Love That Dog
By: Sharon Creech
Love That Dog Interpretive Questions - due Friday, May 9
Include textual evidence and cite quotes from the text for ALL questions.
1. Jack doesn’t want to write poetry at the beginning of the book. Why doesn’t he want to?
He doesn't want to write poetry because he knows that poetry is only for girls and he also doesn't know how to write poetry.
2. In Jack’s first poem, he writes:
So much depends upon
a blue car splattered with mud
speeding down the road.
Why was the blue car important to Jack?
The blue car is important to Jack because he describes the blue car like a human being.
3. What caused Miss Strechberry to be so interested in Jack’s first poem? Describe what Miss Strechberry does to get Jack to write more poems, especially about the blue car.
The thing that caused Miss. Strechberry to be interested in the story is that she liked the way that Jack described the blue car. The thing that Miss. Strechberry does to make Jake write more poems is that she makes him write about his pet and other things that she things will interest him to write the poems.
4. How does Jack respond when Miss Strechberry asks him to write about a pet? Why do you think Miss Strechberry insists he write the poem despite Jack’s reaction?
When Miss. Strechberry asks him to write about a pet he doesn't want to because he used to have a dog and it died. I think that she wanted him to write about a pet and insist him because she feels that Jack might start liking poetry and enjoy it.
5. What are Jack’s feelings toward Sky? Make a list of details from the book that describes Jack’s feelings toward his dog.
Jack's feelings toward Sky is that he cares and loves him because he plays with him and says hi to him every morning and evening. Also Jack loved Sky very much because Jack wrote a lot of poems about Sky and Sky was always there to cheer Jack up when ever Jack felt sad.
6. Jack changes a great deal in the novel. Think about these changes. Then create a two- column chart with two headings: “Beginning of school year ” and “End of school year ”. Under each heading, list examples of the things Jack does, thinks and says in the beginning of the year compared to the end of the year. I think that the essay would say that he discovered the different types of poetry and that he can write poetry about something he loves or he can make something up. I think the essay would also say that it can change a persons' life because it can inspire you to write more and make a persons' life happier by remembering things by writing about them or it can inspire other people from reading the poem.
7. Imagine Miss Strechberry has just asked Jack to write an essay telling what he has discovered about poetry and how it can change a person’s life. What would the essay say? I can pray to God to take care of him. I can go to his grave and put things on top of his grave, like flowers and such. Other people can cheer me up. Other people can give me stuff or anything that would help me. Also I could stay with my family and remember about my dog.
8. Sky’s death affected Jack deeply. If you had just lost a much-loved pet, what things could you, or other people, do to help you cope with the loss? Create a list of ideas. Miss Strechberry encourages Jack to keep writing poems and encourages him to write a letter for Walter Dean Myers. Also Miss Strechberry types up Jack's poems and makes it look good for Jack to feel proud of his work.
9. Miss Strechberry is able to convince Jack to write poetry and share his feelings even though he doesn’t want to. Point out the qualities Miss Strechberry has as a person, and as a teacher, that allow her to reach Jack. Jack falls in love with Walter Dean Myers' poetry because Jack thought it sounded good and he called it the best best BEST poem ever. When Mr. Myers visits Jack's school effects Jack because Jack likes Mr. Myers' poems and he got to meet him in real life. Also Jack got inspired from Myers' poem to write about his dog sky.
10. Why does Jack fall in love with Walter Dean Myers’ poetry? What effect does Mr. Myers’ visit to the school have on Jack? How do you know?
"My street is not in the middle of the city so it doesn't have that LOUD music of horns and trucks clash flash screech." Pg. 31. On page 37 the poem/picture of Jack's dog. "I liked those small poems we read today." Pg. 15.
11. There are many ways a poet can paint a picture in a reader’s mind with words. They include, similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, and more. Find examples of the techniques the poets use in Love That Dog. As a group, choose three verses from the novel that created the most vivid pictures.
Miss Strechberry wasn't his teacher because Jack wouldn't write poetry. Also his life would be sad and not as happy as meeting Mr. Walter Dean Myers and remembering his dog Sky by writing poems.
12. How might Jack’s life have been different if he hadn’t had Miss Strechberry as his teacher?
Jack's life would have been different if Miss Strechberry wasn't his teacher because Jack wouldn't write poetry. Also his life would be sad and not as happy as meeting Mr. Walter Dean Myers and remembering his dog Sky by writing poems.
13. It’s the end of the school year, and Jack wants to thank Miss Strechberry for being such a great teacher. Compose a letter or write a poem from Jack that shows his appreciation for Miss Strechberry.
Dear Miss Strechberry, I love poetry, like a dog loves it's bone I said I love poetry like a dog loves it's bone,
Love to write in the morning love to write"About my dog, SKY!"
14. How did reading Love That Dog change your point of view about poetry? Explain your answer. This changed my point of view on poetry because i know how to write poetry in different forms and exaggerate different kinds of words like, BOOM! Also reading more and more about different kinds of poetry and reading other poems can inspire you to write more poetry like Jack in "Love That Dog".
15. At the end of the book, the author includes poems by seven famous American poets. Which poem did you like the best, and why?
I liked the poem that looks liek a dog because it looks like a dog and the words are based on what Jacks dog was like.
Activities: (CHOOSE ONE) - due Friday, May 9
Include textual evidence and cite quotes from the text for ALL questions.
1. Jack doesn’t want to write poetry at the beginning of the book. Why doesn’t he want to?
He doesn't want to write poetry because he knows that poetry is only for girls and he also doesn't know how to write poetry.
