Literature Component:

POEMS
(Form 2)

My Hero
&
What is Red?

Prepared by: PuanAzalinaMohdYusof

SM SainsTengku Muhammad Faris Petra
My Hero

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 By Willis Hall

The poet’s background

Willis Edward Hall (6 April 1929 – 7 March 2005) was an English playwright and radio
and television writer who drew on his working class roots in Leeds, England for much of his
writing. His best-known work was a stage adaptation of the 1959 novel Billy Liar (1960), co-
written with the book's author and Hall's lifelong friend and collaborator Keith Waterhouse.Hall
continued this successful partnership with Waterhouse and, over the next thirty years, the two
men produced more than 250 scripts for theatre, film and television.

Hall also wrote more than a dozen children's books, including a series about a family
called The Hollins who meet a vegetarian vampire called Count Alucard. He also wrote a book,
Henry Hollins and the Dinosaur. He wrote 40 radio and television plays, as well as contributing
to many TV series. He also wrote the script for the successful project, Peter Pan: A Musical
Adventure (1996).Following a long fight with esophageal cancer, Hall died at his home in West
Yorkshire on 7 March 2005.

My Hero

My dad’s as brave as a dad can be,

I rate him Number One,

He’s not afraid of the dead of night,

Or anything under the sun.

He’s not afraid of a late-night film,

Full of horrors on the telly,

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And is he afraid of skeletons?

Not dad, not on your Nelly!

He’s not afraid of meeting ghosts,

He’d even smile and greet ‘em,

And things that scare most dads the most,

My dad could just defeat ‘em.

He’s not afraid of vampires,

Or a wolf-man come to get him,

If Frankenstein’s monster knocked on our door,

He wouldn’t let that upset him.

My dad’s as brave as a dad can be,

And he’s always ready to prove it.

So why, when a spider’s in the bath,

Does Mum have to come and remove it?

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 Stanza One
Line no. Line Interpretation
1 My dad’s as brave as a dad can be The persona makes a statement about
his/her father as a brave/courageous
person (a father is normally brave)
2 I rate him Number One, In his/her opinion, his/her father is the best
3 He’s not afraid of the dead of night, His/her father is not scared of the quietest
and darkest part of the night
4 Or anything that exists around us. (It can
Or anything under the sun. also mean that his/her father is not afraid
of anything during the day)

Stanza Two
Line no. Line Interpretation
1 The persona’s father is not scared of
He’s not afraid of a late-night film, watching horror movies on television late
2 at night
Full of horrors on the telly,
3 He is also definitely not scared of
And is he afraid of skeletons? skeletons. (“not on your Nelly!” is a British
4 expression which means “Certainly not!”)
Not dad, not on your Nelly!

Stanza Three
Line no. Line Interpretation
1 The persona’s father does not fear
He’s not afraid of meeting ghosts, meeting ghosts (something that most of us
are scared of)
2 He can even smile and greet or talk to the
He’d even smile and greet ‘em, ghosts.
(‘em – informal British or American, short
form of ‘them’)
3 And things that scare most dads the most, His/her father can also beat/overcome

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 4 many things or problems that other fathers
My dad could just defeat ‘em. are afraid of/cannot do.

Stanza Four
Line no. Line Interpretation
1 He’s not afraid of vampires, The persona’s father does not fear
vampires
2 Or a wolf-man that is going to attack him
Or a wolf-man come to get him,
3 If Frankenstein’s monster knocked on our He would not be worried or scared even if
door, the horrible Frankenstein’s monster came
4 to their house.
He wouldn’t let that upset him.

Stanza Five
Line no. Line Interpretation
1 The persona makes a statement about
My dad’s as brave as a dad can be, his/her father as a brave/courageous
person (a father is normally brave) – it is
repeated to emphasizehis father’s
bravery/courage
2 He is willing and confident to show his
And he’s always ready to prove it. bravery/courage
3 The persona admires his/her father and is
So why, when a spider’s in the bath, proud of him, but he/she cannot
4 Does Mum have to come and remove it? understand why his/her mother has to get
rid of a spider (just a small insect) that is in
the bathtub.
(Perhaps, his/her father is scared of tiny
insects!)

