Read about rhyme scheme, meter, parallelism, and repetition on page 22. Preview pages 23–24. Note the marginal notes that point out these terms in the selection.
1. Listen as your teacher reads the first eight lines of “The Naming of Cats.” Listen for the rhyme scheme and meter of the poem.
2. Continue reading the poem on your own. Pay attention to the rhyme scheme and meter. Also look for examples of parallelism and repetition that help organize the ideas in the poem.
If you are having trouble following this poem, try reading it aloud or listening to the audio version. Pause whenever you come to a break, and talk with a partner about what you have read.
With a partner discuss your response to the poem and how the organizational features help you understand the poem. Write a brief summary of the poem.