Casey at the Bat

Lesson 12: "Casey at the Bat"

by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

Introducing the poem:

• Poets use a number of different kinds of tools, including rhyme and figurative language, to describe their subjects.

  
  

• This poem, “Casey at the Bat,” is a long narrative poem that uses many different examples of figurative language to tell the story of Casey, its main character.

  
  

• Remember that careful readers believe it is important to experience a poem in different ways a number of times. Today, you will start by listening to the poem.

  
  

First Reading

•Don't worry if you do not understand everything about the poem the first time you hear it. While you listen, pay attention to what things you notice about the poem. You might listen for rhyming words, descriptions that help you imagine the setting of the poem, or words that help you understand what story the poem is telling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8-a2aW2CoU

2nd Reading

This poem is too complex to understand completely without hearing and reading it multiple times. This time we will listen and see illustrations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SUEUscZ2QA

What questions did you have after you heard the poem?

• Even though it is a complex poem, you probably still understood a great deal from your first experiences with the poem.

  
  

• The following questions will show just how much you understand about the poem already.

Multiple Choice

Who is the poem's main character?

• Earnest

• Flynn

• Casey

• Jimmy

Multiple Choice

What sport does Casey play?

• cricket

• basketball

• soccer

• baseball

Poll

Why do the fans want Casey to come up to bat?

• They hope he will win the game.

• They want Mudville to lose.

• They bet money and want him to score points.

• They hope he will smash the ball.

Multiple Choice

What happens when Casey does come up to bat?

• He hits a homerun.

• He strikes out.

• He steals first base.

• The other team scored a point.

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​Now you will work in groups to summarize this text.

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​Click on this link

​https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ISmkpMH1Q-qdvg6o01KqeyscZNYtqiPAmuuaeSIP5W4/edit?usp=sharing

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​Or find it in your Google Classroom