DEAR MR KILMER MODULE

Prepared by : Puan Noor Fazillah Bt Fisul

CHAPTER 1

The introduction of Richards family Angie, Gus, Richard and Pa.

Pa Richards father and his mother died when he was seven.
Richard, Gus and Pa went for hunting Richard misfired the buck ( has a
sense of compassion for animals)
Pa and Gus disappointed with Richard. Gus encourage Richard to involve
in sports.
Richard ignored Gus as he likes to write and read poems (this is Richards
biggest secret) and farming.
Richard wrote a poem about pa killing a buck. Richard felt that he was
different from the rest.

Chapter 2

Mrs Hansen introduced poems to the class by using Trees and Other
Poems.
The class felt poems and poets are sissy. Richard was the only one who
interested with that class.
Richard met Mrs Hansen and borrowed the book.
On his way to the class, he saw Hannah cried at the hallway because of
the words Dirty Huns on her book cover.
Richard found New York Timess address ( Kilmers address). He decided
to post letter to Joyce Kilmer after taking the address.

Chapter 3

Schermers tavern had been damaged by some irresponsible people.

To show sympathy, Mrs. Hansen asked students to sign a card. Mrs
Hansen disappointed with the students as there was only one signature
(Richards)
Richard asked the card from Mrs. Hansen as he wanted to give the card to
Hannahs family personally on his way home.
Abner and Harry wanted to have a fight with Richard but he fought back.
Richard went to Hannahs house to give the card.

Chapter 4

Richard produced many poems and choose one to be sent to Kilmer.

Mrs. Hansen suggested that Richard to share his poems with his
classmates Richard was nervous to reveal his big secret to the class.
(afraid of their reaction).
After school, Hannah apologised to Richard about her behaviour when
Richard sent the card to her house.
Hannah told Richard that they came to Iowa from Milwaukee to build a
better life, unfortunately, things turned out to be the other way round.
Hannah and family worried about Ottos safety (he has to kill his own kin
and might be killed in the warzone). Richard worried about Kilmers
safety as Kilmer now is Richards penpal.

Chapter 5

Richard shared about the content of the letters and poems between
him and Kilmer
Richard didnt like the last line of the poem as it sounded negative
(though some will surely die).
Some of his classmates felt so Hannah suggested although I wonder
why.
Richard felt relieved that his secret was known by many..
In History class, Mr Higby explained the meaning of Huns nomadic
Mongolian and didnt have any relation with present days Germans
School ended on Summer. Richard enjoyed his farming and thought a
lot about Hannah. He even composed poems about Hannah.
For Richard, Hannah smart and beautiful.

Chapter 6

Richard and Kilmer exchanged letters during that school holiday

Kilmer said that soldiers were afraid of the war.
Richard wondered if he and Gus would join the war.
School reopened. Mrs. Hansen wanted to put on a patriotic programme
for the class ( to raise funding for the army at the battlefield).
Programmes were selling Liberty Bond (raise awareness about their
independence) and essay competition.
Richard and Hannah won the essay competition and got the roles to act as
Doughboy (Richard) and Lady of Liberty (Hannah).
The whole class gave a big applause to Richard but not Hannah.

Chapter 7

A group of frowning parents went into principal room demand that Mrs
Hansen choose somebody else for the role.
Hannah turned down the role to avoid anything bad happen in the
future. Richard understood and respect Hannahs decision. As a sign of
protestation to the class, Richard turned down the role as Doughboy.
Millie and Herbie had replaced them for the roles. This gladded
Richards and Hannahs hearts.
Schermers invited Richard to have supper with them. Richard is
always welcomed to come to their house. After spending time with
Schermers, Richard walked home. Pa waited Richard at the garden swing.

Chapter 8

Pa asked Richard why he turned down the role. Richard explained that the class
was being mean to Hannah and family.
Ike told pa that Richard was being unpatriotic and supported the enemy. Pa
reminded Richard that their people helped them during they were in their hard
time and Hannahs family had only been around for a short time.
As time passed , the class isolated Richard and Richard had been very close to
Hannah.
Richard shared his letter with Hannah. In the letter, Kilmer said he was so sad that
he had to be afar from his family.
To lessen Kilmers sadness and loneliness, Hannah baked some cookies and
knitted a scarf for Kilmer.
President Wilsons Fourteen Points peace plan would help to end all wars.
Kilmer had been promoted as Sergeant
Before school ended, the whole class went for picnic. Hannah and Richard sat
together and dreamed to go to New York (multicultural environment and modern
buidings)
While craving their initials R and H on the tree, someone threw a stone craved
Dirty Hun on Hannahs ankle as a reminder of war and prejudice.

Chapter 9

Gus came home and told his father that he has been enlisted in army. He
explained to pa that he wanted to join the war to make pa proud and to do his
patriotic duty.
He told pa that he is too tough and smart to be killed.
Pa disagreed of Gus s decision and felt reluctant to let him go. Gus insisted and
went to Sioux City without pas blessing.
Richard went to Schermerss house to share his feelings about what
happened to his family.
He wrote letter to Mr Kilmer and asked how poems and poets could make the
world a better place?
Because his sense of urgency, Richard personally went to post office to send the
letter.
On his way, he met Hannah. She told Richard that Kilmer had died in the
warzone.

