1a. To what does the word "State" refer?
2a. What causes the "wet fur" to freeze?
3a. How is the gunner removed from the ball turret?
4a. Identify the metaphor in line 2.
5a. How does the speaker view his experience? Where would he prefer to be?
1b. What does it mean when the speaker says "I fell into the State"?
2b. What is the "wet fur"?
3b. What happens to the plane?
4b. How is this metaphor extended at the end of the poem?
5b. If you were the speaker, would you think you were fighting a "good war," as World War II was sometimes called? Why, or why not?
Aim. What is Jarrell's aim in writing this poem?
Tone. What is the poet's tone toward the subject of the poem?
1. Write a telegram announcing the gunner's death to his family.
2. Imagine you are the gunner. Write a journal entry contrasting your "dream of life" with your "nightmare."
3. Write a paragraph explaining Jarrell's attitude toward war. State whether or not "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" is an anti-war poem.
Auxiliary Verbs. Rewrite the following sentences and star (*) the helping verbs.
1. While World War II was taking place, Jarrell served as a pilot and instructor.
2. He did not appear to have nice things to say about weak poets.
3. He did promote the art of poetry.
4. He had been working in the English departments of many colleges and universities.
5. Jarrell might have written more books if he had not tragically died.
Citation for Bravery.Imagine you are the commanding officer for the ball turret gunner. Write a citation for bravery for the gunner to be awarded to him posthumously. In your citation, describe a heroic act that the ball turret gunner performed.
