Beruflich Dokumente
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Elements of a Poem
BACKGROUND
Poets background
Subject matter
For whom the poem is
written
SETTING
Time
Place
THEME(s)
MORAL VALUES
Place
STRUCTURE &
Main idea(s)
PERSONA
STYLE
Arrangements of
lines
Choice of words
SAD I AMS
BY TREVOR MILLUM
Warm-Up Questions
Sad I Ams
SAD I AMS
By Trevor Millum
TREVOR MILLUM
Trevor Millum was born in the United Kingdom. He is a writer of poems, plays
and stories for all ages, from children to adult. He is currently self-employed and
has written widely on poetry, creativity and the use of information and
communications technology in English.
His poetry collections include A
Stegosaurus is for Lifeand other animal poems and Exploding Heads Comic Strip
Poems. He is an ex-English teacher and was a Director of the National
Association for the Teaching of English. He has his own website called The
Mouse and The Muse.
POINT OF VIEW
1. First person point of view as the persona talks about himself as feeling sad when he
compares himself with the things surrounding him.
SETTING
1. Time Frame :No specific time frame is mentioned. The persona is simply relating his or
her thoughts.
2. Place
: No specific place is mentioned.
THEMES
1. Rejection
The persona compares himself with unwanted things and this suggests that he has
faced rejection and feels unwanted in some ways.
2. Negligence of ones possessions
The discarded items appear to have been thoughtlessly thrown away and forgotten
which represent the personas feelings.
3. Feeling of uselessness
The items are considered unwanted because they appear to have run out of use and
this is similar to the personas situation where he feels that people no longer need
him. He feels unloved by family and friends.
4.Negativism about life
The persona starts to look at his life through a negative window because
he feels unwanted.
MORAL VALUES
Rejectio
n
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
LITERARY DEVICES
1. Metaphor
A metaphor is a comparison between two unlike things without using the word like
or as to make the comparison.
The entire poem consists of metaphors where the persona likens himself/herself to
many unwanted things such as the ring from the empty can and a toothless
stapler .
2.
Imagery
The poem describes the unwanted items vividly that one is able to imagine them.
Eg : the scrapings from an unwanted porridge pan , the severed arm of last
years Action Man
3.
Repetition
Repetition of a sound, syllable, word, phrase, line or stanza is a basic unifying device
in all poetry.
The word I am is repeated at the beginning of every stanza to emphasize the
feelings of the poet who is trying to say he is as hopeless as all the things listed.
The word no one is repeated in lines 5,7 and 9 in stanza four.
4.
Personification
Personification is when you give human characteristics to objects that are not human
and usually the objects are not alive.
Eg: the carburetor choked itself by bits of dirt, the toothless stapler
5.
Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the words that are close to each other.
Eg: unwashed porridge pan, an empty Cola can
6.
Alliteration
Alliteration occurs when a series of words repeat the same consonants or sounds.
Eg: that mars instead of mends,the gum is gone
7.
Symbol
scrapings from an unwashed porridge pan is symbolic of something left behind
andutterly useless.
theSellotape where you cant find the end is symbolic of the feelings of frustration.
STANZA
MEANING
STANZA 1
The persona is the ring from an empty
drink can, leftovers from an uncleaned
porridge pan and the broken arm of last
years action toy.
STANZA 2
The persona goes on to say that he or
she is like an assortment of unwanted
stationery items such as an envelope
that cannot be sealed as the gum is
gone, the roll of Sellotape which cannot
be peeled off, an empty stapler without
staples and a clip that has no spring,
liquid paper that is dry and a letter that
has not been sent.
STANZA 3
In this stanza, the persona likens
himself or herself to various parts of a
car. The persona is a battery that cannot
charge, a starter motor that does not
work, a bald tyre, a sparking plug with
no life, a dirty carburetor and not a too
shiny chromium trim.
STANZA 4
In the final stanza, the persona equates
himself/ herself to an overgrown garden,
a book from the library that no one picks
out, a hungry stray and an unheeded
piece of good advice.
