blackbeard the pirate king written by j. patrick lewis

Lewis, J. Patrick. Blackbeard the Pirate King. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 2006. ISBN: 9780792255857.

Critical Analysis:
     Blackbeard: The Pirate King, is a biographical compilation of poetry that depicts the life and death of the notorious pirate, Blackbeard. The author J. Patrick Lewis, describes the life and death of this pirate in a manner that collaborates poetry with a biography. Each encompasses details of Blackbeard's life while incorporating language, layout, and appeal through utilizing poetry. The layout of this compilation corresponds to one theme -- Blackbeard's life. From the beginning of this compilation to the conclusion, the author utilizes poetry to detail the life of Blackbeard. In the first poem, the author introduces Blackbeard by his real name, Edward Teach, and describes how the legacy of Blackbeard would never be achieved by any other pirate. The author also incorporates various illustrations that were created during the period of time when Blackbeard roamed the seas. Through this incorporation, the author has provided his audience with additions that enhance the essence of this particular biographical theme. Not only does the author utilize a layout that enhances the story of Blackbeard, but he also incorporates the pirate language within his poems. Within the Spotlight Poem below, "At Teach's Hole," the author includes the phrases 'derring-do' and 'twice told and true.' These phrases are just two out of many phrases used by pirates. Lewis' inclusion of these phrases add to the enhancement of this theme by allowing his audience to become divulged among the language used by whom he describes. By reading through this whole compilation, the audience is subjected to the life of Edward 'Blackbeard' Teach in a manner that appeals to their interests.  

Spotlight Poem:

"At Teach's Hole"

The ghostly headless figure
Of Blackbeard, it is said,
Still swims under the moonlight
Looking for its severed head.

But who knows where the truth lies
In tales of derring-do.
The tales that most excite you
And the tales twice told and true.

                          -J. Patrick Lewis

Connections:

• Ask children if they've ever heard of Blackbeard and who he was.
• Read the compilation to children and then have the children describe who he was based off of what they were just read. 
• Have children create their own poems about a particular person; it could be an autobiographic poem or a biographic poem.