NOVEL FORM 5

DEAR MR KILMER
BY: ANNE SCHRAFF PREPARED BY: MR SHUKRI AYOB
1) WORLD WAR 1.

The first World War began as a local war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia in 1914. It grew
into a war involving 32 countries. The Allies included Britain, France, Russia, Italy and the
United States. These countries fought against the Central Powers which included Germany,
Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.
After the assassination, Austria declared war on Serbia. A few days later, Germany declared war
on Russia, then on France. As the war progressed, other countries took sides and declared war.
Finally the United States entered the war against Germany on April 6, 1917.

At first, the USA was neutral. But the Germans were sinking ships in an area around Britain (to
prevent food and supplies from reaching Britain). The Germans sank a passenger ship named the
Lusitania without warning, killing many people onboard, including 128 Americans. Later they
sank a French ship, also killing some Americans. The Germans promised to stop sinking ships
without warnings and trying to save lives. They kept their promise until January 1917. In April,
President Wilson asked Congress to declare war.

TIME SETTING
• The time zone of the story runs from around 6 April 1917 (the day the US entered
World War I) and 11 November 1918 (the day World War I ended). The time zone lasts
20 months.
• Richard’s father remembers the Spanish-American War (1898) in which his brother
fought in the US Army. Roland Knight was killed in action in Cuba.

SYNOPSIS
CHAPTER 1

1. The Knight family live on a farm near Turtle Lake in Iowa, America. One day in winter 1917,
Richard, Pa and Richard's brother, Gus, hike 5 miles to their small hunting cabin in the woods.
Richard is going to shoot his first deer the next day.
2. At dawn the next day, they follow the creek to a large pool and wait in the bushes. Richard prays
silently that no deer will come.
3. Soon, a large buck (male deer) comes to drink water. It is less than 50 feet away. Richard can shoot it
but he purposely misses it.
4. Their father tells Gus to unload his gun and go back to the hunting cabin to pack all the things. He
wants to talk to Richard.
5. Richard's father asks Richard why he deliberately missed shooting the deer. Richard tells him that he
has no right to kill it. It is painful and he feels sad to kill an animal.
6. Their father tells Richard not to go hunting anymore if he dislikes it. He then asks Richard to help Gus
in the cabin.

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7. In the hunting cabin, Gus advises Richard to fit in with other people and be active in sports to be
popular. He also tells him to try out for baseball and get over his dislike for hunting to make their
father proud of him.
8. Richard cannot understand why his father thinks that hunting is important and why his father is sad
that he cannot kill animals.
9. Richard recalls the day when his grandfather shot and killed a deer. He was only eight years old
then, but he has felt sad about it all these years. He writes a poem about it and feels a little better.

My crayons made it white and brown.

Nature made it shy.
God made it fleet of foot.
But Grandpa made it die.

10.Richard locks up the poem with all the other poems he has written in his drawer. Nobody knows he writes
poetry. He keeps it a secret because as it is, people think he is strange.

CHAPTER 2

1. In April 1917, America declares war on Germany. Americans will join the fighting in France.
2. It is spring. Richard is in tenth-grade. One day, Richard's teacher Mrs. Hansen reads a poem, "Trees" by
Joyce Kilmer, to the class. Mr. Kilmer is a famous poet who works for "The New York Times".

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

3. Abner Lewis grumbles that the poem and the poet are sissy. Mrs. Hansen explains that Mr. Kilmer has
volunteered to fight for America although he is a poet. She then gives examples of poets who died
fighting for their country and poets who were bigger troublemakers than Abner to shut him up.
4. Mr. Kilmer is Richard's new hero because he is a poet who feels about nature like him and he is
brave to fight overseas for America.
5. Richard borrows Mr. Kilmer's book "Trees and Other Poems" from Mrs. Hansen. He also writes down
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 the address of the office of the editor for "The New York Times" in his notebook.
6. After school, Hannah Schermer cries in the hallway because someone has scrawled "Dirty Hun" all
over her book cover. Richard tells some of his schoolmates like Abner, Harry Carver and Blanche
Freebold about it, but they are mean to her and her parents. They say that the Schermers are Huns
and they are unpatriotic because they speak German and serve Hun food at their tavern while a war
is going on against Germany.
7. Richard reads Mr. Kilmer's poetry book in his room and writes a letter to him about his fears and
problems. He tells Mr. Kilmer that he is alone and asks him if he should keep hiding his poems or
tell everyone about them.

