"The Ballad of Rumm" by Peter Wolveridge is a delightful and heartwarming poem that tells the story of a friendly dog named Rumm who unexpectedly wanders into a family's garden. Embracing the dog as their own, the family takes him in, cleans him up, and gives him the name Rumm.
As Rumm is integrated into the family, he takes on the role of a watchful guard dog, bright-eyed and alert day and night. However, Rumm's enthusiastic barking at cats, toads, cattle, and horses reveals his weak point as a guard dog: he simply loves people too much and won't bark at them.
Rumm becomes popular among the yard labourers, who feed him scraps from their lunches. Unfortunately, this leads to Rumm gaining weight with each passing day. One night, a burglar enters the garden unnoticed. Since no alarms sound and no ferocious barking occurs, the thief believes he's in the clear.
At this moment, Rumm spots the intruder and, excited for some late-night company, bolts to greet him with a wagging tail. Inadvertently, Rumm's large size and speed knock the thief down, sending him running in panic, with Rumm still joyfully chasing him and wagging his tail all the while. Unable to clear the yard gate like the fleeing burglar, Rumm instead picks up the thief's dropped wallet and returns to bed.
The next morning, the family discovers the slightly chewed wallet, and the police use it as evidence to track down and arrest the burglar. The thief's confession spreads rapidly throughout town, and Rumm becomes a local hero, lauded for bravely taking down the intruder. The yard has remained untouched ever since, with everyone knowing that Rumm stands watch, ready to deter any future robbery attempts.
In summary, Peter Wolveridge's "The Ballad of Rumm" is a heartwarming and humorous narrative of a friendly dog turned into an unwitting hero. The story emphasizes the value of love, blending humour and an uplifting tone to celebrate Rumm's unlikely rise to hero status.
The Ballad of Rumm (Section A) Unit 3 - The English Channel Coursebook - Class 8 - English
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Back Exercises - The Ballad of Rumm (Section A) Unit 3 | The English Channel Coursebook | Literature | English | Class 8
Make sentences of your own.
- like a lamb
- as deaf as a post
- as cold as ice
- as good as gold
- like gold
- as dry as a bone
- like lightning
- as cool as a cucumber
- as cunning as a fox
- The newborn baby slept peacefully, as calm and innocent as a lamb.
- Despite the loud noise, he remained oblivious, as deaf as a post.
- She stared at him with a cold stare, her eyes piercing through him like ice.
- Sarah always follows the rules and is as good as gold, never causing any trouble.
- His smile was radiant, shining like gold in the sunlight.
- After days of scorching heat, the desert became as dry as a bone, with no sign of moisture.
- The sprinter dashed across the finish line like lightning, leaving his competitors far behind.
- In the face of chaos, she remained composed and as cool as a cucumber.
- The politician was known for his cunning tactics and could outsmart anyone, as cunning as a fox.
Back Questions - The Ballad of Rumm (Section A) Unit 3 | The English Channel Coursebook | Literature | English | Class 8
‘He departed the yard he’d come in to burgle
Like a champion athlete clearing a hurdle.’
- Who is ‘he’ in these lines?
- Why did ‘he’ depart the yard?
- Why did ‘he’ depart the yard?
Like a champion athlete clearing a hurdle.’
- In these lines, 'he' refers to the burglar who entered the yard intending to steal from the family.
- The burglar departed the yard because he was frightened and overwhelmed by Rumm's sudden and unexpected appearance. Rumm had enthusiastically approached the burglar, unintentionally knocking him over and causing him to panic and flee the scene.
- The burglar's departure occurred due to the chaotic encounter with Rumm, which foiled his burglary plans and made him realize he could not complete his intended crime. His fear and urgency to escape the situation resulted in a hasty and acrobatic exit, likened to a "champion athlete clearing a hurdle."
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disappointment excitement kindness surprise
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Sign up nowQuiz - The Ballad of Rumm (Section A) Unit 3 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Vocabulary - Flashcards - The Ballad of Rumm (Section A) Unit 3 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
About the Author - The Ballad of Rumm (Section A) Unit 3 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Peter Wolveridge is a talented and well-traveled poet, originally hailing from England. Having worked as a marine engineer, Peter's career allowed him to explore many parts of the world, which greatly informed and enriched his creative writing. Now retired and enjoying life in northeast Thailand with his beloved wife and dog, Wolveridge continues to write poems and other literary works. Drawing inspiration from his own experiences, everyday occurrences, and the people he meets, his poetry is known for its relatability and warmth. Wolveridge's natural storytelling ability shines through in his works, as well as his sense of humour, making his writings enjoyable for a diverse range of audiences.
Summary - The Ballad of Rumm (Section A) Unit 3 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
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Themes - The Ballad of Rumm (Section A) Unit 3 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
1. Family and belonging:
The poem highlights the close bond between Rumm and his adoptive family. Upon discovering Rumm in their garden, the family quickly embraces him as one of their own, taking care of him and involving him in their lives as a guard dog. This theme....
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Unlock now 🔓Symbols - The Ballad of Rumm (Section A) Unit 3 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
1. Rumm: The friendly dog Rumm serves as a symbol of innocence, love, and loyalty. Despite being unfit for a traditional guard dog role, his good-natured and friendly demeanour ends up creating an unexpected hero, teaching us that love and innocence can be powerful forces in their own right.
2. The burglar: The intruder in the poem....
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - The Ballad of Rumm (Section A) Unit 3 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
1. Rhyme: "The Ballad of Rumm" features a consistent rhyme scheme (AABB), which creates a rhythmic flow and makes the poem more engaging and enjoyable to read.
2. Imagery: The poem is rich in visual imagery, painting vivid pictures through descriptions of Rumm playing with butterflies and the flurry...
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - The Ballad of Rumm (Section A) Unit 3 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Mutt (noun): a dog
My neighbor has an adorable mutt as a pet.
Amiable (adjective): having a friendly and pleasant manner
The amiable shopkeeper greeted us with a smile.
Dismay (verb): a feeling of alarm or disappointment
I felt a sense of dismay when I realized I had forgotten my homework at home.
Vicious (adjective): very dangerous; capable of evil.
The dog showed........................
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