The Cremation of Sam McGee - Central Idea

What is the central idea of stanza 1?

• Life in the Arctic is harsh and hellish.

• People who lived in the Arctic were secretive.

• Sam McGee died in the Arctic.

• Many strange things have happened in the Arctic.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

What is the central idea of stanza 2?

• Sam McGee was from Tennessee.

• Cotton blooms in Tennessee.

• Sam McGee wanted gold but hated the cold.

• Sam McGee was a grumpy, cantankerous man.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

What is the central idea of stanzas 3-5?

• Sam McGee believes he will die on the trip and asks to be cremated.

• The trip to Dawson trail was dreadfully cold.

• The narrator shows the reader that Sam McGee was his best friend.

• Sam McGee lists his greatest fears and wishes.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

What is the central idea of stanzas 7-9?

• The narrator begins to fear for his own death because of the cold, long journey.

• The narrator deals with the physical and mental consequences of the promise he made to Sam McGee.

• The narrator finds inner peace because of his newly-found purpose.

• The narrator breaks the promise he made to Sam McGee and is haunted by guilt and regret.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

What is the central idea of stanzas 10-11?

• The narrator finds a place to fulfill his promise to Sam McGee.

• The narrator finds a way to abandon his responsibilities.

• The narrator converts a boat into a shelter for himself and Sam McGee.

• The narrator makes a fire to keep himself warm.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

What is the central idea of stanzas 12-13?

• The narrator walks away from the fire because he feels guilty about Sam's death.

• The narrator walks away from the fire because he is disturbed by the process of cremation.

• The narrator walks away from the fire because it is too hot and he needs to lower his body temperature.

• The narrator walks away from the fire, feeling content and peaceful because his debt to Sam has been paid.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

What is the central idea of stanzas 14-15?

• The narrator asks the reader to seriously question everything he has just related in his story about Sam McGee.

• The narrator is relieved to see his friend alive and well after a close brush with death.

• The narrator cannot believe what he witnessed when he went back to check on Sam's body.

• The narrator and Sam arrive home in Dawson, having found several hundred pounds of gold.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2