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)
What does it mean to you and why?
Line(s) from the poem (include line numbers)
What does it mean to you and why?
Line 4: "Gone for selfish reasons or to fulfill their vices"
To me, this line means that fathers may be absent from their families either because they prioritize their own desires and needs over their children's or because they are driven by negative habits or addictions. It highlights the idea that some fathers may abandon their responsibilities for their own selfish reasons, which can be detrimental to their families.
Line 9-10: "They once embodied the perfect husband / But that proved too superficial, too unrealistic"
These lines suggest that the image of the perfect husband that these fathers once portrayed was superficial and unrealistic. It shows that they were unable to live up to the idealized expectations placed on them, which ultimately led to their downfall. It demonstrates the idea that societal pressures to conform to a certain image can be overwhelming and unattainable.
Line 17-18: "They were asked to provide more than bread / Each of them reached their own conclusions on how to provide"
This passage implies that being a father entails more than just financial support. The fathers in the poem were given the task of providing emotional support and guidance to their children, but they each had their own interpretations and ways of fulfilling this role. It suggests that fatherhood is not a one-size-fits-all concept and that different fathers may have different approaches to parenting.
Line 23: "Their absence imprinted on their children like tattoos"
To me, this line signifies the lasting impact that the absence of these fathers has had on their children. It suggests that their absence has not only left a physical void but has also left emotional and psychological marks on their children. The comparison to tattoos implies that these marks are permanent and will stay with the children throughout their lives.
Line 26-28: "And I hope you find peace away / And I hope you find peace someday / Peace anyway"
These lines convey a sense of longing and concern for the absent fathers. It shows that despite the pain they may have caused, the speaker still hopes that they find peace in their lives. It also reflects the complex emotions and conflicting desires that the speaker feels towards these fathers - wishing them peace but also acknowledging the hurt they have caused.