Cane Story of Personification

Lesson Title: History Personified
Goals:
Students will explore a historical event from a personified perspective

Students will produce an original historical story from a personified perspective
Grade Level: 5-12

Standards: Grade-level appropriate History and Language Arts standards
Concepts: Personification
Objective:
Given a historical event, the student will write a 2-page minimum length original historical
story using personification of an object, quality, or idea.
Procedure:
1. Begin by defining the following terms:
Personify: to regard or represent an object, quality, or idea as an actual person.
Personification: a figure of speech by which an object, quality, or abstract idea is
represented as having a personal nature or human attributes.
2. Read A Canes Story as a definitive example of using personification (in this case
an object) to relate a perspective on a historical event. It is imperative that students
understand this concept before proceeding.
3. Have students choose a historical event or have them choose one from a predetermined pool of events. The former is usually the better idea to promote student
ownership in the project.
4. Using personification of an object, quality, or idea (or a combination of same),
students are to write an original story of that actual event from the personified
perspective. Stress that the event must remain accurate in terms of its underlying
facts and outcome. The goal is for students to perceive the event from a personified
perspective in such a way that it becomes very personalized.
Content:
Suggest beginning by defining personify and personification from a language arts
perspective. Before transferring the concept to a social studies perspective, tell the story
(as a story of people, not a lecture of facts) of the Sumner-Brooks Incident from the usual
historical perspective, stressing the human aspect. Proceed to read (or tell) the attached A
Canes Story. Stress the personification and also that the event itself was not altered but
only perceived from the personified perspective. Crucially note if the personified story
promotes thought-provoking historical questions about the event. Additional examples of
personified stories are recommended and may be necessary to solidify the point. This
lesson should serve as the set-up for students to then contemplate a historical event to
personify as a homework assignment. The teacher may also opt to provide a pool of
selected historical events from which to choose, but allowing students to choose their own
will promote more personal ownership in the project. It is probably not realistic to expect
students to immediately choose an event and write the project in-class.
Assessment:
The writing assignment is to have a minimum length of 2 pages, which may help promote
the necessary creative aspect. An attached 7-criteria scoring rubric and grading scale is
included. The teacher may also opt to have students read their stories to further test if
thought-provoking questions are raised.
A Canes Story
As memory serves me, it all began in the summer of 1851 when I was a small and
solitary oak tree in South Carolina. It was in late July of that year that I was summarily
chopped down. But as it turned out, that was the best thing that could have happened to
me. It took a little woodworking, but I ended up as a rather nicely looking cane, if I may be
so modest. I weighed a smartly balanced eleven ounces and freely wielded in the hands of
my new owner, U.S. Representative Brooks. Little did I realize that his hot temper would
get me in trouble.
I was later told that in 1856 Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts was giving a
speech in the senate chamber entitled The Crime Against Kansas. This tall, imposing
man was also a leading abolitionist and his rather harsh words certainly reflected his
strong beliefs on the subject of slavery. I happened to be propped up in a corner very near
to where he was standing, so I had a pretty clear view of things. One thing I certainly
noticed was that many of the other senators were just plain outraged while others were
nodding in agreement with his words. But then he blurted out something that definitely
changed the mood in the room when he condemned proslavery men as hirelings picked
from the drunken spew and vomit of an uneasy civilization. Fighting words if I ever heard
them! Now if that wasnt bad enough, he then decided to insult the entire state of South
Carolina (my home!) and in particular its Senator, the white-haired and very popular Mr.
Butler.
Perhaps Senator Sumner didnt know this (then again, maybe he did and just didnt
care), but Senator Butler was a relative of my owner, and when Congressman Brooks heard
about this, he was understandably angry and upset. Unfortunately, I was the one who
initially took the brunt of his anger: he later retrieved me from the corner, picked me up,
and slammed me onto to the floor. Good thing I was made of oak, but it sure hurt. I got
over it soon enough, but I wish I had known what was going to happen to me soon after
that.
Now ordinarily, my owner was a very gracious and gallant southern gentleman, but
he did not appreciate Sumners insults to his state and especially to Cousin Butler. The
usual recourse in circumstances like this was a duel and my owner certainly wanted one.
But he decided against it because in our part of the country duels were fought only with
ones social equals, and evidently Sumner wasnt in that category. Besides, as my owner
concluded, he probably wouldve rejected the challenge anyway.
Then it happened. On May 22, 1856, my owner walked into the senate chamber and
approached Senator Sumner, who was sitting at his desk. All of a sudden, I felt myself
hurled into the air and smashed into Sumners skull. As my owner continued to beat him, I
felt myself get weak and worn out. As the last few blows were struck, I broke in half and
after that I blacked out. When I awoke, I found myself glued together and supported by a
leather brace. Mr. Brooks tenderly returned me to the cane holder inside the front door of
his home and it was there that I recovered.
As that first month went by, there were many knocks at the door. The visitors were
admirers of my owner and came by to actually congratulate him on his actions. Several of
them even brought new canes as gifts, some of them gold-headed. Fortunately for me, Mr.
Brooks never considered replacing me. In fact, I was looked upon as something of a great
hero. But the injuries I inflicted upon Sumner were pretty serious. Im surprised I didnt
kill him. He had to leave his position in the Senate for over three years, going to Europe to
be treated for head and nerve injuries. Though he never really fully recovered, he was reelected to his Senate seat. My owner in turn resigned from his House seat but was
triumphantly re-elected in his own right. What a strange turn of events.
As I sat recovering in the cane holder, I heard many things happened. Bleeding
Sumner, as he came to be called, became a hot political issue with the situation called
Bleeding Kansas. Northerners and abolitionists became incensed by my owners actions,
calling him a coward and bully. Copies of Sumners inflammatory speech were distributed
and sold by the thousands. It became apparent to me that every time I struck Sumner, I
was actually striking thousands of Northerners. But you must further understand
something else: not all Southerners unanimously approved of my owners actions. What
really angered them was that Sumners harsh speech was so widely applauded in the North.
It all frightened me and I feared that this was the first serious step toward
bloodshed between the North and the South. My country was nearing a crossroad. Now
that I think about it, I wonder if it could have been avoided. If only Sumner had not used
such insulting language, my owner wouldnt have reacted as he did. Then again, maybe it
was just inevitable.

Cane Story of Personification

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cane Story of Personification

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cane Story of Personification

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lesson Title: History Personified

Students will explore a historical event from a personified perspective

Grade Level: 5-12

You might also like