1a. In "Courage," in what time of year is the apple blossom growing? When is it supposed to grow? What does the apple blossom say it will see and know that other blossoms will not?
2a. In "The Cremation of Sam McGee," where is Sam McGee from originally? What causes his death? What is his last request?
3a. In "The Cremation of Sam McGee," where does the speaker finally carry out his promise? What surprising thing does the speaker see and hear when he decides to "take a peep inside"?
1b. Why is the apple blossom a pioneer? In what way does it serve as an example of courage?
2b. Explain whether it is important to the speaker to honor Sam's last wishes. Why is he unable to do so right away?
3b. Explain the effect this surprise ending has on the poem.
4a. Explain the way in which Robert Service has managed to surprise the reader in both "Courage" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee." Identify the surprise in each poem and the effect it has on the reader.
4b. Explain how each of the poems might have been different if it had not contained its surprise.
5a. Explain whether there are lessons to be learned or important messages in the two poems you have just read. Remember, some poems are written just for entertainment, while others are written with the aim of instructing by showing something to the reader or teaching the reader something new.
5b. Explain whether you believe that all poets have the duty to write poetry that instructs people or whether the primary purpose of poetry is to entertain. There are no right or wrong answers, but you should try to support and defend your opinion.
Rhyme. What types of rhyme are used in each of the poems? One way rhyme schemes are often described is by assigning the same letter of the alphabet to each line that ends with the same rhyme. What is the rhyme scheme of "Courage"? What is the rhyme scheme of the first and last stanzas of "The Cremation of Sam McGee"? of the rest of the stanzas? Explain what effect rhyme has on each of the poems.
Ballad. Explain whether or not each of the poems is a ballad.
Tone. In "Courage" what is the tone in the first two stanzas of this poem? What is the tone later in the poem? What is the tone of "The Cremation of Sam McGee"? Do you find the tone of this poem to be at odds with its subject matter? If so, what effect is created by the contrast between the subject and tone?
1. One reason why radio and television jingles, or songs that are used as advertisements, stick in their listeners' minds is that most of them use simple, obvious rhymes. Imagine a product or service you could sell, and then write a one- or two-sentence description of your idea. (A product is something tangible like a car, while a service is a form of work that is sold to others, such as a car wash.) Then create a rhyming jingle to be used in the first advertisement for your product or service.
2. Song lyrics often make use of simple rhyme schemes. Write some song lyrics of a verse or two of an original song. The song can be any style you like—rap, hip-hop, R&B, alternative, country and western, and so on—as long as you remember that your lyrics should not offend your teacher or any students in your class.
3. Write a personal essay about a person in your own life—a family member, friend, or personal hero—who you believe has shown you something about the meaning of the word courage.
Writing Sentences. Write your own sentence for each of the following Words for Everyday Use. Be sure that the meaning of the word is clear from the context of your sentence.
bleak:
brawn:
cremate:
derelict:
disdain:
exultant:
heed:
moil:
perish:
wrath:
Using I and Me. Review the Language Arts Survey 3.46, "Using I and Me." Then choose the correct word from the pair listed in parentheses below.
1. My best friend Harold, my younger sister, and click to select answer I me were surprised to see an apple blossom growing on a bare branch in November.
2. My sister noticed the flower first and pointed it out to Harold and click to select answer I me .
3. Like Sam McGee, my family and click to select answer I me are used to the warm weather of Tennessee.
4. The first time we took skiing lessons, I felt like everyone on the slopes mocked my brother and click to select answer I me because we shivered so much we kept falling over.
5. We decided that although we like reading about the Yukon, nether he nor click to select answer I me would last more than five minutes in that type of cold.
6. When Aunt Susan visits, she always brings a gift for my sister and click to select answer I me .
7. It is always difficult for Nina and click to select answer I me to agree on a movie.
8. When we go to the mall, my friends and click to select answer I me hang out near the music store.
9. Anthony, Mark, and click to select answer I me enjoy playing basketball when we get together.
10. People always think that my mom and click to select answer I me are sisters.
Tackling Analogy Questions. Analogy questions frequently appear on standardized tests. Analogy questions ask you to find the relationship between a given pair of words and then to recognize a similar relationship between another pair of words. In such questions the symbol : means "is to" and the symbol :: means "as." Review the Language Arts Survey 5.48, "Analogy Questions," for more information. Then indicate the best answer of the options listed for each analogy question below.
1. wrath : click to select answer a. hope : joy b. sadness : sorrow c. anger : excitement d. rage : guilt
2. urgency : click to select answer a. hurry: rush b. rain : snow c. kindness : cruelty d. desperate : endeavor
3. cremate : click to select answer a. burn : hot b. wet : shiver c. death : sadness d. drown : water
4. brawn : click to select answer a. body : mind b. intellect : intelligence c. wisdom : understanding d. muscle : strength
5. heed : click to select answer a. listen : hear b. hear : song c. taste : sense d. see : sight
