1.1-1/111-i1+111-11-141 •DES'CRIBE · In the notebook, compare yourself to an element of nature....

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1.1-1/111-i1+111- 11-141 1 am like a

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READINGS Determine the figurative meaning of phrases and analyze how an author's use of language suggests mood.

The Delight Song of Tsoal-Talee Poem by N. Scott Momaday

Four Skinny Trees Vignette by Sandra Cisneros

•DES'CRIBE

because 1 (2,4

If someone were to ask you to describe yourself, what would you say?

Often, we describe ourselves in comparison to something or someone.

In the selections you are about to read, people compare themselves to

the natural world.

BRAINSTORM Comparing yourself to an element in nature, such as a

blooming sunflower or a powerful tiger, can convey a vivid sense of who

you are: "I am like a tiger, because I am powerful, determined, and proud."

In the notebook, compare yourself to an element of nature. Provide

adjectives to show how you and the element are alike.

Literary Analysis: Mood and Figurative Language Have you ever described a story with a word like mysterious, creepy, or cheerful? Then you've described the mood, or the feeling that a writer

creates for a reader. One way writers create mood is through figurative

language, which is language used in imaginative ways to express ideas that

are not literally true. Two types of figurative language are metaphors and personification.

Figurative Language

Metaphor a comparison between two unlike things

that does not use the

words like or as

tam an antelope.

Personification a comparison that

gives human qualities

to an object, animal,

or idea

My shoes punished

the pavement.

As you read the following selections, notice how the figurative language

helps set the mood of each piece.

248 INTERACTIVE READER / UNIT 5: APPRECIATING POETRY

Figurative Language in "The Delight Song of Tsoai-Talee" (Metaphors)

Figurative Language in "Four Skinny Trees" (personification)

Reading Strategy: Set a Purpose for Reading Every time you read, you read with a purpose. That purpose might be to

have fun, or it might be to learn information. In this lesson, your purpose

for reading is to identify the moods of two pieces. To help you do this, look

closely at the figurative language in each poem. As you read the following

selections, you will be asked to fill in the chart below.

READING 8 Determine the figurative meaning of phrases and

analyze how an author's use of language suggests mood.

RC-7(A) Establish purposes for

reading selected texts to enhance comprehension.

• "I am a feather on the

bright sky"

Words that describe the mood:

• "yotprof

Words that describe the mood:

THE DELIGHT SONG OF TSOAI-TALEE / FOUR SKINNY TREES 249

kla

69 067 0 64

O MOOD AND FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Reread lines 1-6. Circle each

element of nature to which the

speaker compares himself. Add

each metaphor to the chart on page 249. What mood do these metaphors create?

SET A PURPOSE FOR READING

Read this poem to see how

Momaday uses metaphors

to set a mood.

f HE ,

1JELIGHT S NG OF

MOAT-MLLE

Poem by

1.01 I Pe AN

I am a feather on the bright sky I am the blue horse that runs in the plain I am the fish that rolls, shining, in the water I am the shadow that follows a child

5 I am the evening light, the lustre of meadows I am `an eagle playing with the wind 0

I am a cluster of bright beads

I am the farthest star

I am the cold of the dawn lo I am the roaring of the rain

I am the glitter on the crust of the snow I am the long track of the moon in a lake

I am a flame of four colors

BACKGROUND N. Scott Momaday is a Native

American born to Kiowa and Cherokee parents.

Momaday's Kiowa name, Tsoai-Talee, means "Rock

Tree Boy" and refers to an 865-foot volcanic butte,

or hill, that is sacred to the Kiowa people.


k 411 1% 4 °Iv AV 0 Air

Monitor Your Comprehension

0 MOOD AND FIGURATIVE LANGAUGE

What does the speaker compare himself to in line i8? Explain what he means.

MusE84 REFLECT Circle phrases that are repeated

in lines 19-24. What effect does this repetition create?

I am a deer standing away in the dusk 15 I am a field of sumac and the pornme blanche'

I am an angle of geese in the winter sky

I am the hunger of a young wolf

I am the whole dream of these things 0

You see, I am alive, I am alive zo I stand in good relation to the earth

I stand in good relation to the gods

I stand in good relation to all that is beautiful

I stand in good relation to the daughter of Tsen-tainte 2

You see, I am alive, I am alive ?PALISE„..&eliEELECT.':

1. pomme blanche (porn blawsh): a plant with heavy edible roots, also known as breadroot.

2. Tsen-tainte: a heroic and respected igth-century Kiowa chief known for his •bold raids on both white and Native American settlements.

THE DELIGHT SONG OF TSOAI-TALEE 251

`8111 "MA 4811.



Read this vignette to find

out how the narrator is like

four skinny trees.

Vionette by

BACKGROUND After attending the . Writers' Workshop in the University of Iowa, Cisneros

began a series of sketches about her old Spanish-

speaking neighborhood in Chicago. These

sketches grew into her first book, The House on Mango Street, which includes "Four Skinny Trees."

G MOOD AND FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

In lines -1-11, underline words or phrases the author uses to personify the trees. Add them to the chart on page 249. What word or phrase would you use to describe the mood of these paragraphs?

hey are the only ones who understand me. I am the only one who understands them. Four skinny trees

with skinny necks and pointy elbows like mine. Four who do not belong here but are here. Four raggedy excuses planted by the city. From our room we can hear them, but Nenny just sleeps and doesn't appreciate these things.

