The House by the Side of the Road

The House by the Side of the Road

Today we will read "The House by the Side of the Road" on page 152.

• Purpose: Get an idea for the topic or experience shared in the poem. What pictures are created in your mind from the reading?

• Read it one time to understand, and circle any unknown words

• At the bottom of the text, write what you think your theme is

Talk to your partner...

• What does the speaker mean in lines 3 and 4? "The men who are good and the men who are bad/ As good and bad as I?"

• The speaker talks a lot about "men." Is the poem only about men, not women?

• Lyrics poems express feelings and ideas. Read it a second time. After reading it again, what do you think the topic is?

Close Reader Habits

• Go back in the text. Reread the poem and underline key details that suggest something about the poem's theme, or message about life.

Multiple Choice

Part A

How is the theme of the poem shared through the speaker's words?

• The speaker believes that hope gives all people a reason to live.

• The speaker believes it's good to offer criticism to help people improve.

• The speaker believes that he should sit and observe what people say and do.

• The speaker believes that people should be accepted as they are.

Multiple Select

Choose three lines from the text that best support your answer from Part A.

• "I would not sit in the scorner's seat, nor hurl the cynic's ban..."

• "And be a friend to man."

• "But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears..."

• "I see from the my house by the side of the road..."

• "The men who are faint with the strife,"

Poll

When the speaker says "Let me live in a house by the side of the road," do you think he is actually referring to a real home on a real street?

• Yes

• No

Open Ended

What thoughts does the speaker of the poem share?

Open Ended

What do the poem's details tell you about the speaker's attitude about life?

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes the speaker's message about accepting others?

• It is important to treat other people with compassion and respect, no matter if they are good or bad.

• We should only accept others people if they share our views.

• It is justified to be vengeful if the situation calls for it.

• It is important to treat people with compassion and respect, but only if they are considered good people.

Multiple Choice

Read the following line: "I would not sit in the scorner's seat." Identify that statement that best describes other lines in the stanza.

• I would not sit in a hot seat and watch others.

• I will not think and say mean things about other people.

• I would rather be judgemental than empathetic.

• I am always finding a way to make comparisons to others.