About the Lesson
Ted Kooser’s poem "Abandoned Farmhouse" offers a poignant glimpse into the remnants of a family’s life through the lens of an observer piecing together a story from the objects left behind. The poem uses vivid imagery and metaphor to evoke themes of abandonment, hardship, and mystery, painting a picture of lives that were once lived in a now-empty home. Written in free verse, the poem draws readers into its reflective tone, inviting them to explore the silent echoes of a family’s struggles and their eventual departure.
Text /Summary/Critical Analysis
Delve into Details
The poet makes an estimation of the characters, who are represented only through their material possessions and surroundings. Here is a list of their material possessions. Fill in the inferences that have been drawn from them.
Material possessions Inferences
a. size of his shoes
b. broken dishes
c. the Bible
d. bedroom wall
e. the sandbox
f. jars of plum preserves and canned tomatoes
g. empty house
h. weed-choked yard
i. toys strewn in the yard
…………………………………………………….
Here’s the completed table with the inferences drawn from the material possessions:
Material Possessions | Inferences |
a. size of his shoes | The man was physically large and tall, indicating an imposing presence that contrasts with his struggles. |
b. broken dishes | The family faced financial hardships and lived a life of neglect or had to leave in haste. |
c. the Bible | The man was religious or God-fearing, but its neglected state suggests loss of faith or overwhelming struggles. |
d. bedroom wall | The lilac wallpaper reflects the woman’s effort to make the house warm and welcoming despite difficulties. |
e. the sandbox | Indicates the presence of a child and symbolizes a sense of family life and innocence. |
f. jars of plum preserves and canned tomatoes | The woman was nurturing and prepared for the future, but the still-sealed jars suggest an abrupt departure. |
g. empty house | Symbolizes abandonment, desolation, and the loss of the family’s presence. |
h. weed-choked yard | Reflects neglect and the family’s inability to maintain the property, possibly due to struggles or departure. |
i. toys strewn in the yard | Represents a disrupted childhood and hints at a hasty departure, leaving behind unfinished stories. |
5. The poem explores the theme of failure and abandonment. How does the poet convey this?
6. The inmates of the house are not physically present in the poem, but the objects in and around the house 'speak' for them, helping to paint a picture. For example, He was a big man, says the size of his shoes; What is this figure of speech called? Pick more examples of this from the poem.
7. Pick out the simile in the poem and explain what it compares and why.
8. The poem uses the literary technique of alliteration, creating a pattern of sound by starting words with the same letter or sound, to create a musical flow in the piece. Give two examples.
Answers
5. The poem explores the theme of failure and abandonment. How does the poet convey this?
The poet conveys the theme of failure and abandonment through vivid imagery and symbolic details. The descriptions of the "leaky barn," "weed-choked yard," and "cluttered fields" illustrate the man's failure as a farmer. The abandoned house, with "toys strewn in the yard" and "still-sealed jars," suggests a sudden departure, hinting at unresolved struggles. The repeated line "Something went wrong" emphasizes a mysterious and inevitable downfall, adding to the sense of desolation and loss.
6. The inmates of the house are not physically present in the poem, but the objects in and around the house 'speak' for them, helping to paint a picture. For example, He was a big man, says the size of his shoes. What is this figure of speech called? Pick more examples of this from the poem.
This figure of speech is called personification, as inanimate objects are given human-like qualities to "speak" about the family. Examples from the poem include:
The Bible with a broken back — suggests the man’s religious beliefs and struggles.
The jars of plum preserves and canned tomatoes still-sealed — reflect the woman’s nurturing nature and the abrupt abandonment.
The toys strewn in the yard — symbolize the disrupted innocence and childhood of the child.
7. Pick out the simile in the poem and explain what it compares and why.
The simile in the poem is: "The lilacs wallpapered the bedroom with their scent like a breath held too long."This compares the overpowering scent of lilacs to a breath held too long, evoking a feeling of tension or discomfort. It reflects the emotional strain and suffocating atmosphere of the household despite attempts to beautify or improve it.
8. The poem uses the literary technique of alliteration, creating a pattern of sound by starting words with the same letter or sound, to create a musical flow in the piece. Give two examples.
Examples of alliteration in the poem:
Plum preserves — highlights the woman’s attempts to provide and nurture.
Fields cluttered with boulders — emphasizes the harsh and challenging farming conditions.
