6 Lesson 3

Before you start

Look at the picture and title of this
poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.
What do you think the poem is about?

Reading
1 Listen and read the poem. Then answer
these questions.

Stressed words that give rhythm Bed in Summer

• • • words In winter I get up at night
In winter I get up at night
that And dress by yellow candlelight.
one And dress by yellow candlelight. rhyme In summer quite the other way,
verse In summer quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
a How many verses are there? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Or hear the grown-up people’s feet
b Which words rhyme in the poem?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Still going past me in the street.
c Does the poem have rhythm?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
And does it not seem hard to you,
d Which of the following have rhythm?
Can you think of other things which When all the sky is clear and blue,
have rhythm?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?
a bus the sea
a moving train a moving plane

2 Read two opinions about the poem Bed

in Summer. Khaled, 4:04 PM
1 What do Khaled and Hamid agree about? The words Stevenson has used very clearly
2 Find two things that Khaled and Hamid describe the situations he’s writing about
and I really like that. I also think the poem’s
disagree about.
subject is very interesting because everyone
feels differently in different seasons. In my
Speaking opinion, poets should write about everyday
life. However, I think the second verse is too
long and its rhythm is too slow.
3 In pairs, say sentences to compare and
contrast Khaled and Hamid’s opinions
about the poem. Use the phrases in the Hamid, 5:36 PM
box to help you. I love the language in the poem, especially
the way Stevenson describes the light at
Comparing and contrasting opinions different times of day. I also think the second
Khaled and Hamid both think … verse is great because the rhymes in it are so
clever. However, in my opinion, the poem’s
Khaled likes … and Hamid likes … too.
subject is quite boring because going to
bed and getting up aren’t very interesting
Khaled thinks … but Hamid thinks … activities. I think poets should write about
more exciting things.
Khaled likes … but Hamid doesn’t …

66 WORKBOOK
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