There are several themes in the poem "First They Came". Niemoller wrote these words after being liberated from Nazi concentration camps after 7 years. His words are routed deep in meaning and sincerity. For this activity, students will choose a theme and illustrate and explain it in a single storyboard cell. Teachers may choose to have students illustrate more than one theme in the same storyboard, and they can use the template provided and add cells, or use a spider map layout instead.
Guilt: Niemoller felt extreme guilt for his previous anti-Semitic beliefs. He is talking about himself in this poem.
Repentance: This poem is Niemoller’s way of expressing deep remorse for the mistreatment of the Jews.
Personal Responsibility: Niemoller is taking responsibility for the part that he played in looking the other way and saying nothing.
Persecution: Niemoller names the groups of people who were persecuted and mistreated because of their beliefs.
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Due Date:
Objective: Choose one theme of “First They Came” and illustrate and explain it.
Student Instructions:
Prepare discussion questions that prompt critical thinking and personal connection to the poem’s themes. This encourages students to reflect on their own perspectives and the relevance of the poem today.
Establish ground rules for listening and speaking, reminding students to value diverse viewpoints. This helps create a safe space for sharing sensitive ideas about guilt, responsibility, and persecution.
Ask questions like, "How might you have responded in Niemoller’s situation?" or "Why is speaking up important in today’s world?". Open-ended prompts allow students to explore multiple perspectives and deepen understanding.
Invite students to share stories or examples from their own lives or news headlines. Making real-world connections helps cement the poem’s message and shows its ongoing relevance.
Wrap up the discussion by highlighting main points and reflecting on the importance of personal responsibility and standing up for others. This ensures students leave the discussion with a clear understanding of the poem’s enduring lessons.
'First They Came' explores powerful themes such as guilt, repentance, personal responsibility, and persecution. The poem reflects on the consequences of remaining silent in the face of injustice and encourages readers to stand up against wrongdoing.
Students can select a theme like guilt or personal responsibility, then create a storyboard cell showing a scene or image that represents that theme. They should also write a brief description explaining its significance in the poem.
Martin Niemoller wrote 'First They Came' after surviving Nazi concentration camps. The poem is a reflection of his guilt and remorse for not speaking out against the persecution of others, and a call to take personal responsibility for defending those who are oppressed.
In the poem, Niemoller admits to not speaking up when others were persecuted, realizing too late that silence enabled injustice. This illustrates the importance of personal responsibility in standing up for others.
The best approach is to have students choose a theme, discuss its meaning, and illustrate it using storyboards. Encouraging students to explain their choices deepens understanding and engagement with the poem's message.