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

Lesson 9: Little Orphant Annie

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

An orphan named Annie comes to live with the young narrators of the poem. Annie gathers the children around the fire and tells spooky tales of goblins that come for children who disobey their parents and teachers and don't help the needy.

Vocabulary

Orphant: Orphan.
Sober: Serious, sensible, and somber.
Boisterous: Noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy.
Hearth: The floor of a fireplace.
Board: The provision of regular meals when one stays somewhere, in return for payment or service.
Keep: Food, clothes, and other essentials for living.
Gobble-uns: Goblins.
Wunst: Once.
Wuz/Wuzn't: Was/Wasn't.
Kivvers: Covers.
Rafter-room: Attic.
Cubby-hole: A small, enclosed compartment or room.
'ud: Who'd.
Allus: Always.
Ever' one: Everyone.
Mocked: Teased in a scornful or contemptuous manner.
Lamp-wick: A strip of material up which liquid fuel is drawn to the flame in a lamp.
Sputters: Make a series of soft explosive sounds, typically when being heated.
Squenched: Extinguished or put out.
Churish: Cherish.
Pore (Poor): Lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal.

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:

• Little Orphant Annie
• Poem Narrators
• Kettle
• Hearth
• Candlesticks
• Shadows
• Dishes
• Smoke
• Suspenders
• Chair

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 11 of 'Poetry Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Activity 5: Learn the History Behind the Poem

• 'Little Orphant Annie is based on an orphan named Mary Alice 'Allie' Smith that came to live with James Whitcomb Riley's family. See below a picture of Allie.

• Riley originally titled the poem, 'Little Orphant Allie', but a mistake made during printing the poem changed the name to 'Little Orphant Annie.'
• The 'Little Orphan Annie' comic strip and the Raggedy Ann doll were named after 'Little Orphant Annie.'

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the poem?

1 / 6

Answer 1

The title of the poem is 'Little Orphant Annie.'

1 / 6

Question 2

What is the name of the poet who wrote 'Little Orphant Annie?'

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

The poem introduces an orphan named Annie who tells tales of goblins that come for children who don't mind their parents and teachers and don't help the needy.

3 / 6

Question 4

Where does the poem take place?

4 / 6

Answer 4

The poem takes place at the home of the young narrators where Little Orphant Annie has come to stay.

4 / 6

Question 5

Who are the characters in the poem?

5 / 6

Answer 5

The characters include Little Orphant Annie, the young narrators listening to Annie's tales, the goblins, the naughty children, parents, teachers, and the needy.

5 / 6

Question 6

Does the poem teach us anything?

6 / 6

Answer 6

The poem reminds children to respect their parents and teachers and to be kind to the needy.

6 / 6

❮ ❯

1. What is the title of the poem? The title of the poem is 'Little Orphant Annie.'
2. What is the name of the poet who wrote 'Little Orphant Annie?' The name of the poet is James Whitcomb Riley.
3. What happens in the poem? The poem introduces an orphan named Annie who tells tales of goblins that come for children who don't mind their parents and teachers and don't help the needy.
4. Where does the poem take place? The poem takes place at the home of the young narrators where Little Orphant Annie has come to stay.
5. Who are the characters in the poem? The characters include Little Orphant Annie, the young narrators listening to Annie's tales, the goblins, the naughty children, parents, teachers, and the needy.
6. Does the poem teach us anything? The poem reminds children to respect their parents and teachers and to be kind to the needy.

References

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

'Little Orphant Annie.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.