IMPORTANT EVENTS IN DEAR MR.

KILMER (Not following chronological order)

EVENTS NOTES
Hunting VS Poetry - Shows that Richard has
- Richard didn’t kill the buck because he hates different belief and
violence. principle regarding life.
PROBLEM - Gus advised him to fit in (be normal like others)
FITTING IN but Richard disagreed.
Hannah was bullied - Shows that Hannah is
- Hannah cried in the hallway because her book being discriminated only
cover was sprawled with “Dirty Hun.” because she is a German-
- Abner, Harry and Blanche badmouthed Hannah American.
because she is a German-American.
Prairie Haus was vandalised - Shows that Turtle Lake
- Mrs. Hansen wanted her students to sign a card children are prejudice
to show sympathy for the Schermers. towards German.
- Nobody signed except Richard. - Richard was firm with
his principle.
Sending the card to the Schermers - Shows that Richard is
- Richard offered to help Mrs. Hansen to deliver physically strong even
SIGN THE the card to the Schermers. though Abner called him
SYMPATHY CARD - Abner and Harry tried to stop Richard but they ‘sissy.’
were subdued by him.
Hannah and Richard became friends
- Later, Hannah apologised to Richard for being
rude to him.
- Hannah wondered why people do bad things.
- Richard explained it is because “people are
scared.” Other kids in their class did not sign the
card because they were afraid.
The poem “Tree” - Inspires Richard to write
- Mrs. Hansen read Mr. Kilmer’s poem to class. a letter to Mr. Joyce
- Abner said poems and poets are “sissy stuff.” Kilmer.
- Mrs. Hansen explained that Mr. Kilmer is brave as
he volunteered to fight for the country.
Received letter from Mr. Kilmer - Richard now has the
- Richard asked Mr. Kilmer’s advice about sharing confidence to share his
his love for poetry with others. poetry with others.
- Mr. Kilmer encouraged Richard to write and
FIRST share his poems with others.
CORRESPONDENCE Sharing his poems with his family
- Pa and Angie were indifferent.
- Gus felt disgusted. He called poetry “sissy stuff.”
- Gus warned Richard not to let others know he
writes poems because people already called him
“Hun Lover.”
Sharing his poems with Mrs. Hansen
- Mrs. Hansen was proud of Richard and helped
Richard choose a poem to send to Mr. Kilmer.
- She wanted Richard to share his poems and Mr.
Kilmer’s letters in class.
Material by: Hafizuddin bin Yahaya (SMKDSA), Kedah
 EVENTS NOTES
Richard shared his poems and letters - Some students began to
SHARING POEMS - Richard read the poem he sent to Mr. Kilmer and show respect to Richard.
AND LETTERS the latest letter received from him.
- Hannah helped improved a poem Richard wanted
to send to Mr. Kilmer.
Mr. Higby’s lesson - Shows that most people
WHAT IS HUN? - Mr. Higby told the students that American troops misunderstood the term
were arriving in France. “Huns” due to
- He explained the correct usage of “Huns.” propaganda by the Allies.
Richard helped Pa at the farm - Shows that Richard is
DURING SUMMER - Richard loved school but loved farming more. hardworking.
HOLIDAY - Richard spent a lot of time helping Pa at the farm. - Shows that Pa is
- They spent the entire days together but there reserved and distant.
was a strange barrier between them.
Essay writing contest
- There was a patriotic programme to help sell
Liberty Bonds to finance the war.
- Mrs. Hansen held an essay writing contest to
choose who will play Lady Liberty and the
Doughboy.
Richard won ‘the Doughboy’ role
- In his essay, Richard suggested to write to young
American soldiers to show support.
- Most of the students clapped but some were
disappointed.
Hannah won ‘Lady Liberty’ role - Shows how
- In her essay, Hannah talked about making peace. discrimination and
LIBERTY BONDS She said the real enemy is war itself. prejudice are widespread
INCIDENT - She suggested civilians to wage war against in Turtle Lake
prejudice and hatred and learn to accept others
regardless of caste, creed and colour.
- Abner, Harry and Peggy disliked her.
- Nobody clapped except Richard.
Declining the roles - Shows that Hannah is
- Everyone at school talked about Mrs. Hansen’s considerate
decision to choose Hannah as Lady Liberty - Shows that Richard is
- Some parents complained to the principal. thoughtful and kind
- Hannah decided to decline the role.
- Mrs. Hansen was upset to announce Hannah’s
decision. Some students were happy but Richard
was shocked.
- Richard also declined his role to show his support
for Hannah.
- After school, Richard told Gus that he was invited
to have dinner at the Schermers.
- Gus told Richard that people were calling him
unpatriotic and a traitor for declining the role.
- Gus told Richard that Pa will find out.

