, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE TO ANSWER YOUR ASSIGNMENT
QUESTION 1: POETRY
1.1. In the poem, the mother gives the child many reasons why she does not want a dog. List two
reasons and explain why they might worry an adult more than a child.
In the poem, the mother gives several reasons why she does not want a dog. Two reasons
include:
Dogs smell: The mother mentions that dogs have an unpleasant odor, which can be bothersome
in the house. This would likely worry an adult because the smell can be difficult to control and
may affect the cleanliness of the home.
Dogs shed: The mother says dogs shed hair, which contributes to a messy home environment.
This concern is particularly relevant to adults who may worry about the time and effort
required for cleaning up after a shedding dog, which might create more housework.
These concerns might worry an adult more than a child because adults are usually more focused on
maintaining the home environment and keeping it clean and orderly. Children, however, are more
likely to focus on the enjoyment and companionship a pet can provide, not the challenges of
managing the mess.
1.2. Younger learners respond well to humorous poems. Pick three lines or images from this
poem and discuss how they contribute to the humour of the poem.
“And flop upon your bed at night / And snore their doggy snore”: The image of a dog flopping
onto the bed and snoring like a human creates a funny mental picture, especially when paired
with the idea of a dog taking over the bed. It exaggerates how a dog behaves in an ungraceful
and humorous way.
“And always let the strangers in / And bark at friends instead”: This line humorously highlights
the dog's contradictory behavior of welcoming strangers while scaring off friends, which seems
like a silly and frustrating trait. It’s amusing because it's unexpected—dogs are generally
known for being protective but here they’re shown as overly friendly to strangers.
“You have to go back out because / The dumb dog has to go”: The idea of having to go out into
the cold night just because the dog has to relieve itself is both a relatable and funny scenario.
The word “dumb” adds humor because it emphasizes the dog's behavior as frustrating yet
innocent.
The humor comes from the exaggerated portrayal of a dog’s annoying traits, which are both
annoying and amusing at the same time.
QUESTION 1: POETRY
1.1. In the poem, the mother gives the child many reasons why she does not want a dog. List two
reasons and explain why they might worry an adult more than a child.
In the poem, the mother gives several reasons why she does not want a dog. Two reasons
include:
Dogs smell: The mother mentions that dogs have an unpleasant odor, which can be bothersome
in the house. This would likely worry an adult because the smell can be difficult to control and
may affect the cleanliness of the home.
Dogs shed: The mother says dogs shed hair, which contributes to a messy home environment.
This concern is particularly relevant to adults who may worry about the time and effort
required for cleaning up after a shedding dog, which might create more housework.
These concerns might worry an adult more than a child because adults are usually more focused on
maintaining the home environment and keeping it clean and orderly. Children, however, are more
likely to focus on the enjoyment and companionship a pet can provide, not the challenges of
managing the mess.
1.2. Younger learners respond well to humorous poems. Pick three lines or images from this
poem and discuss how they contribute to the humour of the poem.
“And flop upon your bed at night / And snore their doggy snore”: The image of a dog flopping
onto the bed and snoring like a human creates a funny mental picture, especially when paired
with the idea of a dog taking over the bed. It exaggerates how a dog behaves in an ungraceful
and humorous way.
“And always let the strangers in / And bark at friends instead”: This line humorously highlights
the dog's contradictory behavior of welcoming strangers while scaring off friends, which seems
like a silly and frustrating trait. It’s amusing because it's unexpected—dogs are generally
known for being protective but here they’re shown as overly friendly to strangers.
“You have to go back out because / The dumb dog has to go”: The idea of having to go out into
the cold night just because the dog has to relieve itself is both a relatable and funny scenario.
The word “dumb” adds humor because it emphasizes the dog's behavior as frustrating yet
innocent.
The humor comes from the exaggerated portrayal of a dog’s annoying traits, which are both
annoying and amusing at the same time.
