LITERATURE: What is Red? by Mary O'Neill 2A

LITERATURE: What is Red? by Mary O'Neill

Poem

What is Red? by Mary O'Neill

Stanza 1 : Thirty six (36) Lines

Stanza 1 : Lines 1 to 12

Red is a sunset,

Blazing and bright.

Red is feeling brave,

With all your might.

Red is a sunburn,

Spot on your nose.

Sometimes red,

Is a red red rose.

Red squiggles out,

When you cut your hand.

Red is a brick,

And the sound of a band.

Stanza 1 : Lines 13 to 24

Red is hotness,

You get inside,

When you're embarrassed,

And want to hide.

Fire-cracker, fire engine,

Fire-flicker red -

And when you're angry,

Red runs through your head.

Red is an Indian,

A Valentine's heart.

The trimmings on,

A circus cart.

Stanza 1 : Lines 25 to 36

Red is a lipstick,

Red is a shout,

Red is a signal,

That says: "Watch out!"

Red is a great big,

Rubber ball.

Red is the giantest,

Colour of all.

Red is a show-off,

No doubt about it -

But can you imagine,

Living without it?

Vocab Info

• blazing - extremely hot

• might - strength or power

• squiggles - comes out in twists and curls

• brick - baked clay used to build walls or buildings

• embarrassed - shy or uncomfortable

• trimmings - decoration

• show-off - boastful

Paraphrase

The meaning behind the stated lines (Stanza 1)

Lines 1 to 12 (Meaning)

The person is giving vivid descriptions of all the things and qualities that are associated with the colour red.

Lines 13 to 24 (Meaning)

The person further lists things that are red in colour and talks about feelings and emotions that are often associated with red.

Lines 25 to 36 (Meaning)

Aside from all the things that are red in colour, the person mentions that red is often used in the signs to caution or warn others. The person thinks that red is the most prominent colour of all and could not imagine living without it.

Analysis

The descriptions behind the stated lines (Stanza 1)

Lines 1 to 12 (Descriptions)

• ^{The person describes red as a sunset which is bright and blazing because of its colour.}

• ^{Red gives a feeling of bravery that comes within you.}

• ^{Red is described as a sunburn spot which appears in red ; caused through the exposure of sunlight.}

• ^{Red is also signified as the colour of a beautiful rose which is red in colour.}

• ^{The person describes red as blood that seeps out from a cut.}

• ^{Red is also a brick which is red in colour and it is the sound of a band.}

Lines 13 to 24 (Descriptions)

• ^{Red is the colour given to signify the feeling of hotness and embarrassment.}

• ^{Other objects listed by the person that are red include fire-cracker, fire engine and the flicker of a red flame.}

• ^{Red is associated with anger and bravery (the Red Indian is always seen as a brave clan).}

• ^{Red is also a romantic colour because it is widely used to signify love (a Valentine heart).}

• ^{The person depicts red the ornaments at the edge of a circus cart.}

Lines 25 to 36 (Descriptions)

• ^{The person signifies red as a lipstick that most women love to apply on their lips and a loud cry (to show a strong emotion).}

• ^{Warnings are generally presented in red which indicated of danger (to be on the look-out or to be alert).}

• ^{Red is described as a big rubber ball (small children are always attracted to a red ball).}

Continuation

• ^{Hence, red is the grandest colour of all and the most widely seen colour around us or the colour that we will notice immediately around because of its brightness.}

• ^{The personality of the colour is bold and vibrant. Red does everything it can to attract people's attention, and its impact is to make people stop and cast their eyes on the colour red.}

• ^{The colour red causes us to react to what we see and feel. Its power is felt daily in our lives, so much so that the poet invites us to imagine what it would be like to live without it.}

TASK 1

Complete the given lines with appropriate rhyming words.

Multiple Select

1. Red may be a happy shout,

But walk don't run __________

• heart

• nose

• about

• trick

Multiple Select

2. Red is a bright sunset,

Go and watch it is you're __________

• upset

• lot

• pout

• ride

Multiple Select

3. Red is block of brick,

That makes a red wall in a __________

• about

• trick

• upset

• lot

Multiple Select

4. Red is a sunburn spot,

Out in the sun and you get a __________

• about

• trick

• upset

• lot

Multiple Select

5. Red the blood that oozes out,

Apply a bandage and don't __________

• lot

• pout

• ride

• heart

Multiple Select

6. Red is embarrassment but don't hide,

Take your bicycle and go for a __________

• trick

• lot

• ride

• nose

Multiple Select

7. Red is the trimmings on a cart,

Decorate it well with your __________

• pout

• nose

• ride

• heart

Multiple Select

8. Red or yellow is a rose,

Smell it with your __________

• nose

• about

• lot

• pout

TASK 2

Complete the sentences with suitable words or phrases.

Multiple Select

1. The poem, What is Red? is a repeat-a-word poem and contains the word __________ which is repeated at the beginning of each line.

• black

• green

• red

• yellow

Multiple Select

2. Red is considered to be blazing and bright like the __________ and fire.

• sunrise

• sunset

• sunscreen

• sunshade

Multiple Select

3. Human feelings of bravery, anger and embarrassment make a person feel warm as red runs through the __________.

• stomach

• neck

• leg

• head

Multiple Select

4. The person mentions things in nature, like the blazing and bright sun and the flower, __________ are red.

• rose

• orchid

• lavender

• carnation

Multiple Select

5. Blood that squiggles out from a cut is red, a red rose is red and so is a __________ spot on the skin.

• colourless

• grey

• pale

• sunburn

Multiple Select

6. Some physical things used by people such as __________ for buildings, a circus cart and a lipstick are red.

• bricks

• cement

• metals

• wood

Multiple Select

7. Things associated with fire like a fire-cracker and __________ are usually red or associated with red.

• fire alarm

• fire engine

• fire extinguisher

• fire hydrant

Multiple Select

8. Whatever the use of red, the colour is considered arrogant because we cannot __________ without it.

• glow

• leave

• live

• migrate

-THE END-