The Highwayman
Reading Tasks
First Reading
1. You will Pair-Share read through the entire
story, switching partners for every stanza.
2. As you read through the story, stop where
you come to a word that you do not know
and highlight it.
3. After you have finished the story, go back to
your highlighted words and define each using
your dictionary (either online using a smart
device* or the dictionary).
Definitions
For “Tim the Ostler” look up “Hostler” for
the correct definition.
Second Reading
1. You and your partner must re-read the story
pair-share style again, switching partners every
stanza.
2. As you read through the story, use your red pen
to circle any use of similes and use your blue
pen to circle any use of metaphors.
– Next to each of the similes and metaphors, write
what two things are being compared.
– For example, “The moon was a ghostly galleon” –
Moon-Galleon or “His hair was like mouldy hay” –
hair-hay.
The Literary Evaluation Chart
Classwork / Homework
• Individually, you will select five of your best
examples of similes and five of your best
examples of metaphors from the poem to use
with the literary evaluation chart.
The Literary Device Evaluation Chart
Quote from the Text
in MLA Format:
In the text it states,
“quote” (author’s last
name and page
number).
What literary device
is being used in this
quote?
Explain in literal language what
is meant by the literary device:
what is being compared, what
does it literally mean?
Based on the use of this
literary device, how would
you explain the effect it has
on the meaning of the text?
In the poem it
states, “The wind
was a torrent of
darkness” (Noyes).
Metaphor
The author is comparing
the rushing wind to how
incredibly dark it is.
The author is describing
the conditions of the
night in which the
Highwayman rides: it is
an unsettled and
mysterious night, like
the love between the
highwayman and Bess.
Beyond the Text Questions
• Get out a blank sheet of paper
(not torn out of your English notebook)
• Write your heading in the upper corner
– First and Last Name
– Period #
– Date (written out in full)
• Title the paper: “The Highwayman” Questions
Beyond the Text Questions
1. How would you explain the similes and
metaphors in the first stanza affect the
setting of the story?
You will:
– Answer the question with our own argument
(reason, opinion)
– Cite a quote from the text that supports and
defends our argument using MLA format
– Explain in detail to clearly show why the quote
supports our argument.
Beyond the Text Questions
2. The last two stanzas are very like the first and
third stanzas, except that the wording is slightly
different. How does the difference reveal what
is happening at the end of the poem?
You will:
– Answer the question with our own argument (reason,
opinion)
– Cite a quote from the text that supports and defends
our argument using MLA format
– Explain in detail to clearly show why the quote
supports our argument.
Beyond the Text Questions
3. How would you explain how the similes and
metaphors for the characters show the traits
and emotions of the characters?
You will:
– Answer the question with our own argument
(reason, opinion)
– Cite a quote from the text that supports and
defends our argument using MLA format
– Explain in detail to clearly show why the quote
supports our argument.