I am the People, the Mob

I am the People, the Mob

by:Carl Sandburg Common Lit

Poll

Complete this phrase: "Power to the ______"

• rangers

• people

• wealthy

Who are "the people"?

• For discussion you may raise your hand or use the chat.

• The more answers we accumulate the better!

Why do "the people" feel powerless?

• Think about the life of a common person.

• Think about their life cycle and purpose.

Multiple Choice

The people - the mob - the crowd - the mass are all ...

• antonyms

• synonyms

• homonyms

• acronyms

Poll

Is the speaker 1 individual person or an amalgamation of different experiences?

• 1 individual person

• amalgamation of different experiences

Multiple Choice

What does the speak mean by "I am the audience that witnesses history"?

• The speaker is very interested in history.

• The speaker only cares about the past, not the future.

• The speaker is not just one person, but a group of people throughout history.

• The speaker is passive, uninterested, and unimportant.

What do you think the repetition of "I forget" means?

• Are the events being forgotten positive or negative?

• What happens when we forget ______ events?

Multiple Choice

What will happen when "the people" remember?

• There will be bloodshed and violence.

• Mobs will form and destroy everything.

• Speakers will insult the mob to control it.

• They will learn from history how to create change.

What is the theme of this poem?

• Theme is the message or lesson.

• Who will lead the change?

Multiple Choice

PART A: Which of the following best describes a theme of the text?

• Progress comes from gradual change and cannot be sped up by radicals.

• Leaders guide people to make changes in society that will benefit everyone.

• Changes in society are not brought about by powerful leaders, but by common people.

• Sometimes violence is needed to create change, because it will inspire people to act.

Multiple Choice

PART B: Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to Part A?

• “I am the people — the mob — the crowd — the mass. / Do you know that all the great work of the world is done through me?” (Lines 1-2)

• “The Napoleons come from me and the Lincolns. They die. And then I send forth more Napoleons and Lincolns.” (Line 4

• “I am the seed ground. I am a prairie that will stand for much plowing. Terrible storms pass over me.” (Line 5)

• “Sometimes I growl, shake myself and spatter a few red drops for history to remember.” (Line 6)

Multiple Choice

How does the speaker’s point of view affect the meaning of the poem?

• The speaker is an unidentified person, which suggests that people are nameless when in a large group

• The speaker is a person in a protesting crowd, which demonstrates how angry the People are

• The speaker is a single individual reflecting on history, showing that the speaker is intelligent and trustworthy

• The speaker takes on a number of identities, which emphasizes the wide variety of individuals that share the speaker’s opinion

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best summarizes the relationship the speaker draws between memory and social action?

• When the People become part of a crowd or mob, they forget what is most important to them

• When the People forget how powerful their leaders are, they miss out on an important opportunity to change society

• When the People remember who has wronged them, their power will no longer be a laughing matter

• When the People learn history, they remember that it is necessary to remind leaders that they must listen to the People