IS NOT AFRAID OF… IS AFRAID OF…

STANZA 1
DAD  The darkness or quietness of the
night STANZA 5
 Anything or everything around him  Spider
/during the day
STANZA 2
 Horror movies on television at night
 Skeletons
STANZA 3
 Ghosts
 Things that scare other fathers
STANZA 4
 Vampires

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  Wolf-man
 Frankenstein’s monster
Note:
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel written by the English author Mary
Wollstonecraft Shelley that tells the story of a young science student Victor Frankenstein, who
creates a grotesque but human likecreature in a scientific experiment. Shelley started writing the
story when she was 18, and the first edition of the novel was published anonymously in London
in 1818, when she was 20. Shelley's name first appeared on the second edition, published in
France in 1823.

THEMES:
 Bravery / Courage
 Heroism
 Admiration
 Father and child
 Leadership by example

MORAL VALUES:
 Bravery / Courage
 Admiration
 Confidence
 Love
 Respect
 Helpfulness

MORAL LESSONS:
 We should appreciate the qualities of our fathers
 We have to be brave/courageous in any situation
 We should show good examples to others
 Parents are brave/courageous in their own ways
 Family unity is important
 We should show our gratitude to our parents by helping them

PRACTICE 1

STANZA 1

1. Which line suggests that the persona thinks of his father as the best hero?
__________________________________________________________
2. What is the meaning of “the dead of night”?
__________________________________________________________

STANZA 2

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 1. List two things that do not scare the persona’s father.
(i) ____________________________________________________
(ii) ____________________________________________________
2. Which line tells us that the persona is confident about his father’s bravery?
__________________________________________________________

STANZA 3

1. What would the persona’s father do to prove that he is not afraid of ghosts?
____________________________________________________________
2. Which line suggests that his father is better than other fathers?
____________________________________________________________

STANZA 4

1. List the three types of monsters mentioned in this stanza.

(i) ______________________________________________________
(ii) ______________________________________________________
(iii) ______________________________________________________
2. The word “him” refers to ________________________________________

STANZA 5

1. Which line suggests that the persona’s father is very confident?

____________________________________________________________
2. What does his mother have to do in the bathroom?
____________________________________________________________

PRACTICE 2 (HOTS Questions)

1. Who do you think the persona is talking to about his father? Why?
____________________________________________________________

2. How does the persona know that his father is not afraid of watching horror movies late at
night?
_____________________________________________________________

3. In your opinion, which line is the best description of his father’s bravery? Why?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

4. What would his father do to the monsters (in stanza 4)? How?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

5. Why do you think the persona’s mother has to remove the spider in the bathtub?
_____________________________________________________________

6. Suggest two ways to show your appreciation to your father.

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 (i) _______________________________________________________
(ii) _______________________________________________________
7. Apart from your father, who would you consider your hero? Why?
_____________________________________________________________

8. What would be the best present you could give to your father on his birthday? Why?
_____________________________________________________________

PRACTICE 3 (VOCABULARY)

No. Word Meaning No. Word Meaning

1 Horrors 4 Vampires
2 Skeleton 5 Upset
3 Defeat 6 Remove

What is Red?

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 By Mary O’Neill

The poet’s background

Mary Devenport O'Neill (3 August 1879 – 1967) was an Irish poet and dramatist. She
was born in Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland in 1879. From 1898-1903 she studied teaching
at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art (the present-day National College of Art, Dublin).

When she was fifty, she published a collection of poetry Prometheus and Other Poems
(London: Jonathan Cape 1929) which consists of thirty-three lyric poems, four "dream poems",
one long poem, and a verse-play. This was the first collection of poetry published by an Irish
poet, besides Yeats, which could be considered modernist. She is one of a small number of
known early 20th century Irish modernist women poets. One of her most popular books,
''Hailstones and Halibut Bones: Adventures in Color,'' illustrated by Leonard Weisgard, was
published by Doubleday in 1961 and printed in several languages. In it, Mrs. O'Neill identified
and interpreted the most familiar colours through verse. The book was used as a supplementary
text in schools in the United States and abroad.

What is Red?

Red is sunset

Blazing and bright.

Red is feeling brave

With all your might.

Red is a sunburn

Spot on your nose.

Sometimes red

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Is a red, red, rose.

Red squiggles out

When you cut your hand.

Red is a brick

And the sound of aband.

Red is hotness

You get inside

When you’re embarrassed

And want to hide.

Fire-cracker, fire-engine

Fire-flicker red–

And when you’re angry

Red runs through your head.

Red is an Indian, VALENTINE

A Valentine heart.

