Bellringer On the back table Jan. 11-14, 2012

Bell Ringer 54: Analyzing Poetry 1) Read the excerpts from “A Noiseless Patient Spider” by Walt Whitman. Sample 1: A noiseless patient spider, I mark’d where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated; Sample 2: And you, O my Soul, where you stand, Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space, How does the author’s use of figurative language enhance the writing? a) In neither sample does the author use figurative language to add to the mood. b) In both samples the author uses figurative language to affect characterization. c) In only one sample does the author use figurative language to create a feeling of loneliness. d) In both samples the author uses figurative language to enhance tone.

Paragraph 1: When I was younger, I used to enjoy visiting the natural history museum. The exhibits sparked my imagination as I stared up at the fossilized remains of great dinosaurs and peeked in on the remains of our human ancestors. These ancient remains seemed to speak to me of distant times in an untamed land. However, I remember my last trip to the museum with a keener sense of awareness. Paragraph 2: After wandering through many exhibit halls, I found myself starring at the family of chimpanzees. They were all there: the gray back father of the troop looking fierce, the mothers grooming each other, the young chimps swinging on the artificial trees, and the infants clinging to their mothers. And it suddenly struck me. They were all dead; they were all staring out at me with sad, dead eyes. This entire family, fathers, mothers, and babies, had been hunted, killed, and preserved for this museum display. The truth of the situation was printed right there on the description card in the exhibit window. It was like stepping into a vacuum chamber that sucked all the joy out of the experience. I was overwhelmed by the inhumanity of humans. Do we have the right to do the things we do even in the name of science? 1) How does the tone change from Paragraph 1 to Paragraph 2? a) The tone in Paragraph 1 is neutral while the tone in Paragraph 2 is negative. b) The tone in Paragraph 1 is passive while the tone in Paragraph 2 is energized. c) The tone in Paragraph 1 is resigned while the tone in Paragraph 2 is judgmental. d) The tone in Paragraph 1 is enthusiastic while the tone in Paragraph 2 is troubled.

Paragraph 1: When I was younger, I used to enjoy visiting the natural history museum. The exhibits sparked my imagination as I stared up at the fossilized remains of great dinosaurs and peeked in on the remains of our human ancestors. These ancient remains seemed to speak to me of distant times in an untamed land. However, I remember my last trip to the museum with a keener sense of awareness. Paragraph 2: After wandering through many exhibit halls, I found myself starring at the family of chimpanzees. They were all there: the gray back father of the troop looking fierce, the mothers grooming each other, the young chimps swinging on the artificial trees, and the infants clinging to their mothers. And it suddenly struck me. They were all dead; they were all staring out at me with sad, dead eyes. This entire family, fathers, mothers, and babies, had been hunted, killed, and preserved for this museum display. The truth of the situation was printed right there on the description card in the exhibit window. It was like stepping into a vacuum chamber that sucked all the joy out of the experience. I was overwhelmed by the inhumanity of humans. Do we have the right to do the things we do even in the name of science? 2) How does the author’s use of figurative language enhance the writing? a) Neither paragraph uses figurative language to add to the mood. b) Both paragraphs use figurative language to reveal characterization. c) Only one paragraph uses figurative language to affect tone. d) Only one paragraph uses figurative language to affect setting.

Trait/Description Example from Text (w pg #) Explanation (How does this contribute to survival?) Pg 1 Deborah recited the Lord’s Prayer while in the dingy This kept her from going crazy . Faith –remembering the things you believe in