2. In Jack’s first poem, he writes:
So much depends upon
a blue car splattered with mud
speeding down the road.
Why was the blue car important to Jack?
The blue car is important to Jack because he describes the blue car like a human being.
3. What caused Miss Strechberry to be so interested in Jack’s first poem? Describe what Miss Strechberry does to get Jack to write more poems, especially about the blue car.
The thing that caused Miss. Strechberry to be interested in the story is that she liked the way that Jack described the blue car. The thing that Miss. Strechberry does to make Jake write more poems is that she makes him write about his pet and other things that she things will interest him to write the poems.
4. How does Jack respond when Miss Strechberry asks him to write about a pet? Why do you think Miss Strechberry insists he write the poem despite Jack’s reaction?
When Miss. Strechberry asks him to write about a pet he doesn't want to because he used to have a dog and it died. I think that she wanted him to write about a pet and insist him because she feels that Jack might start liking poetry and enjoy it.
5. What are Jack’s feelings toward Sky? Make a list of details from the book that describes Jack’s feelings toward his dog.
Jack's feelings toward Sky is that he cares and loves him because he plays with him and says hi to him every morning and evening. Also Jack loved Sky very much because Jack wrote a lot of poems about Sky and Sky was always there to cheer Jack up when ever Jack felt sad.
6. Jack changes a great deal in the novel. Think about these changes. Then create a two- column chart with two headings: “Beginning of school year ” and “End of school year ”. Under each heading, list examples of the things Jack does, thinks and says in the beginning of the year compared to the end of the year. I think that the essay would say that he discovered the different types of poetry and that he can write poetry about something he loves or he can make something up. I think the essay would also say that it can change a persons' life because it can inspire you to write more and make a persons' life happier by remembering things by writing about them or it can inspire other people from reading the poem.
7. Imagine Miss Strechberry has just asked Jack to write an essay telling what he has discovered about poetry and how it can change a person’s life. What would the essay say? I can pray to God to take care of him. I can go to his grave and put things on top of his grave, like flowers and such. Other people can cheer me up. Other people can give me stuff or anything that would help me. Also I could stay with my family and remember about my dog.
8. Sky’s death affected Jack deeply. If you had just lost a much-loved pet, what things could you, or other people, do to help you cope with the loss? Create a list of ideas. Miss Strechberry encourages Jack to keep writing poems and encourages him to write a letter for Walter Dean Myers. Also Miss Strechberry types up Jack's poems and makes it look good for Jack to feel proud of his work.
9. Miss Strechberry is able to convince Jack to write poetry and share his feelings even though he doesn’t want to. Point out the qualities Miss Strechberry has as a person, and as a teacher, that allow her to reach Jack. Jack falls in love with Walter Dean Myers' poetry because Jack thought it sounded good and he called it the best best BEST poem ever. When Mr. Myers visits Jack's school effects Jack because Jack likes Mr. Myers' poems and he got to meet him in real life. Also Jack got inspired from Myers' poem to write about his dog sky.
10. Why does Jack fall in love with Walter Dean Myers’ poetry? What effect does Mr. Myers’ visit to the school have on Jack? How do you know?
"My street is not in the middle of the city so it doesn't have that LOUD music of horns and trucks clash flash screech." Pg. 31. On page 37 the poem/picture of Jack's dog. "I liked those small poems we read today." Pg. 15.
11. There are many ways a poet can paint a picture in a reader’s mind with words. They include, similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, and more. Find examples of the techniques the poets use in Love That Dog. As a group, choose three verses from the novel that created the most vivid pictures.
Miss Strechberry wasn't his teacher because Jack wouldn't write poetry. Also his life would be sad and not as happy as meeting Mr. Walter Dean Myers and remembering his dog Sky by writing poems.
12. How might Jack’s life have been different if he hadn’t had Miss Strechberry as his teacher?
Jack's life would have been different if Miss Strechberry wasn't his teacher because Jack wouldn't write poetry. Also his life would be sad and not as happy as meeting Mr. Walter Dean Myers and remembering his dog Sky by writing poems.
13. It’s the end of the school year, and Jack wants to thank Miss Strechberry for being such a great teacher. Compose a letter or write a poem from Jack that shows his appreciation for Miss Strechberry.
Dear Miss Strechberry, I love poetry, like a dog loves it's bone I said I love poetry like a dog loves it's bone,
Love to write in the morning love to write"About my dog, SKY!"
14. How did reading Love That Dog change your point of view about poetry? Explain your answer. This changed my point of view on poetry because i know how to write poetry in different forms and exaggerate different kinds of words like, BOOM! Also reading more and more about different kinds of poetry and reading other poems can inspire you to write more poetry like Jack in "Love That Dog".
15. At the end of the book, the author includes poems by seven famous American poets. Which poem did you like the best, and why?
I liked the poem that looks liek a dog because it looks like a dog and the words are based on what Jacks dog was like.
Activities: (CHOOSE ONE) - due Friday, May 9
- Choose your favorite poem at the end of Love That Dog, and tell what the narrator was trying to say in your own words.
My favorite poem was "The Apple" poem because i like how the author of the poem had a really effective imagination what i think the narrator was trying to say is he was describing what the apple does when you eat it. - Create your own poem where the words make the shape of the poem’s subject. Use The Apple, by S.C. Rigg and My Yellow Dog, by Jack, as models to work from.
- Get a collection of poems from your favorite poet. Read the collection, then select your favorite poem. Create a collage that illustrates what the poem is about.