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ACTIVITY 1.17
continued
2. Key Ideas and Details: Based on the author’s choice of language and details in the poem, who is the “White Man” and what is his “burden”?
The “White Man” is a European or American colonialist. His perceived “burden” is to extend security, order, and a Eurocentric version of civilization to his colonized people—whether they want them or not. RL.11–12.1
3. Key Ideas and Details: Based on details in stanzas 1–3, why is the “White Man’s” task a burden?
The speaker acknowledges the difficulties of imposing rule over a “new-caught sullen peoples” who may be resistant to the colonizer’s efforts. While the “White Man” serves the captives’ needs (line 4), his only rewards are blame, resentment, and failure. RL.11–12.2
4. Craft and Structure: How do the “silent sullen peoples” feel about the White Man who calls them “captives” but also serves their “need”? What do the words “silent” and “sullen” suggest about the speaker’s attitude toward them?
They do not appreciate and may even resent the efforts of the White Man (probably because the efforts are being imposed through the force of colonization). According to the speaker, they judge or “weigh” the White Man’s faith and intentions. The words “silent” and “sullen” suggest that the speaker sees them as submissive and lacking gratitude. RL.11–12.6
5. Key Ideas and Details: What is the speaker’s attitude toward imperialism and colonialism in the poem? Which lines from the poem indicate this attitude?
The speaker believes that imperialism and colonialism are righteous causes that help promote peace, health, and order (stanza 3). He describes the task of aiding less fortunate nations as difficult and thankless work that yields only “blame of those ye better/The hate of those ye guard” but that he nonetheless regards as a responsibility of “manhood” (line 53). RL.11–12.1
“The Poor Man’s Burden”
6. Knowledge and Ideas: Scan the first three stanzas of Kipling’s poem. What language has McNeill borrowed from Kipling? How has he changed its meaning or tone?
Like Kipling, McNeill repeats a key line—“Pile on the Poor Man’s Burden”— and borrows key words and phrases such as “breed,” “bind in exile,” “heavy harness,” “serfs,” “abide,” and “veil of the threat of terror and check the show of pride.” But in McNeill’s poem, these words and phrases are ironic. He is commenting on the plight of the working poor at the hands of the wealthy, not sympathizing with colonialists like Kipling. RL.11–12.9
7. Key Ideas and Details: To whom is McNeill’s poem addressed? What words or details tell you?
McNeill’s poem addresses wealthy capitalists, who require the poor to serve them. He refers to “your pride and greed,” “your savage wars,” and “Your Monopolistic rings.” RL.11–12.1
My Notes
Unit 1 • Perception Is Everything 63
Em
Ex
Br
Support
Stretch
ACTIVITY 1.17 continued
Leveled Differentiated Instruction
In this activity, students may need support preparing for a Socratic Seminar and discussing the poems with peers.
Allow students to work in
pairs to answer the pre- seminar questions. Have students use the Venn Diagram for Writing a Comparison graphic organizer to record similarities and differences between the two poems. Encourage students to use these notes during the Socratic Seminar.
Have students use the Venn
Diagram for Writing a Comparison graphic organizer to record similarities and differences between the two poems. Encourage students to use these notes during the Socratic Seminar.
Have students use the Venn
Diagram for Writing a Comparison graphic organizer to record similarities and differences between the two poems. When responding to the pre-seminar questions, encourage students to use academic language such as The poet’s attitude toward imperialism suggests that ... and This line from the text creates the impression
that ...
Ask students to mark the
line or stanza in the poems where textual evidence can
be found for each pre-seminar question. Students can then easily reference the texts during the Socratic Seminar.
Have students read “A
Black Man’s Burden” by H.T. Johnson and compare it, using
the pre-seminar questions, to the other two poems.
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SCAFFOLDING THE TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS
7. Key Ideas and Details (RL.11–12.1) To whom is McNeill’s poem addressed? What words or details tell you? Skim the first few stanzas of the poem for clues about whom the speaker addresses in the poem. To whom do the words “you” and “your” refer? What kind of person is the speaker addressing? How do you know?
8. Key Ideas and Details (RL.11–12.1) Who is “He” in lines 37–38? According to the speaker, what will he do? Reread the seventh and eighth stanzas for the antecedent to the pronoun “he.” What actions does the speaker predict “He” will take? How is “He” different in his actions from the “you” addressed in the poem?
Unit 1 • Perception Is Everything 63
© 2017 College Board. All rights reserved.
© 2017 College Board. All rights reserved.