Poetry of Fables, Fairies, and Fauna Fables, Fairies, and Fauna    

Lesson 37: Sleeping

by William Allingham

Performer: Librivox - Julia Layne


Do all your sleeping at night,

For then niddy-noddy is right;

But awake you must keep,

And it won't do to sleep,

In the middle of broad daylight.



The sun at the end of the day

Takes his mighty great candle away;

A curtain on high

Is drawn over the sky,

And the stars peep thro' if they may.



There's the curtain of night over all,

There's our own window-curtain so small,

And least in their size,

Over Emily's eyes

Her fringed little eyelids will fall.



She kneels at the side of her bed,

And softly her prayers are said;

Now, a kiss, my Dear;

Come, Angels, near,

And keep watch round the little one's bed.

    Poetry of Fables, Fairies, and Fauna Fables, Fairies, and Fauna    

Lesson 37: Sleeping

by William Allingham

Performer: Librivox - Julia Layne

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read or listen to the poem.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

The narrator advises the reader to sleep and night and remain awake during the day. The narrator describes nightfall and the nighttime routine of a girl named Emily.

Vocabulary

Niddy-noddy: A fool or simpleton; A child's card game; A card game.
Broad: Large in area; spacious.
Thro': Contraction of through (archaic).
Fringed: A natural border of hair or fiber.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Title, the Poet's Name, and the Poem

  • Each day this week, recite aloud the title of the poem, the name of the poet, and the poem. Instructors may need to prompt children line-by-line.

Activity 2: Study the Poem's Companion Painting

  • Study the painting below, and describe it in your own words.

Find the following in the companion painting:

  • Mother
  • Sleeping Child
  • Flame
  • Candle
  • Wick
  • Candlestick
  • Curtain
  • Pillow
  • Blanket

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

  • After reading or listening to each verse of the poem, narrate the verse events aloud using your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Poem   

  • Click the crayon above, and complete page 40 of 'Poetry Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the poem?
1 / 3

Answer 1

The title of the poem is 'Sleeping.'
1 / 3

Question 2

What happens in the poem?
2 / 3

Answer 2

The narrator advises the reader to sleep and night and remain awake during the day. The narrator describes nightfall and the nighttime routine of a girl named Emily.
2 / 3

Question 3

Who are the characters in the poem?
3 / 3

Answer 3

The narrator and Emily.
3 / 3

  1. What is the title of the poem? The title of the poem is 'Sleeping.'
  2. What happens in the poem? The narrator advises the reader to sleep and night and remain awake during the day. The narrator describes nightfall and the nighttime routine of a girl named Emily.
  3. Who are the characters in the poem? The narrator and Emily.