Unit 2 Poems

Using Language

I’VE SAVED THE SUMMER

Unit 2 Poems

Using Language

I’VE SAVED THE SUMMER

Rod Mckuen is an American poet, singer, songwriter and musician. “I’ve saved the summer” is his last work.

Introduction

1.Appreciate the poem2.Feel the beauty of language3.Share the poet’s feelings

1. Do you think the speaker in the poem is

more likely to be a girlfriend /boyfriend

or parent?

Maybe a parent who is speaking to

his/her child.

Step 1: Read the poem and answer the following question.

1. Rhyme: If a poem or song rhymes, the lines

end with words that have the same sounds. 

Step 2. Feel the beauty of language

I saw two sparrows run a race

I saw two horses making lace

I saw a girl just like a cat

I saw a kitten wear a hat

[ei]

[æ]

I’ve saved the summerAnd I give it all to youTo hold on winter morningsWhen the snow is new.

I’ve saved some sunlightIf you should ever needA place away from darknessWhere your mind can feed.

I’VE SAVED THE SUMMERI’VE SAVED THE SUMMER

you

new

need

feed

And for myself I’ve kept your smileWhen you were but nineteen,Till you’re older you’ll not knowWhat brave young smiles can mean.

I know no answers To help you on your wayThe answers lie somewhereAt the bottom of the day.

But if you’ve a need for loveI’ll give you all I ownIt might help you down the roadTill you’ve found your own.

teen

mean

way

day

own

own

rhythm节奏

Twinkle twinkle little star 强 弱 强 弱　强 弱 强

2. Rhythm: the beat that runs through the poem. It happens when a stressed element followed by an unstressed element.

I’VE SAVED THE SUMMER

I’ve saved the summer

And I give it all to you

To hold on winter mornings

When the snow is new.

Listen to the poem and appreciate the rhythm.

I’ve saved some sunlight

If you should ever need

A place away from darkness

Where your mind can feed.

And for myself I’ve kept your smile

When you were but nineteen,

Till you’re older you’ll not know

What brave young smiles can mean.

I know no answers

To help you on your way

The answers lie somewhere

At the bottom of the day.

But if you’ve a need for love

I’ll give you all I own

It might help you down the road

Till you’ve found your own.

by Rod McKuen

When you were reading the poem,

did it make you feel something or think

about something?

The great and selfless ______ of a parent

for his child.

love

The first strophe (诗节 )I’ve saved the summerAnd I give it all to youTo hold on winter morningsWhen the snow is new.

The poet compares “summer” with “winter” to show that parents’ love can give us ________ .warmth

happy /brightness /worried /warmth

Rewrite the first strophe

I’ve saved the ________ for you. And when the _______ begins to fall on _________________, I’ll give it all to you to keep you ________.

summersnow

winter morningswarm

Translate the first strophe

I’ve saved the summerAnd I give it all to youTo hold on winter morningsWhen the snow is new.

我将所珍藏的夏季全部都送去给你待到冬日的初雪纷然降临时来将清晨那一刻的璀璨留住

The second strophe I’ve saved some sunlight If you should ever need A place away from darkness Where your mind can feed.

The poet compares sunlight with darkness to show that parents’ love can also give us _________ .brightness

happy /brightness /worried /warmth

Rewrite the second strophe

I’ve saved some ________ in case you need it. I believe it will drive off _______ and light your ________.

sunlight

darkness mind

Translate the second strophe

I’ve saved some sunlightIf you should ever needA place away from darknessWhere your mind can feed.

我将所珍藏的阳光全部都存留给你让你在一个远离黑暗的地方用光明填满自己澄澈的心灵

Read the third strophe and answer:And for myself I’ve kept your smile

When you were but nineteen

Till you’re older you’ll not know

What brave young smiles can mean.

1. What has the parent kept? The child’s smile. 2. What do brave young smiles mean to

parents? When parents see the young brave smile,

they will feel ________ because the child is confident and they will appreciate it. However, they will be a little ________ because the child may be too ambitious(雄心勃勃的 ).

happy

worried

happy /brightness /worried /warmth

Read the fourth strophe and answer:

I know no answers

To help you on your way

The answers lie somewhere

At the bottom of the day.

1.What does “way” mean? A. roads or streets B. journey of life 2.Can the parents help the child all his life? No. 3.The child can find the answers mainly _______? A. With the help of parents B. By himself C. By experiencing his life

√

√√

From the 4th strophe, we know that parents

can’t help the child all his life, so the child

has to solve the problems of life by himself

and by experiencing his life.

Read the last strophe:

But if you’ve a need for love

I’ll give you all I own

It might help you down the road

Till you’ve found your own.

1. Find out: Are the two “own”s the same? No. First “own” Second “own”2. Fill in the blank: Though the child has to solve all the

difficulty of life by himself, the parent will offer _______________ to support the child, till the child finds his own ______.

v. (have)

n. (your own love)

all he has/his lovelove

Summary

The speaker in the poem is a parent. He is speaking to his child. Firstly, the parent sends his child warmth of the summer. Secondly, he leads his child to brightness. Thirdly, he teaches the child to be brave. Finally, he would give the child all his love to help him on his way. All these show the great and selfless love of a parent.

The function of this poem

People write poems to tell a story to describe something to convey certain emotions · · ·

Appreciating a poem

Who is the speaker?

Who is the speaker speaking to?

The language of the poem:

rhyme/rhythm/meaning

The function of this poem

AppreciationYou nursed me when I was sickTill I was fit and wellAnd you picked me up and cuddled meWhen I cried after I fell.

You made me do my homeworkWhen I came home from schoolSo that I would grow much wiserAnd not turn out to be a fool.

拥抱

AppreciationYou washed my dirty clothingAnd never once complainedFor taking you for grantedI now feel quite ashamed.

Without your help in every wayI'd not be where I am todayAnd now it's my turn to be thereTo give you all my love and care.

Treasure Treasure your your parents’ love!parents’ love!

TreasureTreasure everything you everything you have!have!

Homework1.Translate the whole poem into Chinese.2.Try rewriting the third to the last strophes in your ownwords.

Homework

1. …when you were but nineteen.1. …when you were but nineteen.

2.Till you’re older,….2.Till you’re older,….

3.But if you’ve a need for love, I’ll 3.But if you’ve a need for love, I’ll give you all I own.give you all I own.