Tuesday, February 28 The Gambler

Learning Targets: I can cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.
I can determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text.
I can determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings;

Coming up: vocabulary quiz Friday.

In class: we are listening to the song "The Gambler"; you

 have a copy of the lyrics (handout below).  Please be 

prepared to explain the metaphor behind the lyrics in a well-

written paragraph.  These will be collected at the end of 

class. 

The Gambler

Songwriters: BRADLEY, ROBERT/NEHRA, MICHAEL/NEHRA, ANDREW/FOWLKES, JEFF

When we have finished, please respond to the following in a well-written paragraph of approximately 150 words. Blue or black pen only!

Begin with a MLA heading.

Read over the lyrics to The Gambler and explain the 

extended metaphor. Use specific text from the song to

 support your response within your sentences.

What is an extended metaphor? The term extended metaphor refers to a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem. It is often comprised of more than one sentence and sometimes consists of a full paragraph.

On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,

I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.

So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness

'Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.

He said, "Son, I've made my life out of readin' people's faces,

And knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.

So if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.

For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."

So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.

Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.

And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.

Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,

Know when to walk away and know when to run.

You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.

There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

Now Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'

Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.

'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,

And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."

So when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,

Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.

And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.

But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,

Know when to walk away and know when to run.

You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.

There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

Chorus

Vocabulary- quiz on Friday, March 3

1       1.  promiscuous- (adj) a person having many transient relationships

            2.   garret- (noun)attic room

            3.   slovenliness-(adj) marked by negligence

            4.  cupidity- (noun) greed

        5. maxim-(noun) saying

             6. to augur- to portend or foretell

             7. rumpus- noisy disturbance or commotion

  

             8.  perambulate- to walk

             9.  hegira   - a flight to escape danger

             10.  turpitude- moral depravity