The Seekers: They said that the poem could read better if the second half were to
be moved up and first half were to be brought down.
The Survivors: They liked the restless behavior of the old woman.
• What new vocabulary did you learn?
All the three groups listed words such as purple, pension, sandals, pavement, gobble,
hoard, swear, sobriety.
• How would you connect your reading to your life?
The Highfliers: They said they would behave more sensibly than the old woman in
their old age.
The Seekers: They pointed out it will not be easy for old people to be carefree and
fun loving.
The Survivors: They said they will be disappointed if old people behave like
children.
Appendix 2- Response Journal Entries
Highflier 1
The Poplar Field
I read William Cowper’s “The Poplar Field”. This poem is the story of a
writer talking about transformation of nature and time He described the
different perceptions in different time at the same place. Twelve years ago,
he first took a view of his favourite field. He was comfortable when he lived
there. Everything in there was completed in him. The perfect nature
interested him and helped him escape from busy life. So he took a long time
to lay on the yard for permeating thoroughly that perfect environment. But
twelve years later, now, as he comes back to his favourite field again,
everything is changed. The poplars, a type of tree, which had given the shade
now, have been transformed to be the seat for people to sit. So no wind sings
in the leaves anymore, no blackbird which had lived in the tree is there
anymore. The cut tree cannot be the retreat for him anymore. So when he
comes back again, this place cannot provide him relaxation like in the past.
Besides it is worse, it makes him be sad because of the terrible
transformation of nature. These things inspire him to write this poem to
interpret the sorrow of him to the environment. Even if man can create