‘From Above’

‘From Above’ by Cale Young Rice

PRE-READING TASK: CHALLENGING VOCABULARY

In order to understand a new, challenging word, that word needs to be explored and investigated in a variety of ways. This will help the new word stick in your memory. Create two sentences that include the word ‘sullen’ that clearly show your understanding of the word. Sullen Example: Her boyfriend was annoyed, because she ruined their selfie with her sullen look. Synonyms: sulky, sour, morose, resentful Definition: bad-tempered and sulky All about ‘From Above’ Cale Young Rice was an American poet and dramatist writing in the early twentieth century. His poem ‘From Above’ has a very specific structure, rhythm and rhyme. He wrote this poem to show how sometimes you can feel in a completely different mood to the mood of your surroundings. ‘From Above’ by Cale Young Rice What do I care if the trees are bare And the hills are dark And the skies are gray. What do I care for chill in the air For crows that cark At the rough wind’s way. What do I care for the dead leaves there –Or the sullen road By the sullen wood. There’s heart in my heart To bear my load!©The Educational Company of Ireland So enough, the day is good!

READING

ACT IVITY

1 Summarise the poem in six words. The words do not have to make a sentence. 2 Practise your annotation skills in your activity book (see page 25) by trying to figure out the speaker, structure, rhythm and rhyme of the poem. 3 Who is the speaker in this poem? 4 What do you notice about the structure of the poem? 5 What do you notice about the rhyme in this poem? 6 What do you notice about the rhythm of the poem? 7 Finish this sentence: The poet’s use of the word sullen makes the road and wood seem 8 List the punctuation marks used in the poem. What is the effect of the use of the exclamation marks in the last two lines of the poem? 9 Did you like or dislike the poem? Give one reason for your answer. COMMUNICATING In small groups, prepare a reading of this poem. Think carefully about who should read each line or each stanza. Think about any words or lines that everyone should read together. You could record your poetry reading using a voice-recording app or perform it for your class. WRITING Can you think of a time when your own mood was at odds with your surroundings? Perhaps you were in a bad mood at a party or in a really giddy mood during an ordinary class at school. Write a paragraph describing that time. Writing Tips Identify the place you were and the mood you were in. Jot down what was different about these two things. You could begin your paragraph with the sentence: ‘Have you ever felt at odds with where you are?’ ©The Educational Company of Ireland

‘We Real Cool’ by Gwendolyn Brooks

PRE-READING: COMMUNICATING

1 Describe what is happening in this picture. 2 Where do you think these teenagers should be? 3 What do you think they are talking about? 4 What do you think they might do for the rest of the day? 5 Do you think they do this regularly? 6 Listen to a reading of the poem: edco.ie/6vxs 7 What did you find appealing about Gwendolyn Brooks’ reading of her poem? 8 If you were to choose an actor to read this poem for a poetry video, who would you choose and why? All about ‘We Real Cool’ Gwendolyn Brooks was a highly regarded African-American author and poet. A lot of her work deals with issues of prejudice, racism and civil rights. She was the first black author to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Brooks wrote this poem in 1959 after coming across a group of young African-American men playing pool at a pool hall, instead of being in school. She wondered how they felt about themselves. The Golden Shovel is the name of the pool hall.©The Educational Company of Ireland