I'm not sure whether I would have any students for this course this semester. Since first face to face is in second week of February, i have to plan earlier for you people. Read carefully the instructions.
This semester in LHE 3211, we are going to look at all the texts prescribed for Literature Component in English Language syllabus.
Please remember in this class we are going to plan activities for secondary school students from various levels of English language proficiency.
Before you plan for classroom activities you need to understand the text from A to Z and beyond. The first text we are going to read, understand, and love is one of the poems prescribed for form 1 students - The River by Valerie Bloom.
You should have no problem in understanding this poem. I forbid you from looking at what other netizens have said about The River. If you discover the meaning of the river through your own interactions with the text, you will be able to plan for many interesting classroom activities - activities that will work in real classroom environment.
2 things I want you to do here.
i) share with us your discovery of The River.
(do you experience difficulties in understanding this poem? if you do then i fear for those
students in form 1)
ii) please commune with nature - to the rivers- and bring along your phones, digital cameras or
whatever relevant gadgets-
Take as many pictures of the rivers and post it along your analysis.
Mohd Ridzuan Bin Ismail J41749
ReplyDeletePuan Ju Hi,
The River by Valerie Bloom
What I think
‘Fun”. It was the first thing that came up to my mind when I was asked to recite this poem to my children(I mean my students). Which I believe, is an essential element to promote student’s interest to learn English. I find it fun and easy to read especially in one go. It reminds me of Arlington’s Richard Cory, among other suitable poems for the secondary school student.
For my children and Form 1 Student
I would say this is generally a good choice for a form one student to read, it is fun and again I would like to stress it, as an easy-to-read poem. The vocabulary is not hard to digest, the elements of ‘parts of speech’ can be taught, and not forget the literary elements in the poem can be easily identified.
Of course some schools have different abilites or multiple abilities/level student in one class. For the low proficiency or the weak student, the poem might be a little hard to get, thus assistance from dictionary or the teacher is wise, but I think it should’nt pose problem because with proper explanation it would be a breeze.
The Elements
Tone, mood, personafication and metaphor
What really capture me the most is the variety of tones and moods in such simple words just to emhasize what the persona in the poem should be. For example in the stanza 2, the poet describes the River as a winder it says “He twists and turns, he just cannot be still...” it conveys a rather deep tone. While on other stanza the poet conveys a light and hearty tone ie in stanza 4 ‘the river’s a baby, he gurgles and hum... and sound like he happily sucking his thumb”.
It is so amazing what a word can do, can a river be a winder? Or a monster? Or a singer? It can, with the persona Bloom has created in the poem as a metaphor of a man and a river.
What I like most is I can produce ‘plethora’ of activities for English Language lesson from just a poem like this.
In Nutshell
These are some of my thoughts, I think pedantic analysis is not required for now or do I?
Anyway, I think man in general is close related to river in many ways, it is just we never realised it. the hoarder, the winder, the baby... we are Valerie Boom's River.
Now, the question is whether this poem is suitable for my children is... Yes. Is the poem suitable for form one student? I would say... absolutely yes!
p/s where should I post the picture?
I am Chooi Wing Lock, J41751
ReplyDeleteI found something is potsed here. I feel very excited when i was reading The river.
The river can be related to our life that we are keep moving non-stop.
We can see the river as good and bad.
I can Imagine it represent to our mood.
This is my idea of today. I will add some more tomorrow.
Pn Juridah,
ReplyDeleteHello. Here are my discoveries of the river.
The River by Valerie Bloom is not difficult to understand what the persona is trying to convey. I think this poem is suitable to use in Form 1. The students in Form 1 will have no problem to understand the poem. As for students in Malaysia, a river is a familiar nature scene. They can easily visualize the scene when they read the poem. Teachers can use pictures of the six characters given in the poem to assist students who are in low proficiency. By doing so, it is not difficult to lead the students relate the river to a person's life.
The poem is regarding a river described by someone who lives in countryside because the descriptions of the river are thorough and it seems like the persona knows the river very well. The way the persona portraying the river is very relaxing at the beginning of the poem. The readers can visualize the flow of the poem easily.
The title, ‘The River’ is a strong symbol that the persona uses to symbolize a person’s life. The tough and uncertain periods that a person faces like in the first stanza “he doesn’t choose one place to set up his camp”. This shows a person is having tough time to decide his or her path. The 2 stanzas show how a person’s flexibility to adapt his or her life when challenges appear as the persona is using valley and hill as the obstacles to hold a person back.
