DEAR MR.

KILMER
 CHAPTER 2:
HOW THE WAR CHANGED TURTLE LAKE

SYNOPSIS
It was now April and the United States are at war with Germany
.One morning, Richard’s English teacher, Mrs Hansen, told the class
that a famous poet, Joyce Kilmer has just volunteered for army
service in the on going world war. She read a poem entitled ‘‘Trees’’
written by Joyce Kilmer, who worked at the New York Times
newspaper. Richard fascinated by the beauty of the simple poem.
Richard borrowed Mrs. Hansen poetry book. He also found the
address of Kilmer’s workplace and wrote it down
 CHAPTER 2:
HOW THE WAR CHANGED TURTLE LAKE

SYNOPSIS
As he was leaving school, he saw a classmate, Hannah Schermer,
the pretty German girl was crying in the hallway because someone
had scribbled ‘‘Dirty Hun’’ on her book cover. Richard told his
classmate what had happened . They felt that the Schermers are
not acceptable because they were originally from Germany. Back
home, Richard decided to contact Joyce Kilmer, he wrote a letter
to Kilmer, expressing his admiration and sharing about his own
poetry writing. He posted the letter to Joyce Kilmer at The New York
Times.
 Character and Characteristic

• Richard Knight
-Loves nature and doing farm work
-Loves poetry and begins to write to a poet who is serving in the war
-Admirer the poet and want to become like Mr. Kilmer
-Pactriotic :When the class felt poems and poets are sissy, he eas the only
one who interested with that class
-He met Mrs Hansen and borrowed the ‘‘Trees and Other Poems’’ book
-He worked hard and got excellent grades
-He was enjoying all his tenth-grade classes
 Gus
-A mediocre student, more concerned with sports and socialising than school work
 Mrs. Hansen
-She was strict but caring
-A good English teacher is introduces the poetry of Kilmer to the class

 Abner Lewis and Harry Carver

-Troublemakers : Groaned when Mrs. Hansen announced to begin a class with a
poem
 Hannah Schermers
-Richard’s classmate : Beautiful, with blue eyes and blonde hair ‘like corn silk’
-She is upset at being called a Hun, a derogatory term for Germans

 Blanche Freehold
-Responsible : sometimes he drove Richard and Gus to school in the family’s Model
T-Ford
 Important Event
-Richard decided to write to Mr Kilmer, he introduce himself and told him that he liked his
simple poems and shared about his secret poetry writing. He send the letter to the New York
Times

 Moral value
-We must be creative
-We must be brave
-We must respect for others
 QUESTION

 1)Who Richard saw after finish school?

a)Abner Lewis
b)Mrs. Hansen
c)Hannah Schermer
d)Gus
 2)What is Richard favourite subject?
a)English and history
b)History
c)Biology
d)Art
 3)What the title of poem that Mrs.Hansen read?
a)My Father is My Hero
b)The Living Photograph
c)Trees and Other Poems