Before Reading "The Man He Killed," and "Channel Firing,"
Establish a Purpose
Respond in writing to the Reader's Journal question. Then discuss your response with two or three of your classmates. As your read the two poems, try to determine the attitude toward war expressed in each.
During Reading
Read with a Purpose in Mind
1. Listen as your teacher reads "The Man He Killed" aloud. Write the answers to the Guided Reading Questions in your notebook. Then think about the words the speaker uses to describe war. What is surprising about his description? Write your response in your notebook.
2. Read "Channel Firing" on your own. Write the answers to the Guided Reading Questions in your notebook. What attitude toward war is expressed in this poem? Write your response in your notebook.
Fix-Up Idea: Unlock Difficult Words
In "The Man He Killed," Hardy uses dialect. "Channel Firing" uses uncommon terms and makes allusions to historic sites. In both cases, using footnotes will help you understand the challenging words in the selection. Preview the footnotes before you read. Then, refer back to them as necessary as you read.
After Reading
Summarize Experience
With your group from the Before-Reading activity, compare the ideas you wrote down while reading. Identify the attitudes toward war expressed in each poem and compare these views with your own.
Before Reading "The Darkling Thrush"
Begin to Make Mind Pictures
Preview the selection by reading the About the Selection on page 818, thinking about the title, and examining the art on page 824. Begin to make pictures in your mind of what the selection will be about.
During Reading
Keep Making Mind Pictures as You Read
1. Listen as your teacher reads the first stanza aloud. Picture what the speaker describes and imagine you are experiencing what the speaker observes. How would you feel?
2. Continue reading the selection on your own. Keep making mind pictures as you read. Include sights, sounds, smells, and feelings in these pictures. Think about the mood and feelings these images evoke in you.
Fix-Up Idea: Reread
The last stanza is one long sentence. This sentence is important because it demonstrates a shift in the speaker's feelings. Reread the last stanza. Work with a partner to paraphrase it, or put it in your own words.
After Reading
Sketch or Summarize Your Mind Pictures
Make some quick sketches or write a summary of the pictures you created in your mind while reading. With a partner, discuss the mood of the poem.