check it out!
Extra Credit!
Listen closely to the lyrics in one of the music videos, and on a seperate sheet of paper, list all the poetic devices you hear Tupac use. or
Watch the other videos and write a one page report summarizing what you saw.