DEAR MR. KILMER_SETTING

DEAR MR. KILMER

(SETTINGS)

Presented by:

Syahzanani

Afiqah

Ainul

Alifah

Tasneem

BACKGROUND

World War 1 was fought mainly in Europe

and the Middle East. The Allies (principally

Britain, France, Russia and Italy) fought the

Central Powers (Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria

and Ottoman Empire) from 1914 and 1918.

A German submarine sank the Lusitania in

1915. When the Germans started

unrestricted submarine warfare on ships

carrying Americans, the U.S. declared war

against Germany. The U.S. joined the Allied

forces and entered the war in 1917. The

Central Powers were defeated and they

agreed to a truce on 11 November 1918

MAP OF EUROPE – WORLD

WAR 1

CENTRAL POWERS

World War 1 was fought between the

Allied Powers and the Central Powers.

The Central Powers was at first an

alliance between Germany and

Austria-Hungary. Later the Ottoman

Empire and Bulgaria became part of

ALLIED POWERS

The Allied Powers were largely formed

as a defense against the aggression of

Germany and the Central Powers. They

began an alliance between France,

Britain and Russia.

ANTI-GERMAN SENTIMENT DURING

WW1

During WW1, the U.S. declared war on Germany in 1917. Anti-German sentiment rose across the U.S. Anti-German Americans

were labelled Huns.

Due to the wave of anti-German feeling at that time,

Americans changed the names of schools, foods, streets and towns. For example, they changed the name of sauerkraut and hamburgers to “liberty cabbage” and “liberty sausage”.

HUNS

Huns are barbarous, nomadic and

warlike Asian people who controlled

large parts of eastern and central

Europe. The offensive term “Huns” is

also used to refer Germans, especially

German soldiers in World War 1 and 2.

The term “Huns” likens them to the

barbarous and warlike Huns of the 4

CHAPTER 1

February morning in the woods

The Knights hunt near a creek in the woods. There is a big pool there and animals come to drink its water.

“… a large young buck with handsome antlers stepped down the opposite bank toward the pool.” (page 3)

Sunday morning at their hunting cabin

The Knights’ hunting cabin is 5 miles away in the woods. They spend the night there when they go hunting.

“He and his two boys had packed up a few necessities and hiked five miles to their tiny hunting cabin.” (page 1)

That night in the living room

Gus and his father argue about boxing but Richard is not interested.

“That night after supper, Richard, Gus, and their father sat

around the living room fire.” (page 13)

Evening in Richard’s and Gus’ room

He keeps a lot of his poems locked up in his drawer.

“Later that evening, Richard sat at his rolltop desk in the

CHAPTER 2

April morning in Richard’s classroom

Mrs. Hansen reads Joyce Kilmer’s poem “Trees” to Richard’s class.

“One morning toward the end of April, Mrs. Hansen walked in

front of her class of eighteen students and opened up a slender book.” (page 19)

After school

Richard sees Hannah crying in the hallway.

“As Richard left school at the end of the day, he saw one of

the girls from his grade standing alone in the hallway.” (page

CHAPTER 3

In Richard’s classes

Mrs. Hansen asks the class to sign a card she has brought to express their regret for what has happened to the Schermers. “About three weeks later , Mrs. Hansen walked into the

claassroom looking very upset.” (page 29)

After school as Richard is going home…

As Richard walks home, Abner and Harry block his way and start fighting with him.

“But when Richard started for home, Abner and Harry

At the Schermers’ tavern…

Richard writes a messages in the card expressing regret and writing that lots of people in Turtle Lake respect them.

“Sitting on the front steps of the tavern was Hannah Schermers.” (page 39)

On Richard’s favourite old oak tree…

Richard climbs an old oak tree overlooking the train tracks near his house.

“Richard was almost home when he stopped to climb an old oak tree.”

CHAPTER 4

Richard asks Angie to read Mr. Kilmer’s letter aloud.Nobody seems interested.

“…, his heart pounded while he helped Angie set the kitchen table.” (page 45)

The next day, in Mrs. Hansen’s classroom

Richard sees Mrs. Hansen after school. He shows Mr. Kilmer’s letter. “After school the next day, Richard went into Mrs. Hansen’s

classroom. (page 49)

Outside the school building… Hannah apologises to Richard.

“As he left the school building, Richard found Hannah

outside.” (page 52)

On Richard’s old oak tree…

Richard climbs the oak tree to watch the train come by.

