How do you determine the theme of a poem?

Casey at the Batby Ernest Lawrence Thayer

The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Mudville nine that day…

In this lesson, you will learn how to determine the theme of

a poem by seeing how characters respond to

challenges.

Let’s Review

A character’s actions show a character’s traits.

Casey ignored the pitch. Confident

Let’s Review

The mood of characters can change during the poem.

Crowd feels hopeless - their team is losing!

Crowd feels hopeful - Casey is up to bat!

A Common Mistake

Beginning, Middle,

End

Plot/Action

Characters & Traits

Mood

= Theme

Core LessonCore Lesson

Theme is the poet’s message to the reader.

Overcoming a challenge

Casey The Fans

Core LessonCore Lesson“Casey at the Bat”

by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Mudville nine that day:The score stood four to six with just an inning left to play;And so, when Cooney died at first, and Burrows did the same,A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game. A straggling few got up to go, leaving there the restWith that hope that springs eternal within the human breast;For they thought if only Casey could get one whack, at thatThey'd put up even money, with Casey at the bat.

Mudville is losing. If Casey can bat, he will surely get a hit to win the game –

he must! He is their only hope.

Core LessonCore Lesson

“Casey at the Bat”by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one," the umpire said.…

How did Casey respond to this

challenge?

Casey doesn’t swing at the first 2 pitches. He feels too confident about himself.

He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the spheroid flew,But Casey still ignored it; and the umpire said, "Strike two."

Core LessonCore Lesson

The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched with hate;He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate;

And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.

But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.

How did Casey respond to this

challenge?

He was angry, but it was too late to start trying. He struck out!

Core LessonCore Lesson

Casey doesn’t swing at the first 2 pitches. He feels too confident about himself.

He was angry, but it was too late to start trying. He struck out!

Too much self-confidence can lead to disappointment and trouble.

Core LessonCore Lesson

Find parts where a character faced a challenge.1

2 Ask yourself, “How does the character respond?”

3 Look at how the character responded to determine a lesson/theme.

In this lesson, you have learned how to determine the theme of a poem by seeing how characters respond to

challenges.

Guided PracticeRead the parts below where the crowd faces a challenge. How do they respond? Find some

more parts that show the crowd responding to challenges.

For they thought if only Casey could get one whack, at thatThey'd put up even money, with Casey at the bat.…“Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted some one in the stand.And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

Extension Activities

Pick a poem of your choice.

Find parts where a character faced a challenge.

How did he/she respond?

Look at the responses to determine an overall message or theme.

Extension Activities

The last stanza is a famous one. How do you think the poet feels about baseball, about fans, or about baseball heroes?

Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.

Quick QuizQuick QuizReread the poem, “Casey at the Bat”. What

theme or lessons can you draw from the way the crowd behaves?

But Casey still ignored it; and the umpire said, "Strike two." "Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and the echo answered, "Fraud!"But the scornful look from Casey, and the audience was awed;