Poetry of Fables, Fairies, and Fauna Fables, Fairies, and Fauna    

Lesson 35: The Leprechaun or the Fairy Shoemaker

by William Allingham

Performer: Librivox - Rosslyn Carlyle

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read or listen to the poem.
• Review the synopsis.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

The narrator asks us whether we have heard the hammer of the Elfin shoemaker working up on the mound. The narrator advises if you capture the shoemaker you may use him to make yourself rich. The narrator saw him once, but before he could capture him the shoemaker threw snuff in his face and disappeared.

Vocabulary

Rath: A usually circular earthwork serving as stronghold and residence of an ancient Irish chief (archaic) (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rath).
Plaintive: Sounding sad and mournful.
Sultry: Hot and humid.
Scarlet: A brilliant red color.
Clamor: A loud and confused noise.
Plies: Work steadily at (one's business or trade); conduct.
Span: The width of a person's hand, as measured from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger, when the fingers and thumb are spread out.
Sup: Eat supper.
Duchess: A woman holding a rank equivalent to duke (highest hereditary title) by marriage or in her own right.
Stitch: A loop of thread or yarn resulting from a single pass or movement of the needle in sewing, knitting, or crocheting.
Crock: An earthenware pot or jar.
Miser: A person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible.
Cormorant: A large diving bird with a long neck, long hooked bill, short legs, and mainly dark plumage.
Foxglove: A tall plant with erect spikes of flowers, typically pinkish-purple or white, shaped like the fingers of gloves.
Hose: Stockings, socks, and tights.
Buskin: A calf-high or knee-high boot of cloth or leather.
Brogue: A strong outdoor shoe with ornamental perforated patterns in the leather.
Whimsical: Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Title, the Poet's Name, and the Poem

• Each day this week, recite aloud the title of the poem, the name of the poet, and the poem. Instructors may need to prompt children line-by-line.

Activity 2: Study the Poem's Companion Painting

• Study the painting below, and describe it in your own words.

Find the following in the companion painting:

• Dog
• Cello
• Cello Bow
• Foot Measuring Device
• Gun
• Violin
• Violin Case on the Wall
• Coat Hanging from a Door
• Books
• Chairs
• Lid for Small Container

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

• After reading or listening to each verse of the poem, narrate the verse events aloud using your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Poem   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 38 of 'Poetry Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the poem?

1 / 3

Answer 1

The title of the poem is 'The Leprechaun or the Fairy Shoemaker.'

1 / 3

Question 2

What happens in the poem?

2 / 3

Answer 2

The narrator asks us whether we have heard the hammer of the Elfin shoemaker working up on the mound. The narrator advises if you capture the shoemaker you may use him to make yourself rich. The narrator saw him once, but before he could capture him the shoemaker disappeared.

2 / 3

Question 3

Who are the characters in the poem?

3 / 3

Answer 3

The narrator and the shoemaker.

3 / 3

❮ ❯

1. What is the title of the poem? The title of the poem is 'The Leprechaun or the Fairy Shoemaker.'
2. What happens in the poem? The narrator asks us whether we have heard the hammer of the Elfin shoemaker working up on the mound. The narrator advises if you capture the shoemaker you may use him to make yourself rich. The narrator saw him once, but before he could capture him the shoemaker disappeared.
3. Who are the characters in the poem? The narrator and the shoemaker.