Unraveling Burns

Target Curriculum: English/Writing

Target Grade: 12

SOLs: E/W.12.5   E/W.12.6   E/W.12.7  
Time: 150 minutes

Objective:
1. To interpret and respond to poetry
2. To translate dialect
3. Writing with dialogue that has a clear beginning, middle, and end.
4. To provide interaction between students

Purpose:
To introduce students to the Scottish dialect and a fuller understanding of poetry by Robert Burns.

Materials:
textbook or copies of Burns' poems "To a Louse' and "to a mouse". Audio tape (Prentice Hall)
Tape player

Procedure:
1. Begin lesson by leading a discussion on what dialect is and give examples of local or regional dialect. Today's rap is a good example and one that students understand. Place focus on the place of dialect in literature in establishing character, mood, setting.
2. Have students follow along with the text while you play the tape.
3. Translate the Scottish dialect into modern English by using the footnotes, context clues, and have students try and sound words to look for similarities in spellings. Pay attention to apostrophes which signal omitted letters.
4. Help students translate the first poem orally.
5. Assign second poem to be translated on their own.

Observations:
I find that my seniors usually enjoy translating dialects. It is a time they can work on a project together or in pairs. This usually turns out to be a good time for meaningful dialogue between the students and the teacher. Also, listening to the tape helps them overcome their anxiety about the assignment. I also use this techique when teaching the Middle English period especially Canterbury Tales and the folk ballads of the 1400's.

Conclusions:
After this lesson, I find students have a greater appreciation of literature written in dialect, and they come to the realization that it is possible to understand what they consider impossible and thoroughly enjoy the experience.

Extension:
1. Thematic focus: essay
Burns uses fantasy to imagine how the mouse must have felt. How does the speaker balance fantasy with reality in this poem.
2. Write a dialogue between the narrator of "To a Louse" and the lady of the poem, Jenny. Keep in mind that the Louse is still crawling on her bonnet. Make sure your writing is both humorous and cynical.
3. Prepare a 5 minute review of one of Burns' poems using a PowerPoint presentation.
4. Prepare a comic strip depicting the narrator and Jenny. Use the scanner and the computer to publish your strip.

Class Discussion Questions:
1. For what reason does the speaker apologize to the mouse?

2. Why does the speaker say that, compared to him, the mouse is blessed?

3. What famous line in the poem carries the poem's theme about human life? How could you state this theme in your own words?

4. What value do you place on foresight?
Explain your answer.