Wednesday 1st July

LI: To explore the poem ‘Adventures of Isabel’

Activity1. Read the poem. Discuss the poetic techniques used by Ogden Nash,

such as alliteration, rhyme and repetition.

2.Answer the questions about the poem. There are two levels -* easier and ** harder.

Adventures of Isabelby Ogden Nash

Isabel met an enormous bear,Isabel, Isabel, didn't care;The bear was hungry, the bear was ravenous,The bear's big mouth was cruel and cavernous.The bear said, Isabel, glad to meet you,How do, Isabel, now I'll eat you!Isabel, Isabel, didn't worry.Isabel didn't scream or scurry.She washed her hands and she straightened her hair up,Then Isabel quietly ate the bear up.

Once in a night as black as pitchIsabel met a wicked old witch.The witch's face was cross and wrinkled,The witch's gums with teeth were sprinkled.Ho, ho, Isabel! the old witch crowed,I'll turn you into an ugly toad!Isabel, Isabel, didn't worry,Isabel didn't scream or scurry,She showed no rage and she showed no rancour,But she turned the witch into milk and drank her.

Isabel met a hideous giant,Isabel continued self-reliant.The giant was hairy, the giant was horrid,He had one eye in the middle of his forehead.Good morning, Isabel, the giant said,I'll grind your bones to make my bread.Isabel, Isabel, didn't worry,Isabel didn't scream or scurry.She nibbled the zwieback that she always fed off,And when it was gone, she cut the giant's head off.

Isabel met a troublesome doctor,He punched and he poked till he really shocked her.The doctor's talk was of coughs and chillsAnd the doctor's satchel bulged with pills.The doctor said unto Isabel,Swallow this, it will make you well.Isabel, Isabel, didn't worry,Isabel didn't scream or scurry.She took those pills from the pill concocter,And Isabel calmly cured the doctor.

*Questions 1. Who is the main character in the poem? …………………………………………………..

2. List all the rhyming couplets in the poem. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3. Read the first verse. Which words does Isabel use to describe the

bear? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

4. Look up the meaning of the words ravenous and cavernous. Write down what they mean and put them each into a sentence. Ravenous means ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Cavernous means ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

5. Why does Isabel use the word cavernous to describe the bear’s mouth? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. Write two verbs from the first verse that show alliteration. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

7. What did Isabel do to the bear? Quote the words exactly from the poem. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

8. Read the second verse. Copy a simile from the second verse. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

9. Which two lines are repeated in the first and second verse? Copy them. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

10. Why has the author repeated these lines?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

11. Find two examples of alliteration in the second verse. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

12. What does rancour mean? Look it up in the dictionary and write its meaning. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

13. What did Isabel do to the witch? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

**Questions

1. Who is the main character in the poem? …………………………………………………..

2. List all the rhyming couplets in the poem. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3. Read the first verse. Which words does Isabel use to describe the bear?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

4. Look up the meaning of the words ravenous and cavernous. Write down what they mean and put them each into a sentence. Ravenous means ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Cavernous means ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

5. Why does Isabel use the word cavernous to describe the bear’s mouth? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. Write two words from the first verse that show alliteration. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

7. What did Isabel do to the bear? Quote the words exactly from the poem. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

8. Read the second verse. Copy a simile from the second verse. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

9. Find two examples of alliteration in the second verse. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

10. What does rancour mean? Look it up in the dictionary and write its meaning. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

11. What did Isabel do to the witch? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

12. Read the third verse. What does self-reliant mean? Self-reliant means …………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

13. What is zwieback? Have you eaten one before?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

14. What did Isabel do to the giant?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

15. Which two lines are repeated in all four verses? Copy them.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

16. Why has the author repeated these lines? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

17. Read the fourth verse. What does concocter mean? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

18. Make a list of all the things that Isabel meets. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….