Their strength is secret. They send ferocious roots beneath the ground. They grow up and they grow down and grab the earth between their hairy toes and bite the

10 sky with violent teeth and never quit their anger. This is how they keep.

Let one forget his reason for being, they'd all droop like tulips in a glass, each with their arms around the other. Keep, keep, keep, trees say when I sleep. They teach.


O MOOD AND FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Reread lines 16-21. What words

and phrases stand out to you?

Circle them. What mood do

these words create?

;.•


When I am too sad and too skinny to keep keeping,

when I am a tiny thing against so many bricks, then it is I

look at trees. When there is nothing left to look at on this

street. Four who grew despite concrete. Four who reach

20 and do not forget to reach. Four whose only reason is to

be and be. 0 :PAUSE & -IIEFLECT

CM' Why do you think the trees are

personified with qualities that

could also describe the narrator?

FOUR SKINNY TREES 253

ti

-1;4

READING 8 Determine the figurative meaning of phrases and analyze how an author's use of language suggests mood.

Literary Analysis: Mood and Figurative Language You've learned that writers use figurative language, such as metaphors and personification, to express interesting ideas and convey moods. In the chart below, identify each figure of speech as a metaphor or personification. Then describe how you think it adds to the overall mood or effect of the selection.

"The

Line from Poem

.

Figure of Speech

Delight Song of Tsoai-Talee" _

Mood/Effect ,

"1 am a cluster of bright beads"

metaphor

•

The image conveys a. joyful feeling.

.

"1 am a field of sumac and the pomme blanche"

"1 am the hunger of a young wolf"

'

"Four Skinny Trees"

•

"They are the only ones who understand me:'

skinny necks and pointy elbows like mine:'

•

"Four skinny frees with

"They ... bite the sky with violent teeth and never quit their anger:"

•


Academic Vocabulary in Speaking

encounter integrity specific tradition vary

TURN AND TALK Which writer used figurative language more effectively-

Momaday or Cisneros? Discuss your opinion with a partner, citing specific details from the poems as suppQrt. Use.at least one Academic Vocabulary

word in your response. Definitions of these words are on page 211.

Texas Assessment Practice

DIRECTIONS Use "The Delight Song of Tsoai-Talee" a

Trees" to answer questions 1-4.

1 A comparison that gives human qualities to an

object, animal, or idea is called —

mood

repetition

metaphor

personification

2 The speaker in "The Delight Song of Tsoai-Talee"

compares himself to all of the following animals

except —

horse

bear

JO deer

wolf

d "Four Skinny

THE DELIGHT SONG OF TSOAI - TALEE / FOUR SKINNY TREES 255

3 How would you describe the overall mood of

"Four Skinny Trees"?

determined

B) cheerful

bitter

CD) silly

4 The speaker is like the trees because she —

is sad

(G) is graceful

doesn't belong

C) is skinny and weak

How : u you DESCRIBE -volurselk-. - Look back at the element of nature you chose in the activity on page 248.

Write a one-stanza poem in which you compare yourself to that element

of nature. Use the selections you just reaclas inspiration.

READING 8 Determine the figurative meaning of phrases and analyze how an author's use of language suggests mood.

"I am a feather on the bright sky"

Mood: Mood:

fitMEV4ORK. Name

Date

THE DELIGHT SONG OF TSOAI-TALEE / FOUR SKINNY TREES

Reading Strategy •


If you set a purpose when you read, you will get more from your reading. Your purpose might be to learn specific information. Or, your purpose for reading might be just to have fun. In this lesson, your purpose for reading is to compare the moods of two pieces. Analyzing the figurative language can help you accomplish this purpose.

Directions: After you have read both poems, reread the selections again. Record examples of figurative language for each poem. Then write a word that describes the mood of each poem. An example has been done for you.

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Unit 5 115 Grade 7

Resource Manager

Name Date

THE DELIGHT SONG OF TSOAI-TALEE I FOUR SKINNY TREES

Question Support

LITERARY ANALYSIS

For questions 1-3, see page 618 of the. Student Edition.

Directions: Answer each question. 4. Analyze Figurative Language Reread lines 1-10 of "The Delight Song of

Tsoai-Talee." The poet uses metaphors to compare himself to several things. Identify three of the metaphors. Then complete the following sentences.

The first metaphor is

It creates a feeling of

The second metaphor is


The third metaphor is


.5. Interpret Meaning N. Scott Momaday's Native American name is "Tsoai- Talee," which means "Rock Tree Boy." It refers to a landform that is sacred to his people. The poet refers to Tsen-tainte, a brave Kiowa chief from the 1800s. The poet says that he is related to this chiefs daughter. Circle the sentence that describes what he means by the lines 23-24.

a. He is really dead. b. The chief is long dead c. His heritage is alive.

- 6. Make Inferences Complete the following sentence with details from "Four Skinny Trees."

O

Details that describe both the trees and the narrator are 0

- 0

0

7. Analyze Mood Personification is a comparison that gives human qualities to an object, animal, or idea. The poet uses personification in "Four Skinny Trees" to create a certain mood. Circle a word in parentheses and complete the

0 following sentences.

Three examples of personification are o

•

The mood of "Four Skinny Trees" is (sad, determined, hopeful) because

Unit 5 117 Grade 7

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