BE THE BEST OF WHATEVER YOU ARE

-By DOUGHLAS MALLOCH

LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Analyze the poem's language, themes, and literary techniques and interpret its meaning.

PRE-ASSESSMENT
TONE VS MOOD

TONE MOOD
• The attitude of a writer toward a subject • The overall feeling, or
conveyed through word choice and the style of atmosphere, of a text often
the writing. created by the author's use of
imagery and word choice.
• Tone Words: Optimistic, critical, sarcastic, anger.
• Words to describe mood :
Example:
suspense, lonely, happy..
Example:
Mood and tone of the poem

The mood of the poem is positive and optimistic

The tone of the poem is inspiring, uplifting and motivational.

LITERARY DEVICES
1. REPETITION: Repetition is a literary device that repeats the same words or phrases a
few times to make an idea clearer. Eg: The soup was stirred and stirred until
thickened.
The phrase “ Be the best of Whatever you are” is repeated throughout the poem,
emphasizing the importance of the message.
2. ALLITERATION: Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in a
series of words in a line. Eg: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
If you can’t be a bush be a bit of the grass.
And some highway happier make.
The highlighted letters show a repetition of the sounds b and h respectively.

a. Big work means the task that everyone wants to do that are deemed important.
b. 'Lesser to do' implies the work which is not the main job but is equally important.
c. The speaker is trying to convey that in this society, every work has its importance, and no work
should be considered lesser or more important. One should do whatever work comes to them
to the best of their ability.

a. Being a captain means accepting responsibility for your team.

b. The speaker says so because there is only one captain of a ship.

c. The crew is most essential to a captain. Without the crew, the captain would not be able to
function i.e., sail through the seas.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Why does the speaker compare a pine tree and a shrub?

• The speaker compares the pine tree and the shrub to convey that if you can't be a pine tree
standing tall on the top of the hill then that doesn't mean you are not worthy enough to be a
part of the forest.

2. According to the speaker, how could a bit of grass make some highway happier?
• By these the speaker wants to convey that although everyone dreams of great deeds and
being at the top, what matters is the contribution we make to society to make it count. It's
good to be a pine tree on the top of the hill, but you can still be noticeable by being the best
grass beside the highway which can make the highway beautiful.