Literal Meaning
In the poem, there are things that we do not want to keep or use any longer. The
persona says he is comparable to disposable household things and food. The
metal ring from an empty drink can, the broken part of an old toy or food
scrapings from a pot which are disposed daily. Some things have no value if they
are not workable or in their original state. An envelope with no gum isnot
sealable. Sellotape that cannot be peeled off, a stapler without a staples, a
bulldog clip without a spring or a dried-up liquid paper is of no use. The persona
feels neglectedlike the stamped address reply, that the writer forgot to send out.
When things are not maintained and taken care of, they become unworkable.
The persona feels that way like a flat battery. A starter that cannot ignite, a bald
tyre, a non-working spark plug, a dirt-choked carburettor and a dull-looking
chromium trim. A car with these parts is of no use to the owner and the persona
feels the same way. The persona feels like a neglected garden, a library book
that is not read, a stray that is not fed or an advice that is totally ignored.
Basically, he feels rejected, useless, not cared for and has no place within the
family and society. The persona could be an orphan in an orphanage.
Figurative Meaning
In life, some things become insignificant because they are trivial or lacking in
importance. They may also become insignificant if they have no power, position
or value. We can see them as things that are not worthy to be mentioned. Some
of these may just be things that are small in size or not distinctive in character.
Within a family, at work place, and even in a society, a person may feel
unwanted and unneeded in different ways. One feels that one is disposable if
one feels like an unloved member of a family or an unproductive worker in a
workplace or an orphan in orphanage. There is no self-worth as one can be got
rid of whenever the opportunity arises. A person who is not contributing to the
growth of a family or society may feel unwanted. One may even be ignored or
side-lined even if one is willing to try again. A family can grow well and prosper
only if every member plays his or her part. Each and every member must be
nurtured and encouraged or inspired to make this contribution. So, one should
not be complacent and let things slide if one does not want to be overlooked and
left to ones devices. This is the time when one should wake up and work or one
will definitely be neglected.
10
Practice 1
Match the pictures withthe lines from the poem.
1.
a.
the severed arm of
last
years Action Man
2.
b.
the envelope on
which gum is
gone
3.
c.
the ring from
an empty Cola
can
4.
d.
springless bulldog
clip
5.
e.
the scrapings from
an unwashed
porridge pan
6. f.
11
7.
g.
the toothless
stapler
8.
h.
the stamped
addressed reply
that you forgot
9.
i.
the battery in
which no charge
is left
10.
j.
the sparking plug
which shows no
signand spark
11.
k.
the dried-up
liquid paper
12.
l.
the tyre on which
the tread is worn
13.
m.
12
14.n.
a garden
overgrown with
weeds
15.
o.
16.
p.
the carburettor
choked by bits of
dirt
17.
q.
a piece of good
advice which no
one seems to need
18.
r.
19.
s.
13
a stray which no
one thinks to
feed
Practice
Write True or False for the following statements.
it.
14
Practice 3
Find words in the poem that have the meanings below.
1. blocked
2. leftovers
3. guidance
4. filth
5. damages
6. vacant
7. response
8. sparkle
9. fixes
10.old
11.disappeared
12.being cut off
15
16
Practice
Based on the poem, match the words in column A to the rhyming words in Column B.
Then read the words aloud.
Column a
Column b
1. arm
a. feed
2. clip
b. gone
3. dirt
c. farm
4. Man
d. reads
5. need
e. shirt
6. worn
f.
7. weeds
g. pan
8. spark
h. twice
9. gum
i.
trip
10.advice
j.
shark
lump
17
Practice 5
with unwanted
I-think
poem.
Unwanted
Things
18
19
Practice 6
Complete the crossword puzzle below.
20
Practice
Match the adjectives with nouns in the poem. The lists of words are given in the table below.
i-think
Nouns
Adjectives
Adjective
s
Nouns
21
Practice 8
Read the text below. The first line is correct. For the remaining lines, there is ONE
error in each line. The errors have been underlined for you. Write ONE WORD to
correct the error in the space provided. An example has been given. The correct word
must not change the meaning of the sentence.
