PRESENTATION
This poem should be studied in the spring, when the dandelions are in bloom. A nature study lesson should precede the literature lesson. The pupils should be required to observe when the dandelions begin to make their appearance; at what time of the day they are most conspicuous; after what kind of night they are to be found in greatest profusion; what change occurs in the structure of the flowers as they grow older; how long a time usually elapses between the first appearance of the flowers and this change; what the white, downy part of the flower constitutes; what eventually becomes of this part.
Introduce the lesson by a brief conversation about military operations. Describe how one army tries to seize a strategic position, sometimes a hill, where the men can fix their guns and command the surrounding country. If this lesson could be presented without the pupils knowing the title (by writing the poem on the black-board, for instance), there would be the added interest of solving a riddle, namely, what the poet is describing.
What is a real "trooper band"? A band of soldiers on horseback.
And what are real "veterans"? Old soldiers who have seen much service in war.
What is actually meant by the "trooper band"? The dandelions when they first come out.
What is the phrase that suggests that they are dandelions? "Yellow coats."
What does the author actually mean by the "veterans"? The dandelions, when they have gone to seed.
What phrase suggests this? "Their trembling heads and gray."
Where did the "trooper band" make their appearance? On the hillside.
When? On a "showery night and still".
Why is such a night selected? Because it makes the dandelions bloom in great numbers.
To what is the coming of the dandelions compared? To an army taking possession of a hill.
What words tell how they came? "Without a sound of warning", "surprised", "We were not waked by bugle notes", "No cheer our dreams invaded".
Explain "surprised the hill". Marched upon it when they were least expected, and seized it.
Give the meaning of "held it in the morning". Had undisputed possession of it.
Tell, in your own words, how the dandelions came. Suddenly and unexpectedly.
How did this attack differ from a real military attack? There were no notes of the bugle or shouts of the soldiers to announce the capture of the hill.
Change "No cheer our dreams invaded" into prose order, and explain the meaning. No cheer invaded our dreams. Our sleep was not disturbed by the victorious shouts of soldiers.
How did the coats of the soldiers you have seen differ in colour from those of the dandelions?
What is the meaning of "at dawn"? The first appearance of light in the morning.
"Green slopes"? Grassy hillsides.
"Paraded"? Marched up and down.
About what time has elapsed between the incident of the first stanza and that of the second? Probably a week or thereabouts.
What deed is referred to in the first stanza? The seizure of the hill.
What is meant by "idly walking"? Without any definite purpose in view.
"Marked"? Noticed.
About what were the veterans probably "talking"? About their military exploits in years gone by.
What words are suitably used in describing these veterans? "Trembling" and "gray" suggest old age.
Arrange "their trembling heads and gray" in ordinary prose order. Their gray and trembling heads.
Why should the veterans be filled with "pride"? Because of the brave deeds they had done.
Why did they laugh? Perhaps, because of some amusing occurrences they had seen.
What characteristics of the dandelions suggest these fancies regarding the veterans? The heads of the dandelions are white. As they sway in the breeze on their slender stalks, they incline their heads toward one another in much the same way as people do in conversation.
Why is the "laughter" said to be "noiseless"? Because human beings could not be expected to hear the laughter of the dandelions.
What expression would you be likely to use, instead of "welladay"? Alas!
What is meant by "they blew away"? The seeds of the flowers were scattered far and wide.
What do you like about this poem? (1) Its charming poetic fancies. (2) The fitness of the comparisons.
Point out clearly how the appearance of the dandelions resembled a military attack, and how, in the later stage of their life history, they resembled veteran soldiers.
THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT
(Second Reader, page 56)