Slam

       Slam poetry began during the 1990's and was most energetic at that time.Slam began from a construction worker Marc Smith in 1986 at a jazz club in Chicago.  Slam poetry is best articulated through performance rather than from words being silently read in one's mind. It is highly politicized and looks upon racial, economic, and gender inequalities. Slam is done in competition where poets perform their own work alone or in teams before an audience, which also serves as a group of judges. Poets are judged by the manner of enthusiasm and devotion of their performance.  

 "WHAT TEACHERS MAKE" BY TAYLOR MALI

What Teachers Make

Poem Analysis 
In "What Teacher's Make," Taylor Mali as a teacher defended himself from a criticizing remark someone said one day about teachers because he really pours his heart out when saying that teachers do more at their job than doing something less than what they really wanted to do for a living. Taylor becomes witty and humorous in front of his audience in order to provide an amusing experience in slam competitions. Through his poem, Taylor is able to tell all of the people who think of him as a lower than themselves because all they do is teach that he actually makes a difference in his classroom. 

Literary Analysis
Simile- When comparing a C+ plus with a Congressional Medal of Honor
Hyperbole- Taylor Mali used a hyperbole when calling a student's parents making it seem like he did something wrong when in reality he stood up to a bully, which was respectful of the teacher. Mali added this to create humor. 
Euphemism- the line, " I decide to bite my tongue instead of his," can be a more lenient phrase for something much more vulgar. He might have wanted to swear back at him or beat him up but instead he created a masterpiece of a poem instead that had an even greater effect than fighting. Another euphemism is, "and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you give them this." "This" stands for the middle finger. Mali actually uses it in slams while performing the play. The phrase is a euphemism for telling someone off.