The poem begins with the words: "Mommy, mommy, Harrie hit me!
And Wonda stumped on my big toe!"
In literature--and, of course, in this poem--this is a statement of "Argument," that is, a "line of thought." Here, it is followed up with a continuous string of rebuttals. (A rebuttal is the reply to a line of thought.)
1. How many injuries does the boy have?
2. Do you think that he is seriously injured?
A.--If "Yes," how serious?
B.--If "No," why do you say, "no"?
3. What do you think could have led up to the injuries?
Part [2]
There is a picture of a girl with her hand raised. She is shouting.
1. Is Mommy Marie nearby or far away? Please, explain.
2. The girl mentions that she did not hit the little boy. Next, she says that the door caused the injury.
A.--The boy does have an injury. Why do you think the boy blames the little girl for one of his injuries?
B.--What is the little girl's name? And why do you choose this name as hers?
3. Next, a different little boy mentions another boy as being responsible for the injury.
A.--What is the name of this second boy who is be blamed?
B.--What was it that this boy was said to have done?
Part [3]
Here, a young lady questions the boy who does the "blame" pointing.
1. Who told the boy about the injury Michael suffers?
2. Fill in the Blank: Mommy, mommy,______hit me!
3. Who is "Harrie"?
4. Is this Mommy Marie who tries to understand the "incident"? If so, how do you know? If not, what is her name?
5. The youth under blame replies with a "rebuttal." His statement is in script.(Internet Explorer 6) And it is direct and to the point:
"I didn't do it Mommy yo."
A.--Why is this rebuttal in script? Do you think script tells something about the personality of the individual?
B.--What is the name of this youth?
C.--If "Harrie" is a nickname, what is "Mommy Yo"? Do you call anyone by a special name?
6. Do you know someone with a nickname and who also scripts (hand-writes) letters to friends and family members?
Part [4]
1. Balam! is an example of an onomatopoeia. That is, it represents a sound.
A.-- What sound do you think the word Balam represents in the poem?
B.-- How would you say a different sound to represent the same thing as does Balam
?
2. Who is at the back door?
3. What duty is the woman performing out-of-doors?
4. Can you identify the two main items that allow the woman to do her chore? What does each allows the woman to do?
5. Please, take a closer look at this picture. What time of the year (season) do you think it is?
Check your answers with possible responses....CLICK!
