McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson XXVI · Part 3: Ballads, battles and Abou Ben Adhem
32. Abou Ben Adhem, by Leigh Hunt
Goal: Your child reads and memorizes Leigh Hunt's short poem and explains its message about love of God and love of others.
You'll need
- The book, open to this lesson
- A notebook and pencil
What's in the book
A short poem in which Abou Ben Adhem sees an angel writing the names of those who love the Lord, and asks to be written as one who loves his fellow men. A note about Leigh Hunt comes first and a note about the poem follows.
The lesson, step by step
About the author
The book says James Henry Leigh Hunt was born in England to a father who had practiced law in Philadelphia before the Revolution. He wrote verses as a boy, edited newspapers, and was imprisoned for two years for writing disrespectfully of the prince regent. In prison he was visited by the poets Byron, Moore, Lamb, Shelley and Keats.
A note on the poem
Read the note after the poem:
The above selection is written in imitation of an Oriental fable.
SayWhat is a fable? What does Oriental mean here? (From the East.)
Read aloud
Read it through slowly, then your child reads it.
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
An angel writing in a book of gold.
Talk about it
SayWhat was the angel writing? What did Abou ask?
Say"Write me as one that loves his fellow-men." Why did this answer matter so much?
SayWhat happened the next night?
SayWhat is the poem saying about loving God and loving people?
Memorize
This short poem is a good one to learn whole. Start with the first four lines this week and add a few more each day. Its last line:
And, lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.
Write (optional)
Write a short note explaining the poem to someone younger.
Afterwards
Keep working on the poem until your child can say it all.