1. Do Now: April 10th, 2019
Please open to page 299 in the literature textbook, “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Lawrence Thayer.
Preview Build Background section before reading poem.

2. Do Now My favorite athlete is…. What I admire about him or her is…
Do Now My favorite athlete is….. What I admire about him or her is… When a game is “on the line,” I expect him or her to_____. I was disappointed in him or her when…

3. Open to page 299 in the literature textbook, “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Lawrence Thayer.
Preview Build Background section before reading poem.
Draw a sketch of what the bases look like as Casey steps up to bat.
What is the score? Inning?

4. Hyperbole- a writer’s use of exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis.
With your partner identify 5 examples of hyperbole in the poem.
Then explain how the poet’s use of hyperbole adds to the poem.

5. Examples of hyperbole:
“tore the cover off the ball”
“there went up a muffled roar. Like the beating of the storm waves on the stern and distant shore”;
“Ten thousand eyes were on him…Five thousand tongues applauded.”
“It rumbled in the mountaintops, it rattled in the dell.”
The poet’s use of hyperbole increases the dramatic effect of the poem and emphasizes the seriousness of the game for the fans and the humor of the poem.

6. Characterization: Please complete chart with your partner.
Be sure to use text evidence to support your responses.

7. Characterization:
Casey- arrogant, “Casey stood a watchin it, in haughty grandeur there.”
Casey-popular/athletic, “If only Casey could get a whack at that-”
Crowd- exuberant -“Then from the gladdened multitude went up a joyous yell.”
Flynn- heroic,-”let drive a single”
Blake- heroic, -”tore the cover off the ball.”

8. Connect to Literature:
1. Some may feel disappointed in Casey for letting the first two pitches go by.
Some may admire the loyalty of the crowd or feel that the crowd should have urged Casey to hit the second pitch.
2. Mudville has two runs; it is the last inning.
3. Casey refuses to swing at them, taking them for called strikes.

9. Think Critically:
2. Casey is arrogant and quite sure of himself. He wants to appear confident and relaxed.
3. Casey is over-confident. He takes advantage of the admiration from the crowd and the position of his team to show his disdain for the pitcher and umpire.

10. Theme: a message or lesson about life the author wishes to convey to the reader
What is the theme of “Casey at the Bat”?
What support do you have for your claim?

11. Writer’s Notebook: (In literature section, one page)
Imagine that you are a reporter for the Mudville Times. Write a newspaper article describing the last inning of the game. If you want to include information that is not given in the poem, make it up. (one page)
Draw a sketch to go along with your article.

12. View film version:
Does the film portray the characters in the same way you visualized them while reading?