How do you determine a character’s
mood in a poem?
Casey at the Bat
by Ernest Lawrence Thayer
The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the
Mudville nine that day…
In this lesson, you will learn how to
determine a character’s mood in a
poem by examining how the character
feels.
Let’s Review
Poems have stanzas
“Casey at the Bat”
by Ernest Lawrence Thayer
The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Mudville nine that day:
The score stood four to six with just an inning left to play;
And so, when Cooney died at first, and Burrows did the same,
A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.
A straggling few got up to go, leaving there the rest
With that hope that springs eternal within the human breast;
For they thought if only Casey could get one whack, at that
They'd put up even money, with Casey at the bat.
All of the stanzas
together make a
story.
Let’s Review
A character’s actions show a character’s traits.
Casey ignored the
pitch.
Confident
A Common Mistake
Mood can change!
Dinnertime
Anticipation
Meatloaf
Disappointment
Opening Freezer
Hopeful
Ice cream!
Satisfied
A Common Mistake
Beginning
Middle
End
Core
CoreLesson
Lesson
Mood is the way a person (you, a character, or the author)
feels at a point in time.
Anticipation
Suspense
Disappointment
Hopeful
Wonderment
Optimistic
Core
CoreLesson
Lesson
“Casey at the Bat”
by Ernest Lawrence Thayer
The team is losing.
The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Mudville nine that day:
The score stood four to six with just an inning left to play;
And so, when Cooney died at first, and Burrows did the same,
A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.
.
Right now, the
crowd is feeling
hopeless.
How does the crowd feel?
How would I feel?
Core
CoreLesson
Lesson
“Casey at the Bat”
by Ernest Lawrence Thayer
Then from the gladdened multitude went up a joyous yell,
It bounded from the mountain-top, and rattled in the dell,
It struck upon the hillside, and rebounded on the flat;
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.
.
How does the crowd feel?
How would I feel?
Casey is up to bat.
Right now, the
crowd feels a sense
of anticipation and
hope.
Core
CoreLesson
Lesson
1
Re-read a stanza of the poem.
2
Ask yourself, “How do the characters feel? How
would I feel?”
3
Jot your ideas about the character’s mood on a
sticky note.
In this lesson, you have learned how to
determine a character’s mood in a
poem by examining how the character
feels.
Guided Practice
Read the stanza below. How does the crowd feel now? How
would you feel?
Jot your ideas about the mood on a sticky note.
The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched with hate;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate;
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.
Extension Activities
Pick a poem of your choice.
Read it carefully. Then, break it down by seeing how the
characters feel in each stanza. How would you feel?
Jot your ideas about the mood on a sticky note.
Extension Activities
In “Casey at the Bat,” the mood changes many times.
Why do you think the poet did that? How does it make
the poem interesting?
Extension Activities
Think of 2 -3 moods that you could find in a poem.
Now write a poem where the character(s) change the
mood!
Extension Activities
Watch the movie of “Casey at the Bat” online.
How does the action show the changing moods?
How does music show the changing moods?
Quick
QuickQuiz
Quiz
Read the stanza below. How does the crowd feel now? How
would you feel?
Jot your ideas about the mood on a sticky note.
Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.