The persona in the poem tell of his feelings of sadness and being
neglected. To express these feelings, he compares (1)himselves to several
things found in the home. The metal ring from a drink (2) cans and food
scrapings from (3) a unwashed porridge pan are usually discarded. Broken
parts (4) in discarded last years Action Man are usually thrown out too.
Only (5)envelope with gum are useful. Sticky tapes, a staplelessstapler, a
broken bulldog clip and liquid paper (6)were popular items in our collection
e.g.
tells
a)
________
b) ________
c) ________
d) ________
e) ________
of(7)stationary aids. However, they are useful if they are serviceable. The
f)
_________
same (8) go for parts of a car. The battery must be well charged and the
g) ________
starter motor workable for the car to (9)works well. A lifeless sparking plug,
h) ________
(10)an choked carburetor and a dull chromium trim all add to make the car
i) ________
j) ________
library book and an unfed stray on the street or an unneeded piece of good
advice.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the words found in the poem. Refer
to the pictures given.
22
The persona in the poem tells off his feeling of sadness and be neglected.
To express these feelings, he compares himself with several things that found in
the home. The (1)__________
stapler, a broken(5)_____________
our stationery aids. However, they are useful if they are serviceable.
The same goes with parts of a car. The battery must be well-charged and
the(6)_________
plug , a hocked carburettor and a dull chromium trim all add to make the car
unattractive. The persona feels like an unkempt garden, an untouched library
( 7 )___________
on the street
23
Practice 10
Match the following phrases to the correct literary devices. Write the
answers in the space provided.
Alliteration
1.
2.
Personafication
1.
2.
Symbol
1.
2.
24
Practice 11
Get into groups of four. Give three ways we can show
our appreciation to
the elderly. Share with
i-think
the class.
25
Practice 12
Have you ever felt unwanted? In about 50 words, write about a situation when
you feltunwanted. Describe what happened and how you
felt at that
time.
26
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
27
Test yourself.
PT3 PRACTICES
I am
the ring
from an empty Cola can
the scrapings
from an unwashed porridge pan
the severed arm
from the last years Action Man
28
Practic
e stanza
1
Read
1 of the poem carefully.
questions.
a. In stanza 1, what does the pesona compare himself with?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________( 1 mark)
b. Where do we find the things mentioned in this stanza?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________(1 mark)
c. Why do you think the porridge pan is
dirty?
__________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________( 1 mark)
d. What could have caused the arm of Action Man to be severed? Give two
possible
reasons.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
Practice 2
Read stanza 2 of the poem carefully. Then answer the following
questions.
I am
the envelope
on which the gum is gone the sellotape
where you cant find the end
29
Practic
Read stanza 3 of the poem carefully. Then answer the following
questions.
I am
30
charge left?
_____________________________________________________________ ( 1mark)
c. Why is the tyre discarded?
_____________________________________________________________(1 mark)
d. What should we do to the things that we do not want anymore? Give two
possible
suggestions.
Suggestion 1: ________________________________________________( 1 mark)
Suggestion 2: ________________________________________________( 1 mark)
Practic
Read stanza 4 of the poem carefully. Then answer the following
questions.
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I am
a garden
overgrown with weeds
a library
that no one ever reads
a stray
which no one thinks to feed
the piece of advice which no one seems to need
a.
do?
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________( 1 mark)
c. What does the phrase the piece of good advice which no one seems to
need
mean?
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________(1 mark)
d.
List down two moral values that you have learned from the poem.
Moral value 1:
____________________________________________________________(1 mark)
Moral value 2:
____________________________________________________________(1 mark)
Practic
Read the poem carefully. Then answer the following questions.
a.Who most probably owned the Action Man?
32
_____________________________________________________________(1 mark)
b. In stanza 2, what category of things is mentioned by the persona?
_____________________________________________________________(1 mark)
c. What does the persona mean when he said that he is like the garden with
overgrown
weeds?
__________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________( 1 mark
d. Who do you think the persona is? Give a reason for your
answer.
__________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________(2 marks)
Practic
Read the poem carefully. Then answer the following questions.
a. In stanza 1, which word tells us that the arm of the Action Man is broken?
______________________________________________________________(1 mark)
b. Give the meaning of the word inert?