Material by: Hafizuddin bin Yahaya (SMKDSA), Kedah

 EVENTS NOTES
A family that appreciates arts - The Schermers are from
- Richard met Mr. and Mrs. Schermer. middle-class family,
DINNER WITH - They loved literature, history and art. unlike most people in
THE SCHERMERS - Hannah’s parents told Richard about their family Turtle Lake who are
and the stories of big cities they have visited. farmers.
- The Schermers told Richard that he was always
welcome to their house.
Ike Lewis’s accusations
- Pa told Richard that Ike Lewis complained that
Richard was siding with the Schermers by declining
the role. Ike also said Richard was unpatriotic and
hopes German will win the war.
- Richard explained the truth and defended the
Schermers against Ike’s accusations.
CONVERSATION Pa’s advice
WITH PA - Pa told Richard not to side with the Schermers.
- Pa said that they are farmers and different from
the Schermers.
- Pa reminded Richard that Ike and other folks
helped harvest their crops when he broke his leg.
- Pa reminded Richard to fit in with the community
and not to stand above everybody.
A quarrel with Pa - Shows that Gus was
- Gus told Pa he had enlisted in the army and hard-headed, hasty and
would join the war after graduation. inconsiderate.
- Pa was angry with his decision but Gus said he
won’t die because he was too tough and smart.
- Pa was offended because it sounded as if Gus
thought Uncle Roland wasn’t tough and smart.
- Pa grumbled that Gus always ran away from farm
GUS JOINED work by giving excuses (i.e. sports, war).
THE ARMY Gus left for Sioux City - Shows that Pa was
- Richard tried to calm Gus down. angry but at the same
- Gus said Pa is disappointed with him because he time worried about Gus
would never become a farmer. because he lost Uncle
- Gus was disappointed with Richard because his Roland the same way.
head is full of dream and poems.
- The next day, Gus left for Sioux City. He tried to
say goodbye but Pa remained silent.
Last letter from Mr. Kilmer - Shows that Richard is
- Mr. Kilmer was writing “The Rouge Bouquet” in curious.
the trench.
THE BIG - He advised Richard to read the works of other
QUESTION great poets and carry on their work if they die
fighting, because poets play an important part in
the world.
- Richard wanted to know what can poets and
poetry do to make the world better?

Material by: Hafizuddin bin Yahaya (SMKDSA), Kedah

 EVENTS NOTES
Richard received the news
- Richard wanted to quickly send his letter, asking
how poets and poetry can make the world better.
- He stopped at Hannah’s house.
- Hannah told Richard that Mr. Kilmer has been
killed. It was in the newspaper.
“In Memory of Sergeant Joyce Kilmer”
- Richard was sad to hear the news. Now he would
never know the answer to his question.
- Richard did not want to write another poem again
because it did not stop Mr. Kilmer from being killed,
or stop the war.
- However, he somehow wrote a poem entitled “In
Memory of Sergeant Joyce Kilmer.”
Sharing the sad poem - Shows that Richard is
- Richard wanted to share the poem but he knew Pa thoughtful and
and Angie never understood his passion in writing considerate
poetry.
- Richard shared the poem with the Schermers.
THE DEATH OF - The Schermers encouraged Richard to get his poem
MR. KILMER published in ‘The Turtle Lake Weekly’ but Richard
was afraid to make Pa angry.
Publishing the poem
- Richard and Hannah went to see Mr. Garrison, the
newspaper’s owner.
- Richard knew he was an embarrassment to Pa and
was afraid to embarrass him more.
- Richard’s poem was published a few days later.
- Richard reassured himself that Pa will not be
shocked.
Pa finally opened up
- After the farm work, Pa read the newspaper. He
asked if Richard knew about Mr. Kilmer’s death.
- Pa was not angry. For the first time, Pa talked about
Uncle Roland.
- Uncle Roland was killed in Cuba on July 1 but the
newspaper only reported, “American casualties were
slight” but to Pa, Uncle Roland was the world.
- Pa was moved by Richard’s poem because his poem
used the words Pa used when Uncle Roland died: “A
world is dead and gone!”
A happy family
- Both Pa and Richard finally understood why Richard
wrote poetry. Richard now wrote regularly for ‘The
A HAPPY Turtle Lake Weekly.’
ENDING - Pa now enjoyed Richard’s poems and even helped
to correct or give suggestions with his farming
experience.
- The whole family was amused that Gus was still
training for a war that was over.
Material by: Hafizuddin bin Yahaya (SMKDSA), Kedah
Material by: Hafizuddin bin Yahaya (SMKDSA), Kedah