Pre-Reading Activity

Example A

A diner, once dining at Crewe,

Found quite a large mouse in his stew.

Said the waiter, "Don't shout

And wave it about,

Or the rest will be wanting one too!"

Example B

I'll tell you how the sun rose,

A ribbon at a time.

The steeples swam in amethyst,

The news like squirrels ran,

The hills untied their bonnets,

The bobolinks* begun.

Then I said softly to myself,

That must have been the sun!"

*bobolinks are an American migratory song bird

1. How are these two pieces of literature alike?

2. How are they different?

3. Which poem is more like a story?

4. Which poem is more like a painting of a wondrous, everyday event?

5. Which poem is meant to reveal the poet's personal views and feelings?

6. Why do you think so?

7. What do you think is the purpose of the other poem?

Assignment:  Write in your journal - What is a poem?

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