The trimmings on

A circus cart.

Red is a lipstick

Red is a shout

Red is a signal

That says: “Watch out!”

Red is a great big

Rubber ball.

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Red is the giantest

Colour of all.

Red is a show-off,

No doubt about it -

But can you imagine

Living without it?

This poem is all about the colour RED

Line no. Line Interpretation:

1 Red is sunset
2 Blazing and bright.
3 Red is feeling brave
4 With all your might.
5 Red is a sunburn
6 Spot on your nose.
7 Sometimes red
8 Is a red, red, rose.
9 Red squiggles out
10 When you cut your hand.
11 Red is a brick
RED is the colour of…
Hot and bright sun
Bravery and strength/power
Nose that is burnt by the sun (when you are under the
hot sun for too long)
A rose (the flower)
Blood that comes out of a cut finger/hand
Brick that is used to build houses and buildings

12 And the sound of aband. Loud and high pitch sound of a musical band

13 Red is hotness The great feeling of embarrassment makes you feel like
14 You get inside hiding from other people
15 When you’re embarrassed (Some people blush when they are embarrassed – their
16 And want to hide. faces turn red)
17 Fire-cracker, fire-engine Fire crackers, fire brigade
18 Fire-flicker red– or an unsteady movement of flame like a candle or
flickering light (like a police car/ambulance/fire brigade)
19 And when you’re angry Your head feels hot with anger (hot temper)
20 Red runs through your head.
21 Red is an Indian, Reference to the native American tribe
22 A Valentine heart. Romantic love

23 The trimmings on The bright red decorations on a circus cart

24 A circus cart.
25 Red is a lipstick Thecolour of lipstick that women love to wear

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 26 Red is a shout Loud call or cry (to show a strong emotion)

27 Red is a signal A warning of danger (to be on the look-out / to be alert)

28 That says: “Watch out!”
29 Red is a great big A bigrubber ball
30 Rubber ball. (small children are always attracted to a red ball)
31 Red is the giantest Red is the most widely seen colour around us / the
32 Colour of all. colour that we will notice immediately around us
(‘giant’ already means very big. ‘giantest’ is just to make
it sound extremely big)
33 Red is a show-off, Obviously easy to see/notice/display
34 No doubt about it - (Some people use red simply to attract attention –
maybe for personal reasons)
35 But can you imagine The question emphasizes the fact that our life would be
36 Living without it? dull and boring without red as a colour in the world.

Positive and Negative Traits of Red:

Positive keywords include:

 action
 energy and speed
 attention-getting
 assertive and confident
 energizing
 stimulating
 exciting
 powerful
 passionate
 stimulating
 courageous and strong
 spontaneous
 determined
 adventure

Negative keywords include:

 aggressive

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  domineering
 tiring
 angry
 quick-tempered
 cruel
 fearful
 intolerant
 rebellious
 hateful
 violent

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THEMES:
 Courage

 Red is the warmest of all colours.

 Positive versus Negative

 Prosperity

 Life and vitality

MORAL VALUES:
 Bravery/Courage
 Determination
 Love
 Positive attitude
 Confidence

MORAL LESSONS:
 We should have a positive attitude in our daily life
 Have self confidence in doing everything and anything
 Be brave/courageous in facing the challenges in life
 We must try to control our anger or temper
 We should not be hateful towards others
 We must try to change our bad behaviour
PRACTICE 1

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 1. From the poem, list the positive examples of red.
(i) _____________________________________________________________
(ii) _____________________________________________________________
(iii) _____________________________________________________________
(iv) _____________________________________________________________
(v) _____________________________________________________________

2. From the poem, list the negative examples of red.

(i) _____________________________________________________________
(ii) _____________________________________________________________
(iii) _____________________________________________________________
(iv) _____________________________________________________________
(v) _____________________________________________________________

3. What is the meaning of “with all your might”?

___________________________________________________________________
4. What causes a sunburn?
___________________________________________________________________
5. In the poem, “you” refers to
_______________________________________________________
6. “Red squiggles out” refers to ____________________________________________
7. What flower does red refer to in this poem?
___________________________________________________________________
8. Which line suggests that red is also the colour of love?
___________________________________________________________________
9. Which line tells us that some people wear red to attract attention?
___________________________________________________________________
10. What does “it” in the last line refer to?
___________________________________________________________________

PRACTICE 2 (HOTS Questions)

