So Big
by Max Fatchen (Mulberry)
The Poem :
"The dinosaur, an ancient beast,
I'm told, was very large.
His eyes were as big as tennis balls,
His stomach was bigger than a garage.
He had the biggest humping back,
A neck as long as Friday
I'm glad he lived so long ago
And didn't live in my day!"
Summary of the Poem :
The poet has been told that dinosaurs were large animals who lived thousands of years ago. They had eyes like tennis ball and stomach bigger than a garage. They had huge curved back like that of a camel. Their necks were like that of the never ending Fridays. The poet becomes scared. He is glad that the dinosaurs lived so long ago and are not alive in this present day.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
1. Choose the right answer.
a. The poet knows that dinosaurs were very large because
i. he has one in his garage. [ ]
ii. he has been told they were big. [✓]
iii. ha has seen the biggest one. [ ]
b. The parts of the dinosaur described in the poem are
i. eyes, legs, stomach and neck. [ ]
ii. eyes, stomach and neck. [ ]
iii. eyes, stomach, back and neck. [✓]
c. The poet would
i. like to see a dinosaur. [ ]
ii. like to have a dinosaur in his garage. [ ]
iii. not like to see a dinosaur. [✓]
2. Read these lines and answer the questions that follow.
"The dinosaur, an ancient beast,
I'm told, was very large.
His eyes were as big as tennis balls,
His stomach was bigger than a garage."
a. Why is the dinosaur called an 'ancient beast'?
= The dinosaur called an 'ancient beast' because they lived thousands of years ago.
b. How big were the dinosaur's eyes?
= The dinosaur's eyes were as big as tennis balls.
c. What is the dinosaur's stomach compared to?
= The dinosaur's stomach is compared to a garage.
3. The poet says the dinosaur's neck is 'as long as Friday'. Do you think that Fridays are long?
= The poet says the dinosaur's neck is 'as long as Friday'. I think that Fridays are long. We know that the next days i.e. Saturday and Sunday are holidays. We become eager to get holidays soon. That is why Fridays seem very long. It seems that Friday is not ending.
4. What is the poet glad about? Why do you think this thought makes him glad?
= The poet is glad that the dinosaurs lived so long ago and are not alive in this present day.
I think the poet is scared of dinosaurs. He is frightened just listening the description of that ancient animal. This is why the poet is glad.
About the Poet :
Max Fatchen (1920-2012) was an Australian journalist. He wrote several books for children such as A Paddock of Poems and The Country Mail is Coming. He also received many awards for his works.