Listen! Once Upon a Poem

LISTEN

I have often found that we have become a nation of poor listeners.  At least, I know I am not a good listener.  I only learned when I first became a principal, that I need to see everything in writing for my memory to function properly.  If I am under stress, too busy, or tired, I pay very careful attention to what someone is saying to me and then I immediately forget it!

When I think about all the times my parents  and teachers told me to "Listen!", I cannot help but smile because I think of the hilarious poem by Hillaire Belloc, Jim,Who Ran Away From His Nurse, and Was Eaten by A Lion.  You see, Jim did not listen to what he was told and he was eaten by a lion!   This Belloc poem is beautifully illustrated by Peter Bailey in the poetry collection Once Upon a Poem.

~K~

The whole concept of the cautionary tale is so much fun to work with.  I love the whimsical rhymes; the graphic imagery of Jim being eaten by the lion, and the dark humor that Belloc makes so eloquent.  I am reminded of a few different things.  I immediately thought of Alice in Wonderland  and was happy to learn that Lewis Carrol was actually influenced by Belloc.  

There is also a connection between the poems and Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  The drastic consequences the children face for their misbehavior are similar to that of Jim's fate.  The style and imagery are also reminiscent of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunately Events.  Although the Baudelaire children are not immoral in character, there is a dark humor and cautionary style that can be seen in both writings.

~N~

Here are some ideas to celebrate Poetry and Jim!

 

The titles link to the websites.

Author Study

The Poets' Corner website offers a collection of poems by Belloc, which would be  fun to use in an author study or to supplement lessons with additional cautionary tales.

 

Poem to Prose

The storytelling and imagery is so powerful in the poem that it would be fun to allow students to be create a prose version of the story.  Students can illustrate their stories and bind them to create a book. 

 

 Background Research

The cautionary tale is synonymous with the Victorian era and the high moral standards that existed during that time period.  Children today would definitely have difficulty relating to those standards.  This website is a great resource offering insight into the Victorian era and acceptable behavior of the time.

Satire

The ReadWriteThink website from the International Reading Association offers lesson plans on Satire that align with the Common Core Content Standards.   The lesson plan using clips from the movie Shrek to explain satire in writing.

 

When Nurse informed his parents, they

Were more Concerned than I can say:

His Mother, as she dried her eyes,

Said, "Well

it gives me no surprise,

He would not do as he was told!"  

Belaire Helloc, from Jim, Who Ran Away From His Nurse and Was Eaten by a Lion

How Are Your Listening Skills? 

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