2. TITLE: Predict the meaning of the poem based on the title. ANSWER: A being or something that is injured either physically or emotionally. Based on the picture, a dog?

3. PARAPHRASE: Put into your own words the meaning of the poem. ANSWER: My dog has a bad leg and hobbles; I wanted a strong dog, a leader, one that was graceful, but he is slow and clumsy. I am too proud to admit that he is mine. But when he shows me love, I forget about his imperfections and my ego.

4. Connotation: Highlight words you see as important. What ideas or feelings are associated with the words or phrases? ANSWER: hobbles, rickety, little canine, club foot, stumbler, abnormal, feeble have connotations of being broken or useless. savage grace, gait leader, brutal hunter have connotation of strength and power.

5. Connotation: Highlight words you see as important. What ideas or feelings are associated with the words or phrases? ANSWER: my vain heart weeps connotes selfishness Imperfection is forgotten connotes resilience and forgiveness

6. ATTITUDE: What is the speaker’s attitude toward the subject or situation? ANSWER: The speaker starts with a negative tone toward his dog. Then he SHIFTS into a hopeful yet also selfish tone. He quickly SHIFTS again to the reality of what his dog is and picks up his negative tone again. In the end, he returns to a loving tone.

7. SHIFT: Are there shifts in speaker or in the speaker’s attitude? ANSWER: There are shifts in ATTITUDE, not speaker. LINE 4 (and), Line 14 (but) and Line 23 (but).

8. TITLE: Look at the title again. How have your ideas about the meaning of the title changed? ANSWER: We now know it is about a pet and its owner.

9. THEME: What is author saying? What is his comment on his subject? What is the overall message? ANSWER: Unconditional love means looking past imperfections. Heroism is the ability to inspire and put the needs of a loved one over your own.