Activity
Poetry Analysis and Oral Presentation Read the given poem and discuss (in pairs) the theme.
To the Cuckoo
By William Wordsworth
Oblithe New- comer! I have heard,
I hear thee and rejoice.
O Cuckoo! shall I call thee Bird,
Or but a wandering Voice?
While I am lying on the grass
Thy twofold shout I hear;
From hill to hill it seems to pass,
At once far off, and near.
Though babbling only to the Vale
Of sunshine and of flowers,
Thou bringest unto me a tale
Of visionary hours.
Thrice welcome, darling of the Spring!
Even yet thou art to me
No bird, but an invisible thing,
A voice, a mystery;
The same whom in my school- boy days
I listened to; that Cry
Which made me look a thousand ways
In bush, and tree, and sky.
To seek thee did I often rove
Through woods and on the green;
And thou wert still a hope, a love;
Still longed for, never seen.
And I can listen to thee yet;
Can lie upon the plain
And listen, till I do beget
That golden time again.
O blessed Bird! the earth we pace
Again appears to be
An unsubstantial, faery place;
That is fit home for Thee!
Notes: William Wordsworth (1770- 1850), English poet, one of the most accomplished and influential of England's poets, whose style created a new tradition in poetry. He wrote poems portraying nature as something divine and spiritual. "To the cuckoo" is one of his fond memories expressed in words. Through this poem he expresses nature to the depths of nostalgia.
Discuss the poem and share your thoughts based on key themes, symbols, and emotions conveyed in the poem or a specific aspect of the poem.
Using a variety of sentence types also makes for more interesting reading.
CLAUSE: A clause is the basic unit of grammar. Typically a main clause is made up of a subject (s) (a noun phrase) and a verb phrase (v). Sometimes the verb phrase is followed by other elements, e.g. objects (o), complements (c), adjuncts (ad). These other elements are sometimes essential to complete the meaning of the clause:
[S] Sarah [V] smiled. [S] Jahan [V] doesn't feel [C] well.
1. Replace the underlined word with the correct pronoun: - Sarah gave Sarah's book to Sarah. ii. Identify the type of pronoun used: - The cat groomed itself. iii. Change the sentence using a relative pronoun: - The person is talking. is my friend. iv. Complete the sentence with an indefinite pronoun: - of the students passed the test. v. Choose the appropriate demonstrative pronoun: - I prefer sweater. vi. Identify the reflexive pronoun: - The children washed before dinner. vii. Change the sentence using an interrogative pronoun: - She went to the store. did she buy? viii. Convert the sentence using a possessive pronoun: - The car belongs to John. It is ix. Replace the noun with the correct personal pronoun: - The teacher praised the student. deserved it. x. Select the correct reciprocal pronoun: - Jane and Mary are best friends; they know each other very well. B. Present and Past Participles Used as Adjectives: i. Identify the present participle: - The child is playing in the park. ii. Choose the correct past participle: - The cake was perfectly. iii. Replace the adjective with a present participle: - The breeze felt against my face. iv. Identify the past participle: - The treasure was by the pirates. v. Complete the sentence using a past participle: - The door was left. vi. Choose the appropriate present participle: - The flowers bloomed in the garden. vii. Replace the adjective with a past participle: - The story is and captivating.
ix. Identify the present participle: - The dog chased its tail. x. Complete the sentence using a past participle: - The letter was and sent. xi. Choose the correct past participle: - The building was during the earthquake.
C. Gerund Phrase:
i. Identify the gerund phrase: