the blind men and the elephant by john godfrey saxe

By considering each man's response in relation to who they are as distinct individuals, students can be taught to consider one's (or another individual's) identity simply by understanding that how people perceive and respond to the external things reflect who they are on the inside, but also that not every individual has the same chances/opportunities to take in the same external things in this world (the six blind men did not all touch the same part of the elephant). Arguably, each perspective reveals each man's identity since each of them express what they specify about the elephant in their own unique manner. This poem is the retelling of an Indian parable that incorporates the different perspectives of six blind men regarding the same elephant to gain more knowledge about. As students develop their writing skills, understanding how to organize a piece is essential.

When teaching students about organization, this text could be used to show students how the structure can keep the main idea clear throughout the poem. Poetry generally has a structure that follows an organizational pattern, and this poem follows a fairly strict pattern.

Using this text instructionally would pair well in a study of Organization, one of the six traits of writing Spandel explains in Creating Writers. The poem has a structure that is easy to understand and could be useful for generating conversations about identity and how we are viewed by others. They recognize that they are more than the one label they are often given, and adolescent students would be able to understand this poem through that lens. Middle school students often feel that they are put into a box based on one part of their identity. Considering the way that people view us in accordance to parts of our identity would be an interesting discussion with adolescents. The elephant is more than any one part of its body, in the same way that a person is more than any one trait or characteristic. When considering the concept of identity, this poem provides an interesting perspective on how others perceive an identity. The conclusion of the poem states that while each person said something true about the elephant, none of them were completely right about it. None of the blind men ever fully understand the elephant because they are only able to interact with one part of the elephant. Each of the blind men touches a different part of the elephant and compares it to another thing or animal. In this poem which is adapted from a parable, tells the story of blind men interacting with an elephant for the first time.

The blind men and the elephant by john godfrey saxe