Love That Dog
by Sharon Creech
1. Jack doesn’t want to write poetry at the beginning of the book. Why doesn’t
he want to?
Jack doesn't want to write poetry at the beginning of the book because he think poetry is girlish.
2. In Jack’s first poem, he writes:
So much depends upon
a blue car splattered with mud
speeding down
the road.
Why was the blue car important to Jack?
The blue car was important to Jack because he talks about a blue car like it is human.
3. What caused Miss Strechberry to be so interested in Jack’s
first poem? Describe what Miss Strechberry does to get Jack to write more poems,
especially about the blue car.
The thing that caused Miss Strechberry to be interested in Jack's first poem is that his poem is very unusual. The thing that Miss Strechberry does to get Jack to write more poems especially about the blue car is that Miss Strechberry persuades Jack to write more poems and because they are very good.
4. How does Jack respond when Miss Strechberry asks him to write
about a pet? Why do you think Miss Strechberry insists he write the poem despite
Jack’s reaction?
Jack responds when Miss Strechberry asks him to write about a pet is that jack says that why cant he just write one about a fake pet because it is
easier. Miss Strechberry insists he writes the poem despite Jack's reaction because she wants him to do well writing poems.
5. What are Jack’s feelings toward Sky? Make a list of details from the book that describes Jack’s feelings toward his dog.
Jack's feelings toward Sky is that he loves him, cares about him, and misses him because he got hit by the blue car.
6. Jack changes a great deal in the novel. Think about these changes. Then create a two- column chart with two headings: “Beginning of school year ” and “End of school year ”. Under each heading, list examples of the things Jack does, thinks and says in the beginning of the year compared to the end of the year.
7. Imagine Miss Strechberry has just asked Jack to write an essay telling what he has discovered about poetry and how it can change a person’s life. What would the essay say?
The essay would say that at first Jack didn't like poetry and thought it was hard, now he knows that he likes poetry and it is easy.
8. Sky’s death affected Jack deeply. If you had just lost a much-loved pet, what things could you, or other people, do to help you cope with the loss? Create a list of ideas.
If I lost a pet I would feel very sad about the pet that died and try not to think about the pet.
9. Miss Strechberry is able to convince Jack to write poetry and share his feelings even though he doesn’t want to. Point out the qualities Miss Strechberry has as a person, and as a teacher, that allow her to reach Jack.
Miss Strechberry is a very persuading person, wants jack to do better, a good teacher, and convinces jack to write poems.
10. Why does Jack fall in love with Walter Dean Myers’ poetry? What effect does Mr. Myers’ visit to the school have on Jack? How do you know?
Jack falls in love with Walter Dean Myers' poetry because one oh his poems is "Love That Boy" and jack loved his dog very much and his poem was "Love That Dog"
11. There are many ways a poet can paint a picture in a reader’s mind with words. They include, similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, and more. Find examples of the techniques the poets use in Love That Dog. As a group, choose three verses from the novel that created the most vivid pictures.
- So much depends upon
a blue car splattered with mud
speeding down
the road.
-Blue car, blue car, shining bright in the darkness of the night: who could see you speeding by like a comet in the sky?
-I could see you in the night, blue car, blue car, shining bright. I could see you speeding by like a comet in the sky
12. How might Jack’s life have been different if he hadn’t had Miss Strechberry as his teacher?
Jack's life would've been different if Miss Strechberry wasn't his teacher by him not liking poems, and not being good at poems.
13. It’s the end of the school year, and Jack wants to thank Miss Strechberry for being such a great teacher. Compose a letter or write a poem from Jack that shows his appreciation for Miss Strechberry.
Dear Miss Strechberry,
Thank you for making me good at writing poems. Without you I wouldn't be good at writing poems or I would've never been writing poems. Thank you for being the best teacher ever.
From,
Jack
14. How did reading Love That Dog change your point of view about poetry? Explain your answer.
Love That Dog changed your point of view about poetry because I thought poetry was hard but after reading the book I know that if you really try it is very easy.
15. At the end of the book, the author includes poems by seven famous American poets. Which poem did you like the best, and why?
The best poem I liked was The Apple by S. C. Rigg. It is my favorite poem because it is a picture of an apple and it had all the words that describe the apple.
Beginning of school yearJack doesn't like to do poems because girls do them
Thinks his poems are bad Talks about the blue car Doesn't put his name on any of his poems |
End of school yearJack likes to do poems even though girls do
Thinks his poems are very good now The Blue Car is the car that hit Jack's dog Sky Puts his name on his poems now because his poems are good |