Making Inferences Thinksheet
Inner Voice Sheet: “Gift-Wrapped Fathers”
Read the poem “Gift-Wrapped Fathers,” which starts on page 253. Record the conversation happening in your mind as you read. If you catch your mind wandering or if you get confused, assign yourself one idea to pay attention to or try to find the exact word or line that distracted you. Here are all the ways you can ground your thinking:
Make a connection to someone you know personally
Judge a character’s actions: was the character right, wrong, or somewhere in between?
Make a connection to something you already knew, either through life or through another class
Any image or metaphor that stands out to you!
Write down the line and what it means to you!
Line(s) from the poem (include line numbers)
Conversation happening in my mind:
Line 1: "These men who curl themselves around their children"
Connection to someone I know personally: This line reminds me of my own father who is very affectionate and protective of my siblings and me. He always makes sure we feel loved and supported.
Line 5: "The child within the man placed in the heart"
Connection to something I already knew: This line reminds me of the idea that every adult still has a childlike part within them. It's important to nurture that childlike spirit and not lose touch with the sense of wonder and joy.
Line 9: "They live in corners of the heart, gossamer and thin"
Image/metaphor that stands out: The image of fathers living in corners of the heart, described as gossamer and thin, suggests that their presence is delicate and ethereal. It makes me think about how fathers can be both physically present in our lives but also have an emotional impact that lingers in the corners of our hearts.
Line 14: "The cobweb of intergenerational love bisects the air"
Connection to something I already knew: This line emphasizes the bond between generations and how love can transcend time. It reminds me of the love passed down from my grandparents to my parents and then to me. It's a reminder of the interconnectedness of family and the power of love to bridge the gaps between generations.
Line 19: "But every father is something excepted and also repeated"
Judge a character's actions: This line suggests that fathers are not perfect and make mistakes but also have qualities that make them special and distinct. It makes me reflect on the complexities of fatherhood and the mix of strengths and flaws that make up a person.
Line 25: "Each generation different, but still the same"
Connection to something I already knew: This line highlights the paradox of each generation being unique but still inheriting traits and characteristics from their fathers. It reminds me of the phrase "like father, like son" and how we can see echoes of previous generations in ourselves and our behaviors.