“On his way home, Richard climbed the oak tree to watch the train pass by.”

CHAPTER 5

Richard tells the class how he started writing to Mr. Kilmer, and he reads the poem he sent to Mr. Kilmer about thunderstorm. “On the very last day, Richard found himself standing beside Mrs. Hansen in front of the classroom.” ( page 57 )

In history class that day

Mr. Higby talks about the war and tells the students that the American troops are arriving in France. He also explains the correct usage of ‘Huns’.

“In history class that day, their teacher talked about war.” ( page 62 )

In Richard’s room that night…

That night, Richard replies to Mr. Kilmer’s latest letter. He is encouraged because Mr. Kilmer likes his poem.

“That night, Richard sat at his desk and wrote a reply to

Joyce Kilmer’s latest letter .” (page 63)

On the farm in summer…

Richard loves school but he enjoys farming more.

“Now that he was out of school, he spent his day working

hard on the farm.”

( page 64 )

A few weeks after the end of school in summer… Richard receives Mr. Kilmer’s letter.

“A couple of weeks after the end of school, Richard received

CHAPTER 6

Early in September…

Richard and Mr. Kilmer exchange letters.

“Richard and Joyce Kilmer exchanged a handful of letters

during the summer.” ( page 68 )

In Mrs. Hansen class…

Mrs. Hansen wants the class to put on a patriotic programme to help sell Liberty Bonds to finance the war .

“This year the class would be putting on a patriotic

programme to help sell Liberty Bonds, which helped finance the war.” ( page 69 )

On the way back into school after lunch

Richard overhears Blanche telling Peggy that she is the prettiest and she will win.

“But as Richard headed back into the school after lunch, he overheard Peggy talking to Blanche.” ( page 72 )

In Mrs. Hansen’s class

Mrs. Hansen announces that Richard is the winner for the role of the Doughboy.

“On to the winners. Richard Knight, your essay was the best

CHAPTER 7

Morning in Richard’s classroom

Mrs. Hansen announces that Hannah decides to decline the role of Lady Liberty.

“Mrs. Hansen was visibly upset as she stepped in front of the

class that morning.” (page 80)

Mrs. Hansen announces that Millie Wright will be Lady Liberty and Herbie Wycinski will be the Doughboy

“Then Mrs. Hansen came into the room and announced

After school at Mrs. Hansen’s room

Richard wants to turn down the role of the Doughboy

“At the end of school day, Richard went straight to Mrs. Hansen’s room.” (page 83)

Evening at the Schermers’ house

Richard has dinner with the Schermers and talk about lots of things.

“Hannah’s parents greeted them at the front door of the neat little house behind the tavern.” (page 87)

CHAPTER 8

Night at Richard’s house

Richard tells Pa that quitting the role of the Doughboy is the right thing to do.

“Without another word, Richard’s father went into the house.”

(page 95)

Spring in Richard’s classroom

Mr. Higby tells the students that the war is becoming worse

“During the spring, the news from the front turned very bad. In

Picnic site on a grassy meadow

Richard and Hannah talk about the war. Later, Richard carves a heart and the letters R and H inside it on a big tree.

“They walked a little way along the edge of the meadow to a

CHAPTER 9

The barn

Richard and his father are cleaning the barn, Gus comes and tells his father that he has enlisted.

“Three days after the picnic, Richard and his father were cleaning the barn.” (page 107)

Early in August afternoon in Richard’s room

“One afternoon early in August, Richard came in from his farm chores….” (page 112)

The Schermer’s house

Richard stops at Hannah’s house on the way to the post office. Hannah tells him that Mr. Kilmer has died.

“The Schermer’s house was on Richard’s route. Richard decided to drop in and see if Hannah wanted to walk with him….” (page 116)

CHAPTER 10

In The Schermer’s house

Mr. Schermer gives Richard the newspaper, and he reads about how Mr. Kilmer died.

“With great compassion, the Schermer’s drew Richard into the house.” (page 117)

After writing his poem entitled “In Memory of Seargent Joyce Kilmer”, he read it to the Schermers in their parlour.

“The next day Richard went to the Schermer’s house.” (page

Richard’s favourite old oak tree

After knowing about Mr. Kilmer’s death, Richard runs all the way to his favourite oak tree.

“He did not stop running until he reached his favourite oak

tree overlooking the train tracks.” (page 120)

Mr. Garrison’s newspaper office

Hannah and Richard go to the newspaper office to give his poem.

“Hannah walked with Richard to the newspaper office.”