CHAPTER 3

1. Mrs. Hansen tells the class that someone has painted terrible things all over the walls of the
tavern owned by Hannah's parents. She asks the class to sign a card that she bought to express regret
for what has happened.
2. The troublemakers like Abner, Harry, Blanche and Peggy Mason refuse to sign the card, and they
gang up to warn the others not to sign.
3. Only Richard dares to defy them and sign the card. All the boys are afraid Abner and Harry will beat
them up. The girls worry that Peggy and Blanche, who are popular, will not speak to them.
4. After school, Richard takes the card from Mrs. Hansen to give it to Hannah. The two bullies, Abner and
Harry, fight with Richard. Richard kicks Harry in the stomach and is about to box Abner. Abner pleads
not to box him and promises to leave him alone. Then Richard walks away.
5. On the way, Richard writes a message in the card and sees Hannah at her tavern. The hurtful words
"DIRTY HUNS!" are painted all over the wall. Richard gives the card to Hannah. She is angry but
takes it reluctantly.
6. Richard had written in the card that lots of people in Turtle Lake respect them and would not do
such an awful thing. But now, he is not sure if many people in Turtle Lake really respect them.

I just want to say that I’m awfully sorry about what happened. Please don’t judge our town by a
few stupid hooligans. There are lots of people here who respect your family and would never do
such a thing. I think you are fine citizens of Turtle Lake – and very fine Americans.

7. On the way home, Richard climbs his favourite oak tree overlooking the train tracks. He sees
many happy people getting into it. He wishes he could go far away so that he would not be bullied
for what he believes in. But he thinks of his family and walks home.
8. As Richard approaches his house, Angie gives him a letter from New York.

CHAPTER 4
1. Richard reads Mr. Kilmer's letter in his room. He is now training to be a soldier. He advises Richard to
overcome his fear and share his poetry with people around him.
2. Over dinner, Richard asks Angie to read Mr. Kilmer's letter aloud. She reads it but nobody seems
interested. Gus does not believe that Mr. Kilmer is famous, and Pa does not believe that Richard
writes poetry.
3. Richard asks his family members if they want to read his poems, but nobody is interested. Pa tells
him not to let poetry interfere with his farm chores and schoolwork. Richard then goes up to his
room sadly.
4. Gus comes into the room and advises Richard not to tell anyone he writes poetry. He wants Richard to
fit in with people because everyone is calling him a Hun lover after he signed the card for Hannah.
5. The next day after school, Richard tells Mrs. Hansen that he writes poetry and shows her Mr.
Kilmer's letter. Then Mrs. Hansen helps him to choose a poem on a thunderstorm to send to Mr.
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 Kilmer. She also wants Richard to share some of his poems and Mr. Kilmer's letters with the class
when he is ready.

6. As Richard leaves the school, Hannah apologises to him for being rude. She knows that he is the
only one who signed the card. She informs him that some of her neighbours painted over those
awful words and promised not to let it happen again. She also tells him that her brother, Otto, has
joined the American Army. She and her family are worried that he may be killed and he may have
to kill his own cousins.
7. On his way home, Richard climbs his favourite old oak tree. He notices the train full of soldiers
laughing and smiling. He wonders why they are not worried about the danger and hardship that they
will be facing. Then he thinks about Otto and Mr. Kilmer and feels sad.
8.
CHAPTER 5

1. Richard shares Mr. Kilmer's latest letter with his class and his poem on a thunderstorm. Then he reads
the poem on the troop train which he plans to send to Mr. Kilmer. Now, Blanche, Peggy and a few other
students look at Richard with newfound respect.