______________________________________________________________(1 mark)
c. Why do you think no one wants to take the advice?
_____________________________________________________________(1 mark) d.
What evidence would you give to say that the pesona could be an orphan?
__________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________( 2 marks)
Practic
33
HOTS
c.
Why do you think no one has ever read the library book?
_______________________________________________________________(1 mark)
d. Explain the line that mars instead of mends. How do we prevent liquid paper from
drying-up?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________(2 marks)
ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES
34
ACTIVITY 1
Create A Poem
1.
2.
3.
4.
Line 1: Who am I?
Line 2: How do I look?
Line 3: Who uses me?
Line 4: Why do they use me?
I am
the pencil
with red and blue stripes
used among the students
to write in their books
ACTIVITY 2
Choral Speaking
1. Teacher forms students into four groups.
35
ACTIVITY 3
Recycle And Reuse
1. Students are required to find one unwanted thing that they do not want to
keep or to use any more.
2. Ask the students to recycle or to reuse the item and present it in the class.
Notes for teachers:
1. This activity can be done individually, in pairs or in groups.
2. Students are encouragedto be creative or innovative.
3. Display those items in the class.
Answers
Practice 1
Practice 1
Practice 1
1. c
2. e
3. a
4. b
5. f
36
6. g
7. d
8. k
9. h
11.
12.
13.
14.
16.
17.
18.
19.
10.
15.
Practice 2
1. True
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. False
6. True
7. False
8. True
9. False
10.
ue
Tr
Practice 3
1. choked
6. empty
11.
gone
2. scrapings
7. reply
12.
severed
3. advice
8. shine
13.
feed
4. dirt
9. mends
14.
inert
5. mars
10.
15.
stray
worn
Practice 4
1. c
2. i
3. e
4. g
5. a
6. b
7. d
8. j
9. f
10.
Practice 5
1. the ring
2. the scrapings
4. envelope
5. sellotape
6. stapler
37
7. bulldog clip
8. liquid paper
9. stamped address
reply
10.
11.
starter
motor
12.
tyre
13.
sparking
plug
14.
carburettor
15.
chromium trim
16.
garden
17.
stray
18.
library books
19.
advice
battery
Practice 6
1. rejection
2. Trevor (space)
Millum
3. need
4. reply
5. advice
6. feed
7. four
8. reuse
9. man
10.
tion
personafica
13.
gloomy
11.
comparison
12.
mars
Practice 7
ADJECTIVES
NOUNS
unwashed
scrapings
empty
Cola can
toothless
stapler
severed
Action Man
Dried up
Liquid paper
38
Practice 8
1. himself
2. can
3. an
4. of
5. envelopes
6. are
7. stationery
8. goes
9. a
Practice 9
1. ring
2. scrapings
3. broken
4. envelopes
5. bulldog
6. car
7. book
8. stray
Practice 10
Alliteration
Personafication
Symbol
Practice 11
1. Pay a visit to the old folks home and spend time with them.
2. Celebrate International Day for Older Persons with them.
3. Do activities with senior member of your own family such as walking at the
park
or reading to them.
4.Celebrate birthdays and anniversary with senior member of your own family
such as your
grandparents. (accept any logical answers)
39
Practice 12
PT3 PRACTICES
Practice 1
a. He compares himself with the ring of a drink can, scrapings from a
porridge pan and the broken part of a discarded toy.
b. These things can be found in the household.
c. It has not been washed and has leftovers in it.
d. The two reasons are it could have been pulled out by a child playing
with it and the toy could have been faulty.
Practice 2
Practice 3
Practice 4
40
Practice 5
a. A child
b. Stationery
c. He feels neglected.
d. I think the persona is an elderly person who feels unwanted. This is
because the
persona associates himself with many old and unwanted things.
Practice 6
a. Severed
b. It means to be without motion or power/ not working
c. Perhaps because the persona is an elderly person and has oldfashioned opinion
about things.
d. The persona has made extreme comparisons which is not likely to
happen within
a family. As an orphan it is possible for the persona to feel unwanted,
unloved and neglected.
Practice 7
41