On the other hand, the good time that a person being through also visualizes by the persona in stanza 4 and 5. The baby and the singer are used in these two stanzas to show how happy and carefree that a person can be.
The persona is using personifications in the poem. The persona is giving human traits to the river and the persona is using ‘he’ in the poem instead of ‘it’ to describe the river. The persona is giving a life to the river.
The persona is changing the characters that a river plays in each stanza.Metaphors are strongly used in the poem as the persona is using a wanderer, winder, hoarder,baby, singer and monster to associate with 'The River'. The poem begins with a cheerful and happy tone until it turns to a serious tone. It strongly brings out the poet’s intention to remind what will a good and bad characters will bring to one’s life. The serious thought of the persona about the important of having good attitude or else it will bring bad effects clearly shown in last stanza.
Another theme that I think is brought out in the poem is about the power of nature. The persona is using ‘he’ instead of it to represent the river. The persona is showing that the river has a soul (life). The river can be as gentle and harmless as a baby and it shows its beauty by echoing with the beautiful and clean natural around it.
The poem is showing us the other side of the river too. The river is a hoarder. It keeps those little treasures. This shows that the river accepts whatever thrown inside it as they are its treasures and it will return everything to humans when it turns to a monster later. The poem is showing the readers that the power of nature is unstoppable. The nature can turn into a ‘monster’ easily wipe off humans and the surroundings (trees) in a slip of seconds.
In the last stanza, the persona strongly points out that the nature mother can easily take control over the world if she is not respected by the humans. Teachers who teach students in Form 1 can bring out the important of the cleanliness of the river.
The poet uses a few contrasting words in the poem to show the two different side of a river. In first and third stanzas, the poet is showing the contrast of the river by saying that the river is a ‘wander’ and a ‘hoarder’. Then, in stanza 4 and 6, the poet is contrasting the characters of the river by telling the readers the river is a ‘baby’ and a ‘monster’.
The poet is using rhyming too. The final words in the second and fourth lines of each stanza show rhyming words.
Huh Lai Yee
J41742
BPTesl Sem 4
I’m Tan Hui Chean J41758
ReplyDeleteHello! Dear Mdm Juridah!
In the "The River", In first 2 stanza, I feel the serious and informative tone. In the 3 and 4 stanza, I can feel the relaxing, happy, silent, peaceful and calm in mind. In the 6 stanza, I feel the threatening, dangerous, harm, disaster and ends of life.
Whatever that happen in earth, the river will still carry on his journey. River is strong to go on. River helps human to survived. Human are so greatful to have the river to carry on their daily life. But river is also a monster too, that can harm a human.
The poet personified the river as a living thing, which shows two nature, good and evil, just like humans. Human can be good and sweet sometimes, but other times, human can be evil and vexed.
The River shows the beautiful of the river, the complexity of the river and the awareness of man's contribution to the destructive nature of rivers.
We must be grateful for the beautiful things of nature that God has given us and also we must be aware of the dangers of river.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe River literally....
ReplyDeleteBloom portrayed river as wanderer, nomad & tramp because river’s nature is to flow ceaselessly. If it stops flowing then it would a pond or a lake.
The river is described as a winder as it winds incessantly all the way disregard of the changes in landscapes.
The river is also portrayed as a hoarder because it gathers everything in its path and accrues painstakingly.
The river is personified as a baby due to its nature that brings happiness to those who observes and adores it.
The river is described as a singer referring to its sound and a dancer as to its graceful movements.
Finally, the river is depicted as monstrous when it overflows and destroys savagely.
My analysis....
The river as a person....
Stanza 1
The river is an adventurer. It needs freedom and does not like to be restricted by rules and regulations. It is always on the go as it needs to explore the world and discover new things.
This stanza can be interpreted as the river has no sense of belonging. It is an orphan who wanders as it has no purpose in life.
Stanza 2
The river has sheer determination as it is able to face various landscapes such as mountainous, narrow etc. It can face challenges and goes through any difficulties.
This stanza can also be understood as the river is a flexible – being. It is able to adjust itself accordingly.
Stanza 3
The river is a hoarder since it collects and keeps everything it comes across.
It gives importance to every piece as they are of sentimental values. Everything counts and will be cherished.
This stanza can be interpreted as the river has no choice but to keep the things dumped in it. It has no means to dispose them and is helpless.
