A Bad Case of the Sneezes
by Bruce Lansky
Teachers and Other
Pests
A Poetry Anthology for BIH
Grade 7 Students
A Bad Case of the Sneezes
by Bruce Lansky
Learning Objectives
As we study this poem you will learn:
 the meaning of the poem,
 be introduced to the terms,
Stanza, Rhyme - Alternate Couplet, Line, Simile & Alliteration,
 how to read out the poem to the class,
 You will also complete some mini tasks and an exam question on
the poem.
A Bad Case of the Sneezes
by Bruce Lansky
Last night I had the sneezes.
I was really very ill.
My mother called the doctor
who prescribed a purple pill.
At eight o'clock I went to bed.
My mom turned out the light.
I used up one whole box of Kleenex
sneezing through the night.
I sneezed my brains out in my bed.
I didn't get much rest.
So that's the reason, teacher,
that I flunked the spelling test.
Last night I had the sneezes.
I was really very ill.
My mother called the doctor
who prescribed a purple pill.
At eight o'clock I went to bed.
My mom turned out the light.
I used up one whole box of Kleenex
sneezing through the night.
I sneezed my brains out in my bed.
I didn't get much rest.
So that's the reason, teacher,
that I flunked the spelling test.
A Bad Case of the Sneezes
by Bruce Lansky
Vocabulary:
Prescribed: to order the use of
a medicine.
Flunked: failed.
The Key Devices used in this poem
are:
Stanza
Rhyme - Alternate Couplet
Line
Imagery
Alliteration
1
2
3
4
Last night I had the sneezes.
I was really very ill.
My mother called the doctor
who prescribed a purple pill.
1
2
3
4
At eight o'clock I went to bed.
My mom turned out the light.
I used up one whole box of Kleenex
sneezing through the night.
1
2
3
4
I sneezed my brains out in my bed.
I didn't get much rest.
So that's the reason, teacher,
that I flunked the spelling test.
A Bad Case of the Sneezes
by Bruce Lansky
Copy the information in the Blue
Box into your Anthology booklet.
The Key Devices
Stanza
A series of lines in a poem that
are grouped together.
This poem has 3 stanzas of 4
lines.
On your copy of the poem
number the lines in each stanza
Last night I had the sneezes.
I was really very ill.
My mother called the doctor
who prescribed a purple pill.
At eight o'clock I went to bed.
My mom turned out the light.
I used up one whole box of Kleenex
sneezing through the night.
I sneezed my brains out in my bed.
I didn't get much rest.
So that's the reason, teacher,
that I flunked the spelling test.
A Bad Case of the Sneezes
by Bruce Lansky
Copy the information in the Blue
Box into your Anthology booklet.
The Key Devices
Rhyme - Alternate Couplet
Two lines that rhyme that have an
un-rhymed line between them.
On your copy of the poem
highlight the words that rhyme.
Last night I had the sneezes.
I was really very ill.
My mother called the doctor
who prescribed a purple pill.
At eight o'clock I went to bed.
My mom turned out the light.
I used up one whole box of Kleenex
sneezing through the night.
I sneezed my brains out in my bed.
I didn't get much rest.
So that's the reason, teacher,
that I flunked the spelling test.
Note:
‘sneezing through the night’ is an
Example of sound as well as visual
imagery.
A Bad Case of the Sneezes
by Bruce Lansky
Copy the information in the Blue Box
into your Anthology booklet.
The Key Devices
Imagery
Words and phrases that are used in
literature to create clear pictures in
our minds.
On your copy of the poem identify
one example of visual imagery from
each stanza.
Last night I had the sneezes.
I was really very ill.
My mother called the doctor
who prescribed a purple pill.
At eight o'clock I went to bed.
My mom turned out the light.
I used up one whole box of Kleenex
sneezing through the night.
I sneezed my brains out in my bed.
I didn't get much rest.
So that's the reason, teacher,
that I flunked the spelling test.
Note:
Alliteration adds rhythm to
a poem.
A Bad Case of the Sneezes
by Bruce Lansky
Copy the information in the Blue
Box into your Anthology booklet.
The Key Devices
Alliteration
The repetition of words close to
each other that begin with the
same sound.
On your copy of the poem
highlight the alliteration in each
stanza
Last night I had the sneezes.
I was really very ill.
My mother called the doctor
who prescribed a purple pill.
At eight o'clock I went to bed.
My mom turned out the light.
I used up one whole box of Kleenex
sneezing through the night.
I sneezed my brains out in my bed.
I didn't get much rest.
So that's the reason, teacher,
that I flunked the spelling test.
Vocabulary:
Elaborate: involving many
carefully arranged parts or
details; detailed and
complicated in design and
planning.
A Bad Case of the Sneezes
by Bruce Lansky
Meaning:
This is a humorous (funny) poem in
which a boy invents an excuse for
failing his spelling test. He tells his
teacher that he had such a bad cold
that he ‘sneezed his brains out’ and
so was unable to study for the test.
We do not know if he is telling the
truth or not, but his excuses are so
elaborate that it is difficult to
believe he is telling the truth.