Poets of Nature, Revelry, and Rhyme Nature, Revelry, and Rhyme    

Lesson 8: The Raggedy Man Stanzas 5-8

by James Whitcomb Riley

Performer: Librivox - Janice Green

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read or listen to the poem.
• Review the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Read about the poet.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The poem describes a farm worker that the boyish narrator calls 'The Raggedy Man.' In the second half of the poem, The Raggedy Man tells rhymes and tales of giants, pretends pigs are bears and his hoe is a bear-shooter, and plays games of kings and robbers. The Raggedy Man asks the narrator if he will be a rich merchant like his father. Instead, the narrator aspires to be a nice Raggedy Man. 'The Raggedy Man' is based on a real person, a German worker hired by James Whitcomb Riley's father.

Vocabulary

Wite: Right.
Wunks: Shapeshifting creatures.
Wunst (Once): On one occasion or for one time only.
'tend: Pretend.
'uz: Was.
Castul: Castle.
Haymow: A stack of hay.
Bow-'n'-orry: Bow and arrow.
Merchunt: Merchant.
Air: Are.

Concepts

1. James Whitcomb Riley was born in 1849 in Greenfield, Indiana. See his picture below.

2. Zoom in and find Riley's birth state of Indiana (IN - The Hoosier State) on the map of the continental United States.

3. Riley had five siblings. His mother taught him to read at home before sending him to school. He frequently got into trouble at school and did not like his teachers, which he later wrote about in his poems.
4. Riley wrote approximately 1000 poems during his lifetime and became famous by going on poetry tours across America.
5. Riley was known as the 'Hoosier poet.' A 'Hoosier' is a native or inhabitant of Indiana. Some of Riley's poems were written in a Hoosier dialect, including 'The Raggedy Man', 'Little Orphant Annie', and 'When the Frost is on the Punkin.'
6. Riley suffered from alcoholism and never married or had children. Riley died in 1916 at the age of 66 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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.

Activity 2: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the poem picture:

• Raggedy Man
• Narrator
• Suspenders
• Hat
• Straw
• Horse
• Bridle
• Barn
• Farm Tools (Rake, Sickle)

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

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

Activity 4: Color the Poem   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 10 of 'Poetry Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the poem?

1 / 6

Answer 1

The title of the poem is 'The Raggedy Man.'

1 / 6

Question 2

What is the name of the poet who wrote 'The Raggedy Man?'

2 / 6

Answer 2

The name of the poet is James Whitcomb Riley.

2 / 6

Question 3

What happens in the poem?

3 / 6

Answer 3

A kind farm worker tells poems and stories and plays games with the children. The boy narrator wants to be a Raggedy Man when he grows us.

3 / 6

Question 4

Where does the poem take place?

4 / 6

Answer 4

The poem takes place outdoors at a farm.

4 / 6

Question 5

Who are the characters in the poem?

5 / 6

Answer 5

The characters are Raggedy Man, the boy narrator, Elizabeth Ann, Ma, and Pa.

5 / 6

Question 6

Does the poem teach us anything?

6 / 6

Answer 6

The poem reminds us that children tend to admire kindness and creativity more than riches.

6 / 6

❮ ❯

1. What is the title of the poem? The title of the poem is 'The Raggedy Man.'
2. What is the name of the poet who wrote 'The Raggedy Man?' The name of the poet is James Whitcomb Riley.
3. What happens in the poem? A kind farm worker tells poems and stories and plays games with the children. The boy narrator wants to be a Raggedy Man when he grows us.
4. Where does the poem take place? The poem takes place outdoors at a farm.
5. Who are the characters in the poem? The characters are Raggedy Man, the boy narrator, Elizabeth Ann, Ma, and Pa.
6. Does the poem teach us anything? The poem reminds us that children tend to admire kindness and creativity more than riches.

References

'James Whitcomb Riley.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'The Raggedy Man.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.