1. -Shel Silverstein -(1930-1999) -Beloved children’s poet -Many popular poem collections, include A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, and Where the Sidewalk Ends -Uses end rhyme and humorous imagery -Fun Fact – wrote Johnny Cash’s hit “A Boy Named Sue”

2. “Boa Constrictor” 1.What type of conflict is most prevalent in the poem? How do you know? 2.Where are two examples of repetition in the poem? 3.What are four character traits that describe the narrator? Cite one piece of textual evidence to justify your answer. 4.What effect does the onomatopoeia used in the last line have on the poem? 5.How many prepositional phrases are found in the poem?

3. “The Little Boy and the Old Man” 1.According to the poem, what are three similarities between the boy and old man? 2.Lines 7-8 showcase that both characters experience what type(s) of conflict? 3.Based upon how they speak, which character is sadder? Cite textual evidence to support your answer. 4.Explain three possible themes of the poem. Why do they apply to the poem?

4. “Point of View” 1.Explain the rhyme scheme of this poem. 2.Based upon the poem, explain what profession (job) the narrator may hold. Cite textual evidence to support your answer. 3.List three character traits that would not describe the narrator. Why would these not work for the narrator? 4.Throughout the entire poem, the narrator is experiencing what type of conflict? How do you know? 4A. Grammar time! – Why is there a comma after ‘poem’ in question four?

5. EXIT PASS Based upon Silverstein’s “Boa Constrictor” and “Point of View,” explain how Shel Silverstein uses humor in his poetry. Cite textual evidence to support your answer.

6. -Jack Prelutsky -(1940 -) -Children’s poet; 2006 Children’s Poet Laureate -Has written over 50 poetry collections; uses end rhyme and alliteration -Fun Fact – flunked English three times before dropping out of college

7. “Super Sampson Simpson” 1.What are four possible character traits for the narrator? 2.Why does the poet use hyperboles throughout the poem? 3.Is there a prepositional phrase in line 3? JUSTIFY your answer. 4.Discuss three ways that the narrator from this poem and “Boa Constrictor” are similar. 5.Based upon the narrator’s character traits, what type of conflict could occur in the last two lines of the poem?

8. -Edgar Allen Poe -(1809-1849) -Know as the inventor of the ‘detective’ genre; known for writing short stories / poems of macabre; gothic genre -Popular works include “The Raven” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” -Fun Fact - eventually married his 13 year old cousin, Virginia Clemm

9. -Emily Dickinson -(1830-1886) -Fewer than a dozen of her 1,800 poems were published during her lifetime -All poem titles are the first line of the poem -Uses end rhyme to expose new views on nature and life -Fun Fact - known as a recluse; fell in love with a married preacher, but she never got over it

10. -Langston Hughes -(1902-1967) -One of the most famous African-American poets of all time; popular during the Harlem Renaissance -Uses end rhyme to talk about current events and racism issues -Fun Fact – dropped out of college, but eventually received degrees from Harvard and Stanford

11. -Robert Frost -(1874-1963) -One of the most famous American poets of all time; four time Pulitzer Prize winner -Uses free verse and end rhyme to compare life events to nature; tone of works changed as he got older -Fun fact – Attended Harvard for two years