The train is full of soldiers

Going off to war.
The thunder of its wheels
Is like a cannon’s roar.
             I see the young men’s faces
As the train goes swiftly by.
I see that they are smiling,
Through some will surely die.

2. Richard tells the class that he would like a different ending for his poem on the troop train, but he cannot
think of one. Hannah suggests changing it to, "Although I wonder why?"
3. Mr. Higby, Richard's history teacher, talks about the war in the class. He corrects Abner and Peggy when
they refer to the Germans as Huns. He tells the class that the Germans are not Huns and explains that Huns
are nomadic, Mongolian horsemen who controlled much of Europe.

#The origin of the term was Attila the Hun, the barbarian leader of Hunnic Empire that terrified Rome in the fifth century and

who became the symbol of the dark ages that followed the collapse of Roman civilisation.

It became applied to Germany after a notorious speech by Emperor Wilhelm II in 1900, when he bade farewell to German

soldiers sailing to China to put down the Boxer Uprising - and urged them to be ruthless, and to take no prisoners.

"Just as 1,000 years ago, the Huns made a name for themselves, so shall you establish the name of Germans in China for 1,000

years, in such a way that a Chinese will never again dare to look askance at a German," he said.

The epithet stuck after it was used by Kipling in his 1914 poem, "For All We Have and Are".

4. That night, Richard writes a letter and sends his poem on the troop train to Mr. Kilmer. He also tells him
that the last line in that poem is suggested by his friend.
5. That year, Pa has extra corn to sell and makes a profit. Richard enjoys working with Pa, but there is still a
barrier between them. He notices that Pa sometimes gazes with a sad and haunted look.
6. That night, Richard writes a poem about Pa, but he may not share it with him.

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7. A few weeks later, Mr. Kilmer writes to Richard that he volunteered to fight in this last war so that
young people like him need not fight and die anymore. He also likes Hannah's last line for Richard's
poem.
CHAPTER 6

1. Throughout summer, Richard and Mr. Kilmer exchange letters. Richard always sends a poem with
his letters, and Mr. Kilmer praises it or makes suggestions to improve it.
2. In early September, Mr. Kilmer arrives in France. He says that the soldiers are frightened. The
newspapers report that the war will continue and combat in the trenches are getting more brutal.
3. When school starts again, Mrs. Hansen wants the class to put on a patriotic programme to help sell
Liberty Bonds to finance the war. She will play the piano and the class will sing war songs. The class
also has to write an essay. The writers of the two best essays will be Lady Liberty and the Doughboy.
Mrs. Hansen explains that the essay writing contest is not a popularity or beauty contest.
4. A few days later, Mrs. Hansen announces that Richard is the Doughboy with his idea of writing letters to
soldiers overseas. Hannah's essay about making peace wins her the part of Lady Liberty, but many of the
students are angry because they consider her an unpatriotic German although she is an American
citizen.
"President Wilson said that America's goal in this war is 'peace without victory'. But what does that mean? How can a
war end without one side winning and the other side losing? How can there be peace without victory?
"I think I understand what Mr. Wilson means. The enemy in this war is not Germany or the Central Powers, but war itself. The
President wants us to understand that America and the Allies are fighting for one very important reason. We don't want war to
be waged ever again.

"Millions of soldiers have already sacrificed their lives for this great cause. Who knows how many more will die? Many
of us in this room have friends and relatives who have bravely chosen to risk their lives. My own dear brother, Otto, is among
them. "What kind of America will they come home to when this war is over? How will they feel to have fought a 'war to end
wars', only to see the seeds of hate and war in the eyes of their own loved ones? Will they feel that their suffering has been for
nothing? "We must make peace right here at home. We must battle our own prejudices and hatred. We must learn to care about
one another, despite our differences in race, religion, or nationality. "We civilians must learn to wage peace in our own hearts
—not just in Turtle Creek, but throughout the world. Then Mr. Wilson's precious 'peace without victory' will have been won.
And our boys will not have fought and died in vain."

