How Lin-Manuel Miranda Can Enhance Your Teaching

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for 10+ years, you’ve heard of Lin-Manuel Miranda. Mr. Miranda is a god of composition, bringing us some of the best of Broadway and music we’ve ever known.

But did you know that while Lin-Manuel worked on bringing his first musical, In the Heights, to the stage, he worked as an English teacher to make ends meet? This may not surprise many, since he’s shown a profound understanding of poetry and the English language in his writing.

Recently I was discussing Broadway greats with another teacher. We talked about the great composers of Broadway and how they changed theater, even creating new genres. My friend said that Stephen Sondheim brought poetry to theater, as seen in his hits such as West Side Story, Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods. I agreed, but added that if Sondheim brought poetry, Lin-Manuel Miranda took that and added rhythm.

This conversation stayed with me later as I thought back over the hits that Lin-Manuel Miranda has brought so far in his relatively short career (he’s only 42!). I decided it would be fun to use Miranda’s hit songs and lyrics to introduce different poetry elements. See below for some focused skills matched with a hit Lin-Miranda song, and note that these lessons align with my Poetry Boot Camp, designed for ELA students in grades 9-10.

Diction & Ambiguity – “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (Encanto)

To start off our unit on poetry, I focus on a unique skill. I teach students about diction, but we spend more time discussing ambiguity. So much of poetry analysis relies on making interpretations based on the text. Therefore, analysis of what poem says and what a poem implies are equally important. As you watch this clip, consider the following questions to discuss diction (what is said) and ambiguity (what could be interpreted):

• Consider the way the Pepa and Felix talk about the wedding. Pepa calls it “my wedding day,” while Felix says “our wedding day.”
• Delores describes life with Bruno, then later says “I can hear him now”
• How does Camilo describe Bruno (“seven foot frame,” etc.)? What’s true, and what may be exaggerated?
• How do the actions of the other characters and the imminent arrival of Isabela’s boyfriend add to the mood or tone? How does this aid in making an interpretation?

Structure – “My Shot” (Hamilton)

The study of structure includes the most elements, including rhythm, rhyme, repetition, alliteration, enjambment, caesura, and more. It’s hard to pick just one song to highlight structure, but I had to turn to Hamilton’s most impressive song, “My Shot.” Lin-Manuel Miranda reportedly worked on this song for over a year, which is obvious in its complex structure and message. For a structural study, consider Miranda’s use of rhyme (both masculine and feminine), rhythm, meter, alliteration, and repetition.

Imagery – “When You’re Home” (In the Heights)

In In the Heights, one of the subplots follows Benny and Nina as they reunite over her summer break. When she’s preparing to return to school, the two face another farewell, with questions on whether their relationship will last (since it didn’t the last time). This song uses repeated imagery of a sunset to discuss the beauty of the close of day, similar to the two as they face their future. They may not last as a couple, but the moment is beautiful and powerful nonetheless. In the movie version, the two defy gravity and dance along the side of the building, enhancing the imagery with metaphor.

Characterization in Poetry – “I Bounce to the Beat of My Own Drum” (Vivo)

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Encanto was such a hit that it overshadowed the release of his animated film, Vivo, on Netflix. While it doesn’t measure up to Encanto in my book, it’s still a delightful musical with a poignant message. Miranda voices the protagonist, a kinkajou with musical abilities. Yet, it’s young Gabi who steals this show. Despite being pushed into a Girl Scout-like troop (which requires uniforms, gasp!), Gabi insists on being true to her individuality. We only get a few lines from Gabi before she sings this song, but it establishes her character using figurative language and a super catchy beat!

Figurative Meanings – “Burn” (Hamilton)

While Lin-Manuel Miranda is the genius behind Hamilton’s lyrics, the vocals are dominated by stars like Daveed Diggs, Christopher Jackson, and Phillipa Soo. In this powerful song, Hamilton’s wife, Eliza, reacts to the fact that he published details of his extramarital affair. Hamilton did so in order to clear his name in an embezzlement scandal, all without telling her first. Eliza, characterized up to this point as steadfast but frustrated, sings “Burn.” This song is a final expression of being fed up by Hamilton’s loyalty to his country over his family. “Burn” employs many figurative meanings, particularly when describing how Hamilton won her through his writing (“you wrote me palaces out of paragraphs”). This hurts even more, knowing that he used his writing to separate them as well.

Personification – “How Far I’ll Go” (Moana)

You may not have known that Lin-Manuel Miranda was the brains behind Moana’s music, but you can hear him singing in several of the choral numbers. In Moana’s signature song, she expresses her longing for adventure, despite the obvious dangers and perils. Instead of focusing on her feelings, she explains how she feels a pull from the sea. The lyrics treat it as a character that calls out for her. This personification enhances the message of the song and makes the pull to explore more powerful.

Simile & Metaphor – “Surface Pressure” (Encanto)

Confession: I can’t watch this video without crying. I’ve never resonated with an animated character more than I have with Luisa. Like her, I carry a lot of pressure from my family and friends on my shoulders. I work this out through working harder. My greatest fear is of failure and of feeling weak. Luisa expresses these feelings using many comparisons, mostly as similes, in her powerful song. I’d say the lyrics are great for analyzing simile, while the video is great for analyzing metaphor.

Allusion – “One Last Time” (Hamilton)

This is another emotional performance, this time from Christopher Jackson. As Hamilton gears to help George Washington face a presidential opponent, Washington tries to explain to Hamilton that sometimes it is time to rest. The most powerful portions of the song are when Washington explains his desire for rest using portions from the bible, specifically Micah 4:4. This is a double-allusion. Washington is alluding to the bible, but Lin-Manuel Miranda is also alluding to several of Washington’s own letters and speeches near the end of the song. The allusions enhance the complex message, that one can work hard but must also rest in order to be full.

Suggestions for using these lessons

There are several different ways you can use these songs to enhance your instruction of poetry skills. You could just use 1-2 to enhance a selected unit. You could also use each as an attention-getter or bellringer activity for a full poetry unit. Another idea is to assign all of them in a gallery walk or introductory lesson. These lessons pair with my poetry boot camp unit for Honors learners in grades 9-10 or Pre-AP English. To see the unit materials, click here.

I know there are many other Lin-Manuel Miranda songs you can implement in the ELA classroom, but this is just a start. If you have additional ideas, I’d love to hear them! If any of these sound like ones you’d like to use, drop me a note or share how you use it! You can email me or message me on Facebook or Instagram as well.