1. Why do you think red refers to the sunset and not the sunrise?
_________________________________________________________________
2. How is it possible for you to get a sunburn? Explain.
_________________________________________________________________
3. Based on your own experience, why do people dislike feeling embarrassed?
_________________________________________________________________
4. Why do you think people give red roses to their loved ones?
________________________________________________________________
5. How could a visit to a circus make you happy?
________________________________________________________________
6. In your opinion, is red the best colour for a lipstick? Why?
________________________________________________________________
7. Who do you think would be interested in playing with a big red rubber ball? Why?
________________________________________________________________
8. Do you think red is the best choice of colour for a school uniform? Why?
________________________________________________________________
9. Would you want to live in a red bungalow? Why?
________________________________________________________________
10. Some people do not like red. Give two possible reasons.

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 (i) __________________________________________________________
(ii) __________________________________________________________

PRACTICE 3 (VOCABULARY)

No. Word Meaning No. Word Meaning

1 Blazing 4 Embarrassed
2 Might 5 Flicker
3 Squizzles 6 Trimmings

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION…

1. Red captures attention. It is one of the most visible colours, second only to yellow -
which explains why it is used on fire engines and stop signs to trigger alertness.

2. Red is one of the top two favouritecolours of all people.

3. Red is the most popular colour used on flags in the world. Approximately 77% of all
flags include red.

4. Red is the international colour for STOP.

5. Red represents beauty in many languages and cultures.

6. Red is the colour of good luck in Asia and is the most popular colour in China.

Red is associated with fire, south, and summer. It is also associated with good luck
and fortune.

7. In England, red phone booths and red double-decker buses are national icons.
Standard British pillar boxes (mail boxes) have been painted red since 1874.

8. In India, a red mark on the forehead is said to bring good luck. To the Hindu, red
symbolizes joy, life, energy, and creativity.

9. Red is an auspicious colour for marriage. Brides in India and Nepal wear red saris; in
Japan, a red kimono symbolizes happiness and good luck.

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 10. In Malaysia and Singapore, the colour red traditionally symbolizes joy. Chinese New
Year is celebrated by wearing red clothing and decorating the house with red. Red
envelopes with “luck money” are given to unmarried children to bring good fortune
to them for the rest of the year.

11. Most Japanese children draw the sun as a big red circle.

12. Red roses symbolize passionate love.

13. Red is the colour of Mars. This planet is known as the God of War.

14. Bees cannot see the colour red, but they can see all other bright colors. Red
flowers are usually pollinated by birds, butterflies, bats, and wind, rather than
bees.

POPULAR PHRASES THAT INCLUDE RED

 Red carpet treatment (giving privileged treatment to an important person)
 Caught red-handed (found guilty doing something bad)
 Red in the face (to become embarrassed)
 Seeing red (getting angry)
 Red flag (a warning of danger)
 Not worth a red cent (no value)
 Red letter day(a memorable, joyful day)
 Red tape (extra formalities in governmental process)
 In the red (a term to describe an economic loss)

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 ANSWERS

My Hero

PRACTICE 1

STANZA 1

1. Which line suggests that the persona thinks of his father as the best hero?
I rate him Number One
2. What is the meaning of “the dead of night”?
The night is very dark and quiet

STANZA 2

1. List two things that do not scare the persona’s father.

(i) Late-night film /horror movie on television
(ii) Skeletons

2. Which line tells us that the persona is confident about his father’s bravery?
Not dad, not on your Nelly!

STANZA 3

1. What would the persona’s father do to prove that he is not afraid of ghosts?
Smile and greet them
2. Which line suggests that his father is better than other fathers?
My dad could just defeat ‘em

STANZA 4

1. List the three types of monsters mentioned in this stanza.

(i) Vampires
(ii) Wolf-man
(iii) Frankenstein’s monster
2. The word “him” refers to the persona’s father

STANZA 5

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 1. Which line suggests that the persona’s father is very confident?
And he’s always ready to prove it
2. What does his mother have to do in the bathroom?
She has to remove the spider that is in the bathtub

PRACTICE 2 (HOTS Questions)

NOTE :The answers for HOTS questions can be varied & wide ranging but most importantly,
they should be logical/reasonable and relevant to the question. Teachers are advised to use
their own discretion. The answers given below are simply examples of acceptable ones.