Stanza 4
The river is as carefree as a baby. It enjoys doing something it likes without a hint of trouble.
This stanza is very close to my heart as my son who is eight months old has begin to suck his thumb and is experimenting his vocal cord.
Bloom has used ideal vocabulary in expressing the sounds of the river as to an infant. This is most probably due to her hands on experience raising her children.
Stanza 5
Singing and dancing comes hand in hand. Both the actions should be in sync so that it would be pleasing to the eyes of the audience. Just as the river and the countryside are inter – dependent on each other for an abundant harvest.
Stanza 6
An enraged river during flood or monsoon can be disastrous and bring destruction to all
living things.
MOHD ROHAIZAD B MOHD RADUAN J41755
ReplyDeleteTHE RIVER BY VALARIE BLOOM
After reading the poem repeatedly I have come to a point that it made me realize the poem personifies the life of a person. The journey of the persona through out his life as in the first stanza “a wonderer” “ “a nomad” whereby we always searching for a better life, better opportunities and the most importantly searching for ourselves. Life is not as bed of roses or a smooth sailing on high sea, it is about overcoming challenges, obstacle and the unknown that lies before us. As in stanza two explains “the river‘s winder” “twist and turns” these shows parts and parcel of life. Not everyone born with a silver spoon in their mouth. So life poses a lot of opportunities and challenges along the way. It has its ups and downs: “through valley and hill” and life has to move on regardless: “he just cannot be still” .
In stanza 3 explains about memories made along the way. Some worth to be told but others best kept for ourselves. Joy and laughter or regrets and mistakes are inevitable. These valuable “treasures” are indeed priceless. In stanza 4 reveals about the vulnerability of life personify by the “baby” fragile and innocent thus, it needs to be nurture with tenderness and shower with love.
Stanza 5 tell that the persona life doesn’t have to be rigid and life is fun if we know how to embrace it: “as he dance along” . Contented life does show and able to influence others to celebrate and appreciate their life too: “the countryside echoes, the notes of his song”. The last stanza depict that life could be hostile and full of challenges for those who are willing to take chances and face it bravely with perseverance, they will not succumb to the hostility of life but if they are, their life has taken a life on its own.
Dear Puan Juridah
ReplyDeleteMy analysis for the poem.
This poem is basically all about the Mother Nature. It has a simple and direct title with good descriptive words and nice rhythms. The metaphor in first and second stanza, it allows readers to create the fascinating images about the joy of the nature brings. The rivers are acting like a wanderer and winder, twisting and turning which cannot be still. This is indicate that the river water flow is never ending
Stanza three describes the river as a hoarder who likes to accumulate things. Its describes the crystal clear water which breeds all sorts of life forms includes the crustacean, plants and various types of fishes which he the river wish not to be polluted by mankind.
Stanza four and five tells the readers about the sound of river downstream flowing past the river rocks which will create a soothing sound and beautiful songs. e.g: he gurgles and hums, sucking his thumbs. The river has its charms and creates a mood of serenity which we should appreciate and not destroy it.
For the last stanza, the mood and tone of the poem has a slightly change as it describes the natural disaster that happen in our mother nature. It can cause excessive river flow after heavy rain and flooded the downstream area. The poet is trying to convey the danger of a river while it may seems peaceful and calm at times through the last line in the last stanza. Overall, the idea throughout the poem is trying to determine us to take more time to examine the beauty of the world around us.
J41746
Lim Shin Yee
Hello, Puan Juridah….
ReplyDeleteI’m WAN AZIRA BINTI ABDUL JALIL (J 41748)
First, when I discovered that we are assigned with the poem, “The River” by Valerie Bloom, I felt very excited because I really like the poem very much. The poem is an easy to understand poem due to the usage of simple words and in the same time, the meaning conveyed by the poet is comprehensible too. I strictly believe that even the form one students are able to understand it easily without a problem. Therefore, what The Ministry of Education had selected for the form one’s literature component is suitable according to the Malaysian secondary students.
The poem consists of six verses. Each verse has four lines and lines 2 and 4 of each stanza rhyme. There are several literary devices used in the poem. There are contrast, diction, personification, metaphor, imagery and symbol.
I found that the poem’s tone and mood is quite playful but with a serious undertone. It is also deep, perceptive and philosophical.
