Stack H: Grandpa's Shed

1. Read the lines from the poem.

“Rattling rusty paint cans,

He gestures toward the shed. I gape.

That shed’s a squat gray mushroom,

Needing more than paint to fix.” (lines 4-7)

How does the author use the structure of the poem to create meaning?

• The author uses indented lines to elaborate on the details included in the previous lines.

• The author uses line breaks to create the rhyme scheme in the poem.

• The author uses indented lines to show the different perspectives of each character.

• The author uses line breaks to place emphasis on the setting in the poem.

This question has two parts. First answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. 

1. Part A

How does the author use imagery to develop the idea that Grandpa is surprising the speaker?

• The imagery places emphasis on the height of the speaker to show that he is growing quickly and will soon be like his grandfather.

• The imagery places emphasis on the stories from Grandpa’s childhood to show that the speaker’s childhood is very similar to his.

• The imagery places emphasis on how serious Grandpa treats the project to show that it is unlike the speaker’s attitude on painting the shed.

• The imagery places emphasis on the bright colors used to paint the detailed pictures on the shed to show that it is different from what the speaker expected.

1. Part B

Select a pair of lines from the poem that supports your answer in Part A.

• “I stand in his shadow, silent as a stone. Rattling rusty paint cans,” (lines 3 and 4)

• "‘Red, yellow, green—and PURPLE!’ My words explode like fireworks." (lines 11 and 12)

• “‘The horse I harnessed as a boy, Dog was mine too.’” (lines 17 and 18)

• “His brush strokes to mine, my words to his. We step back, gazing at stories told.” (lines 25 and 26)

Fill in one bubble for each row to explain how each line with figurative language contributes to the meaning of the text.

1. Read the lines from the poem. 

“The old man’s hands are vises,

Prying open paint cans lightning fast.” (lines 8-9)

What does the word prying mean as it is used in the poem?

• asking someone about their personal life

• using force to separate

• helping someone with a tool

• decorating a space

1. Read the line from the poem. 

“Astonished, awed, I gasp aloud,” (lines 10)

What does the word astonished mean as it is used in the poem?

• to be surprised

• to be frightened

• to speak loudly

• to change an attitude