1. Who do you think the persona is talking to about his father? Why?
Maybe he is talking to his friends/classmates because they are making comparisons
about their fathers.
2. How does the persona know that his father is not afraid of watching horror movies late at
night?
The persona sleeps late every night / he watches the movies with his father.
3. In your opinion, which line is the best description of his father’s bravery? Why?
“My dad could just defeat ‘em” because he can do what other fathers cannot do.
(Note: The student can just choose any line but he needs to justify his choice.)
4. What would his father do to the monsters (in stanza 4)? How?
He would kill them all by using his karate skills.
5. Why do you think the persona’s mother has to remove the spider in the bathtub?
His father is scared of spiders or tiny/furry insects.
6. Suggest two ways to show your appreciation to your father.
(i) Always help him wash his car
(ii) Play games with him
7. Apart from your father, who would you consider your hero? Why?
I choose my neighbour because he is strong and brave like my father.
8. What would be the best present you could give to your father on his birthday? Why?
I will give him a video camera so that he can record all the family activities for his video
collection.

PRACTICE 3 (VOCABULARY)

No. Word Meaning No. Word Meaning

1 Horrors Fears 4 Vampires Living corpse
2 Skeleton Bones of a dead person 5 Upset Unhappy/disappointed
3 Defeat Win over 6 Remove Get rid of/throw away

What is red?

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PRACTICE 1
1. From the poem, list the positive examples of red. (Choose five from the list below)
(i) Sunset (vii) fire-crackers (festive occasions)
(ii) Feeling brave (viii) fire-engine
(iii) Rose (ix) lipstick
(iv) Brick (x) rubber ball
(v) Sound of a band (xi) Valentine heart
(vi) Circus cart (xii) Red Indian

2. From the poem, list the negative examples of red.

(i) Sunburn
(ii) Anger
(iii) Shout
(iv) Blood from a cut
(v) Feeling embarrassed

3. What is the meaning of “with all your might”?

With all your power or strength
4. What causes a sunburn?
Being under the hot sun for too long
5. In the poem, “you” refers to the reader
6. “Red squiggles out” refers to blood
7. What flower does red refer to in this poem?
Rose
8. Which line suggests that red is also the colour of love?
A Valentine heart.
9. Which line tells us that some people wear red to attract attention?
Red is a show-off
10. What does “it” in the last line refer to?
Red

PRACTICE 2 (HOTS Questions)

NOTE :The answers for HOTS questions can be varied & wide ranging but most importantly,
they should be logical/reasonable and relevant to the question. Teachers are advised to use
their own discretion. The answers given below are simply examples of acceptable ones.

1. Why do you think red refers to the sunset and not the sunrise?
Because it is getting dark and the sun is setting, so the colour darkens too (from
yellow to reddish colour).
2. How is it possible for you to get a sunburn? Explain.
I will get sunburn if/when I sit under the sun for too long without wearing anything to
protect me from the heat, like wearing a cap or hat.
3. Based on your own experience, why do people dislike feeling embarrassed?
Because they do not want to be laughed at / they will lose their confidence when they
feel silly.
4. Why do you think people give red roses to their loved ones?
As a symbol of love or romance / Red roses are special because they are very
beautiful and expensive.
5. How could a visit to a circus make you happy?
I can see many interesting circus acts and also animals like tigers and elephants.

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 6. In your opinion, is red the best colour for a lipstick? Why?
Yes, because it is a bright colourand can make a woman look very beautiful.
OR
No, because it is too bright and it will make a woman look ugly/like a clown.
7. Who do you think would be interested in playing with a big red rubber ball? Why?
Small children will like it because it will be fun trying to kick or catch a big ball.
8. Do you think red is the best choice of colour for a school uniform? Why?
Yes, because it will make the students look smart and cheerful.
OR
No, because it is not suitable for a school as a place to study.
9. Would you want to live in a red bungalow? Why?
Yes, because my house will look the most interesting in my area.
OR
No, my neighbours will think that we are a crazy family because we choose red paint.
10. Some people do not like red. Give two possible reasons.
(i) The colour is too bright
(ii) They do not like to show off.

PRACTICE 3 (VOCABULARY)

No. Word Meaning No. Word Meaning

1 Blazing Burning brightly 4 Embarrassed Feeling uncomfortable/
awkward
2 Might Power/strength 5 Flicker Glint/glimmer
3 Squizzles Wriggles/moves unevenly 6 Trimmings decorations

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