Vinson

Strange Fruit

By Billie Holiday

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves
Blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant south
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
The scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
for the rain to gather
for the wind to suck
for the sun to rot
for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
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Although this is not strictly a poem, its poetic nature possesses great potential for teaching students about imagery, mood and tone. This lesson would be a revision for Sec3 Express students who have previously received instruction in imagery, mood and tone.

I would first play a recording of this haunting song from Billie Holiday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXdnD39GYVU. The recording will be played twice. The first will be for familiarization, while the second will allow students to identify the mood and tone. I chose this original version instead of more contemporary ones because I feel that Billie Holiday had captured very aptly the sombre mood and tone of the poem. Furtehrmore, metaphors are used to address the sensitive issue of racial prejudice and violence. 

1) What do you think the song is about?
2) What does the metaphor of 'fruit' refer to?
3) What is the tone and mood evoked by the song?
     -How is this achieved?
     -Identify the specific words/ phrases that indicate this.
     -Does the mood and tone remain constant throughout the song? If no, what is the difference?
4) How does the imagery, mood and tone come together to create meaning for the song?

Following this, I will provide students with the cultural context for the song before revisiting the questions again to see if their answers may have evolved with some underatnding of the background behind the song.