English I

Monday, 9/15/14

Bellringer

• (Turn in projects) Due tomorrow!– Email: mcpheet@rcschools.net

• What interesting things did you learn about Poe during your research? What questions popped into your head during your research?

Brief Poetry Lesson

Narrative Poetry

• The Raven– We will discuss tomorrow

Dramatic poetry

• A poem where the speaker is someone other than the poet themselves. A Dramatic poem often includes characters and dialogue. A Dramatic Monologue is often from a fictional character’s point of view

• Incident in a Rose Garden– We will discuss today!

• Refrain:• Refrain is when a

poem repeats entire lines or more several times throughout.

• Like the chorus of a song

• Repetition:• Repetition is

when a word or phrase is repeated just once or in one specific area of the poem.

• Alliteration

When the same consonant sound is used throughout a piece of writing.

candy covered coconuts.

• Assonance When the same vowel

sound is used in words throughout a piece of writing

That is the way we will pray today, okay?

Activity

• Consonance

• Assonance

• Alliteration

• Repetition

• Shel Silverstein (tomorrow)

Incident In A Rose GardenPg 151

English I

Background Information

• Different cultures have always imagined death as a human figure.

• In Western culture the standard image is often of a hooded figure dressed in black.

• Death usually carries a scythe.

• This gives us the name “Grim Reaper” ~ someone who comes to harvest human souls.

Vocabulary

• Scythe ~ an implement with a long curved blade attached to a long handle; used for cutting grass for harvest.

• Connoisseur ~ an expert or authority in some field, especially in fine arts or in matters of taste.

Stanza One:The gardener came running.An old man, out of breath.Fear had given him legs.Sir, I encountered Death

Just now among the roses.Thin as a scythe he stood there.

I knew him by his pictures.He had his black coat on,

Black gloves, a broad black hat.I think he would have spoken,Seeing his mouth stood open.

Big it was, with white teeth.As soon as he beckoned, I ran.

I ran until I found you.Sir, I am quitting my job.I want to see my sons

Once more before I die.I want to see California.

Stanza One Explained

• The gardener comes to speak to the owner of the house.

• He tells of seeing Death in the garden.• Death looked like the Grim Reaper.• Death did not speak but used his hand to try and

summon the gardener.• The gardener ran away.• He is quitting his job and going to California to

see his sons.• He is afraid he will die soon and wants to say

goodbye.

Stanza TwoWe shook hands; he was off.

And there stood Death in the garden.Dressed like a Spanish waiter.

He had the air of someone Who because he likes arriving

At all appointments earlyLearns to think himself patient.

I watched him pinch one bloom offAnd hold it to his nose—A connoisseur of roses—

One bloom and then another.They strewed the earth around him.

Sir, you must be that strangerWho threatened my gardener.

This is my property sir.I welcome only friends here.

Stanza Two Explained

• The owner (narrator) goes out to his garden and sees Death.

• Death is just standing there waiting, smelling the roses. He is very patient.

• The owner talks to Death…he tells Death that Death is not welcome at the property.

Stanza ThreeDeath grinned, and his eyes lit up

With the pale glow of those lanternsThat workmen carry sometimes

To light their way through the dusk.Now with great care he slid

The glove from his right hand And held it out in greeting,

A little cage of bone.Sir, I knew your father,

And we were friends at the end.As for your gardener,I did not threaten him.

Old men mistake my gestures.I only meant to ask himTo show me his master.

I take it you are he?

Stanza Three Explained

• Once the narrator speaks, Death becomes more animated.

• Death’s eyes light up and he holds out his hand for the narrator to shake.

• Death then speaks for the first time.• He tells the narrator that he was friends with the

narrator’s father…at the end of his life.• He apologizes for scaring the gardener…Death

was not looking for the gardener.• Death was looking for the narrator…it is the

narrator’s time to be “harvested.”

Comprehension Questions

• How does the gardener recognize Death?

• Why is the gardener afraid of Death?

• For whom has Death come?

• What kind of attitude does the gardener have about Death?

• What kind of attitude does the narrator have about Death?

Writing Assignment

• If you were suddenly to encounter the figure of Death, waiting for you, what do you think he – or she—or it--- might look like? Would it be an animal or a human? What might it carry? What personality would it have?

• Write 30 lines of what Death would look like to you (poem).

• If sentences, 15 sentences