This Lesson's Title:

Tillbury Town:
The Butcher's Tale

responding to Reuben Bright with three point-of-view diary entries

This lesson was created by NNWP Teacher Consultant Corbett Harrison. You can access all of Corbett's on-line lessons by clicking here.

This on-line writing prompt is based on the poetry of E. A. Robinson (at right). Before writing to this assignment, your students should hear and discuss the poetry of this great poet.

Click here to learn more about this poet.

If you are a Washoe County teacher, click here to search for a collection of works by this poet that you can check out from the county library.

Three-Sentence Overview of this Lesson:

After a discussion of multiple interpretations of E. A. Robinson's poem, Reuben Bright, student writers will decide on one interpretation they like best.  They will then write three diary entries, from the point-of-view of Tillbury Town's butcher: one entry immediately after Reuben Bright is told his wife must die; one entry after she has died; and one entry after he has torn down the slaughter house.  Students will attempt to capture an authentic-sounding voice as they compose these diary entries inspired by Robinson's sonnet. Teachers: click here to read the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

The focus trait in this writing assignment is idea development; writers should be encouraged to explore a personally intriguing interpretation of the poem to base their journal entries on.  The support trait in this assignment is voice; remind writers to do their best to capture the emotion in their butcher's voice as they write from his point-of-view.