Chapter 10

Richard was shocked with the news. Reluctantly, he read the newspaper to know
what happened to Mr Kilmer.
The headline in the newspaper about The American Poet Killed in Battle
recounted what happened to Kilmer.
War ended in the mid-November because of President Wilsons Peace Plan
Richard wrote a poem entitled In the memory of Joyce Kilmer
Pa and Richard were finally in the good terms as they had clarified everything
(Richards passion on poem, uncle Roland who died in war)
Richards poems have been published in Turtle Lake Weekly by the help of
Hannah and her family.
Pa has been Richards consultant in producing more poems.

They lead a happy life.

Answer Layout

The novel that I have read is Dear Mr.Kilmer by Anne Schraff . The story
revolves around the life of a boy named, Richard, who loves nature and poetry
which is quite the opposite to his brother, Gus and his dad, who enjoy doing stuff
like hunting. He befriends Mr Kilmer, a famous poet and they constantly
keep contacting each other. __(question)_ is _____________(answer)___________.
Firstly__________(point no 1)____________________________________________.
(Evidence1)__________________________________________________________________.
Secondly__________(point no 2)___________________________________________.
(Evidence 2)
____________________________________________________________________________.
Thirdly__________(point no 3)____________________________________________.
(Evidence 3) _________________________________________________________________.
Based on the explanation above, I strongly agree that ___(question)_____
is _____________(answer).
Example of answer
Discrimination has no place in modern society. How far do you agree with this
statement? Support your answer with close reference to the text.
The novel that I have read is Dear Mr.Kilmer by Anne Schraff . The story
revolves around the life of a boy named, Richard, who loves nature and poetry
which is quite the opposite to his brother, Gus and his dad, who enjoy doing
stuff like hunting. He befriends Mr Kilmer, a famous poet and they constantly
keep contacting each other.I agree that discrimination has no place in modern society.
Firstly, Richard is discriminated against because of his principles and his
beliefs. He signs the card for the Schermers and as a result, becomes
unpopular in school. He does not let it bother him. Later, when he declines the
role of Doughboy, his unpopularity becomes even greater. In the modern world,
we can clearly see that Richard has done nothing wrong and has decided to act
as his conscience dictates. It is wrong to discriminate someone because of
their beliefs.
Secondly, we can also see that discrimination has no place in modern
society in the case of Schermers. They are discriminated against simply
because they are of German ancestry. Everythimg they did seemed to be wrong
or unpatriotic. They eat German food. Hannah also says that when they first
came to Milwaukee, they were accepted and everybody enjoyed their food at
first, but the war changed everything. Singing German songs also appears to

be wrong or unpatriotic., Here, discrimination is bad because there is no

substance to them being discriminated against. It is wrong to discriminate
someone because of their nationality or their ethnic background.
Discrimination also has no place in modern society because we learn to accept
different people for who they are.We understand that different people have
different interests and we need to learn to respect them for it.
Thirdly, some of the students, especially Abner Lewis discriminates
against poets because they feel that they are sissies. He forms this opinion
because his father says so. Mrs.Hansen then clears this misconception in class
by telling them of the lives of some of the poets. Even Gus tells Richard not to
let people know that he likes and writes poetry. Today, we should be open to
accepting different people who have different interests.
Based on the explanation above, I strongly agree that discrimination has no
place in modern society.

Sample questions
1. Based on the novel that you have read, write one lesson that you have learnt.
Support your answer with close reference to the text.
2. It takes all sorts of people to make the world. How far is this statement true?
Support your answer with close reference to the text.
3. Based on the novel that you have read, write about a character who faces
challenges and how the character overcame them. Support your answer with
close reference to the text.
4. People are afraid of what they dont understand. How far is this statement true?
Support your answer with close reference to the text.
5. Based on the novel that you have read, highlight one issue that our nation can
benefit from. Support your answer with close reference to the text.
6. Write about a character from the novel that you admire. Support your answer with
close reference to the text.
7. Based on the novel that you have read, what lessons did the main character learn
and how did it help that character become a better person? Support your answer
with close reference to the text.
8. Choose one theme from the novel that you have read and explain why it has
special meaning to you. Support your answer with close reference to the text.
9. Based on the novel that you have read, discuss how the minor characters teach
us valuable lessons. Support your answer with close reference to the text.
10. Write about the importance of family relationships in the novel. Support your
answer with close reference to the text.
11. Write about the determination shown by one of the characters. With close
reference from the text, explain what the character achieved through
determination.
12. Write about a character whom you respect in the novel. With close reference to
the text, give reasons as to why you respect this character.
Exercise
Identify points and/or evidence for each question.

Evidence 1

Evidence 2

Stands by her and

supports her when her
book hasPoint
been 1
scrawled
with the words Dirty
Offers support
Hun

write one lesson that you have

learnt.

Example:

Point 2of friendship

The importance

Evidence 3

Point 3