Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton

Based on true events of important US history, this non-fiction narrative, the biography of George Moses Horton introduces students to a story of determination and a profound love of words. In the nineteenth century, North Carolina slave George Moses Horton taught himself to read and earned money to purchase his time-though not his freedom. Horton became the first African American to be published in the South, protesting slavery in the form of verse. Told with vivid, figurative language; metaphor, simile and hyperbole. Students will use story elements; setting, plot and character development as they understand themes of determination, pride, talent, freedom, slavery, abolition and poetry as a form of expression. There is informational back matter- Author’s Note. Curriculum Connections: Biography; George Moses Horton, narrative non-fiction, vivid, figurative language, story elements; setting, plot and character development, cause and effect, Themes: slavery, love of words, poetry, determination, talent, pride, freedom, abolition. Informational back matter- Author’s Note