Personification
What is personification?
Personification is when an author gives human qualities, actions, or feelings to animals, objects, or ideas.
What is imagery?
Imagery is language that appeals to the senses and helps readers create mental pictures.
What does it mean to paraphrase?
Paraphrasing means restating something in your own words while keeping the original meaning.
Both poems include animals. True or False: The animals speak for themselves in both poems.
False
Who is the speaker talking to in The Last Wolf?
The wolf
In Animal Wisdom, which animal says, “What’s missing is the ability to find contentment in a slow-paced life”?
Turtle
Which sense is mainly used in the line “his eyes burned yellow” from The Last Wolf?
Sight
Paraphrase: “What’s missing is devotion to place, to give meaning to passing time.”
What’s missing is staying connected to one place and valuing time instead of rushing.
What message does Animal Wisdom share about humans and animals?
Humans and animals share wisdom and must live with respect and balance.
Why do the animals “insist on keeping their own names” in Animal Wisdom?
They want to keep their identity and independence.
Find one example of personification in Animal Wisdom and explain why it is personification.
Animals speak and share wisdom like humans, which shows personification.
Name one line from Animal Wisdom that helps you see something clearly in your mind.
“the beauty hidden in an ordinary stone” or “the perfection of bird wings.”
Paraphrase: “through the ruined city.”
Through the destroyed or broken city.
What message does The Last Wolf suggest about what humans have done to the world?
Humans have caused destruction and harmed nature.
What does the ruined city symbolize in The Last Wolf?
Environmental destruction and loss caused by humans.
In The Last Wolf, what human action is suggested when the wolf “lays his long gray muzzle on the spare white spread”?
It suggests trust, sadness, or a human-like request for comfort or understanding.
How does imagery help create a mood in The Last Wolf?
The imagery creates a dark, lonely, and sad mood by describing destruction and silence.
Paraphrase: “the beauty hidden in an ordinary stone.”
Seeing beauty in simple, everyday things.
How are animals used differently in each poem to communicate the message?
In Animal Wisdom, animals speak directly. In The Last Wolf, the wolf’s actions and presence symbolize loss.
Why doesn’t the wolf need to speak to ask his “important question”?
His presence and condition already show what humans have done.
How does personification help both poems deliver their messages about humans and animals?
Personification allows animals to express ideas and emotions, helping readers understand lessons about respect, responsibility, and connection to nature.
Compare the imagery in both poems. How does each poet use imagery differently?
Animal Wisdom uses calm, natural imagery, while The Last Wolf uses dark, broken imagery to show loss and destruction.
Paraphrase the message of one entire poem in 2–3 sentences.
Animal Wisdom shows how animals and humans share wisdom and should protect the Earth together.
OR
The Last Wolf shows the damage humans have caused to nature and its lasting effects.
Which poem feels more hopeful, and which feels more sad or serious? Use evidence.
Animal Wisdom is more hopeful; The Last Wolf is more sad because it shows destruction and loneliness.
If both poems shared one message to humans, what would it be?
Humans must respect nature, listen to animals, and protect the Earth before it’s too late.