Understanding Poetry and Literary Devices

Miss K introduces unit three, lesson six, focusing on vocabulary and tone. She reads a section of Sherman Alexie's poem 'Why We Play Basketball,' exploring themes of love, hate, and the figurative meaning of war. Students are tasked with analyzing the poem, identifying repeated words, and writing a memory poem using repetition and figurative language.

What does the word 'desperate' mean?

• Hopeful

• Hopeless

• Joyful

• Angry

What is a 'line break' in poetry?

• A pause in the middle of a line

• The place where a line ends

• The start of a new paragraph

• The title of the poem

What is the tone of a piece of writing?

• The plot

• The attitude expressed through writing style and word choice

• The setting

• The main character

In the poem 'Why We Play Basketball', what is basketball compared to?

• A journey

• A war

• A game

• A dance

Which word is repeated multiple times in the poem?

• Love

• Hate

• Play

• Score

List three body parts mentioned in the poem.

• Hands, Mouths, Faces

• Hands, Mouths, Feet

• Eyes, Ears, Nose

• Legs, Arms, Heads

What word does the speaker use to describe basketball for them?

• Game

• War

• Sport

• Fun

What are the two reasons the boys play basketball according to the final stanza?

• To socialize and to learn

• To separate love from hate and to keep score

• To win and to have fun

• To exercise and to compete

What is the literal meaning of 'keeping score' in a basketball game?

• Tracking the fouls committed

• Counting the number of players

• Recording the points each team earns

• Measuring the time of the game

What should you include in your memory poem?

• A rhyme scheme

• A specific theme

• A famous quote

• A simile or metaphor and repetition