The persona is a very observant person based on the detailed descriptions of the river that she has given. The persona might have been spending a lot of time observing the river. This shows that she is very thoughtful. Maybe, in the same time, she has been living in the area for quite some time. That is why she knows about the place very well.
Talking about the place, I guess it is somewhere which has a river flowing through it. Of course the poem is in the present because the persona may have taken several months or more to make her observations about the river.
The first impression that I’ve discovered through the poem is that it is all about Mother Nature and specifically talking about the various characteristics of the river. But when I got deeper into it, I realized that the poem has an underlying meaning related to man’s own journey in life.
Analysis based on each verse
Verse 1
The river at its source high up in the mountain does not have any idea where it is going. It rambles on following the line of least resistance like a ‘nomad’ and a ‘tramp’. This refers to a person who moves aimlessly from one place to another.
Verse 2
As the river flows downstream, it flows through valleys and hills. The river is a ‘winder’ because it ‘twists and turns’ around the landscape, following the contours of the land.
Verse 3
As the rivers flows further, it takes along everything that is thrown or lost in it. These items are the ‘little treasures’ that the river keeps or ‘hoards’ deep down in its waters. The river, therefore, is said to be a hoarder as it likes to collect and keep things.
Verse 4
Sometimes, the river is slow and gentle and the flow of the water sounds like a happy baby gurgling, humming and happily ‘sucking his thumbs’.
Verse 5
As the river flows more quickly along certain stretches, the swirls of the water are like the movements of a dancer and the loud sounds of the water are likened to the notes of a song.
Verse 6
During heavy rain, the river will overflow its banks, flooding the land and causing much damage. During such times, the river is compared to a hungry and angry (‘vexed’) monster because it swallows greedily (‘gobbles’) everything in its path.
Hi, Puan Juridah……..
ReplyDeleteIt’s me again, Wan Azira Binti Abdul Jalil (J 41748)
Based on my understanding of the poem, I discovered that there are two themes in it according to the two levels. At the surface level, it is describing about the river’s characteristics and the theme is nature can be positive and also negative. This is due to its innate character that it is not static. It can be both tranquil and in the same time, it can also be destructive. At different stretches of its course, the river displays both positive and negative features. Another theme that obviously can be seen through the deeper level of the poem is it is about Man’s journey through life. Life is intricate. So, the river has the similarities with Man’s lives. There are times when Man acts in an affirmative manner and there are also times when his actions are negative.
The most important part……
The literary devices used in “The River”:
Contrast
• The poet uses contrasting words to compare the characteristics of the river.
• Example: In verses 4 and 6, the river is a ‘baby’ and a ‘monster’.
Diction
• Diction refers to the choice of words which give life to a line or verse.
• Example: In verse 2, we are told the river ‘twists and turns’. These are pertinent words which depict the actual movement of the river.
Personification
• The river is given human traits or feelings. This helps readers to relate better to the river.
• Example: In verse 4, it tells that the river is ‘a baby’ who ‘gurgles and hums’.
Metaphor
• In this poem, the river’s journey is a metaphor for Man’s life on earth.
• Example: In verse 1, the river, like Man, is a wanderer who roams around like someone who does not have a home or place of his own.
Imagery
• An image is a word picture which we can visualize or see in our minds.
• Example: In verse 6, a monster gobbling up trees and human beings.
Symbolism
• A symbol is a word, thing or person that stands for something else. It can be universal or private and personal.
• Example: The river’s course represents the different phases of Man’s journey in life. At times, Man is happy and childlike, and at other times, he is wild and fierce like a monster.
In most literature works, of course there will be implementation of moral values and also messages that the poet and writers try to convey through their masterpieces. For Valerie Bloom’s poem, “The River”, she tries to transmit the message where stability is important in life. If there is no stability, then, we will have no place to call home, just like the meandering river. We will be wandering around aimlessly, lacking focus or a sense of purpose in life. Another fundamental message that she is trying to convey is the importance of letting go. Sometimes, we ‘hoard’ feelings within our hearts and are unforgiving. These are the negative ‘treasures’ we keep within us making us ‘monsters’. Then, we ‘swallow’ people we have rage with. So, what I understand through this message is it is important to forgive, let go and move on.
Apart from that, as a normal human being, we need to be aware of our strengths and weaknesses. What’s important, we need to develop our strengths rather than enriching our weak points. Through this way, a person will build a good character. Consequently, these people will also strive to be wiser and happy. They can influence others to do the same if they have a positive attitude.