5. Only Richard dares to defy Abner and Harry and clap for Hannah's excellent essay.

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 A Liberty Bond is a war bond
CHAPTER 7 issued in the USA during World
War 1. The US Government named
1. Everyone in school is angry that
them "Liberty Bonds"Mrs.inHansen chose
an attempt
Hannah as LadytoLiberty.
appeal Some parentspatriotic
to people's complain to the
duty;
principal and demand that she chooses somebody else,
but Mrs. Hansen buying
does nota bond
backwas
down.helping to
secure the country's liberty. In fact,
FACTS: The Statue of Liberty is a gift from the people
Liberty Bondsof France
had onlyto the people of the United
limited
States, was designed by French sculptor Frédéric
success, Auguste
despiteBartholdi and built
a massive by Gustave Eiffel. The
publicity
Statue of Liberty is a figure of a robed woman representing Libertas, a Roman liberty goddess. The
campaign. Many countries issued
statue became an icon of freedom and of the United States.
war bonds. Their purpose was
primarily to raise money to finance
2. Hannah declinesmilitary
the role operations
of Lady Liberty. When
but they Richard
also
asks her why, she
gave civilians the opportunity making
tells him that her essay on of
peace has started
contributing to the war effort. adds
a little war in Turtle Lake. She
that there is already too much fighting in the world
and she should not cause any more pain or problems.
3. After school, Richard tells Mrs. Hansen that he
declines his part as the Doughboy. He wants to support Hannah. Besides, he does not want people to
think that he is also mean to Hannah like the other students.
4. The next day, Mrs. Hansen tells the class that Richard does not want to be the Doughboy. She
announces that the new Miss Liberty is Millie Wright and Herbie Wycinski is the new Doughboy.
After that, Richard has to endure insults thrown at him throughout the day.
5. During lunch break, Hannah invites Richard to her house for supper. Richard tells Gus in school to
inform their father and Angie that he will not be home for dinner.
6. Gus tells Richard that all the students are saying that he is unpatriotic, he is a traitor and he wants
Germany to win the war. He warns Richard that everybody in Turtle Lake will be talking about it
and soon, their father will know about it.
7. After school, Richard walks with Hannah to her house. He and the Schermers talk about the poets they
like. Over dinner, Mr. Schermer talks about all kinds of things about literature, history and art.
Hannah and her parents describe the great cities they have visited and Milwaukee, where
Hannah was born, to Richard. He is impressed and fascinated.
8. After dessert, Richard listens to Beethoven's music. (Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and
pianist) He enjoyed the dinner and the Schermers' company. It is dark when he reaches home. His
father is waiting to talk to him at the porch.

CHAPTER 8

1. As they sway on the swing, Richard's father asks why he turned down his part of the Doughboy.
Richard explains that Hannah won the essay-writing competition fairly to be Miss Liberty but
everybody ganged up on her. He found that unfair and declined the role.
2. Pa tells him that Abner's father, Ike Lewis, complained about him. According to Ike, Richard
declined the role in school to side with the Schermers, he is unpatriotic and he wants the
Germans to win the war. Richard tells Pa that the Schermers are patriotic, they want the Allies to
win and their son, Otto, is an American soldier fighting in France with the Allies.
3. Richard's father advises him not to side with the Schermers against the rest of the community

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 as they are different. He reminds Richard that their ancestors farmed on this land and have been
here longer than the Schermers. Besides, Ike and the other folks helped to harvest their crops when
he broke his leg three years ago. Richard thinks that his father is unfair and wrong to talk like
that about the Schermers.
4. Most of the students ignore Richard for declining the role of the Doughboy. He does not care about
it. Whenever he is lonely, he visits the Schermers. They understand his dreams and longings. He
shares Mr. Kilmer's letters with them too, and he even reads his poetry to them.
5. In early January, Richard shares Mr. Kilmer's sad letter with the Schermers. He finds it hard to
spend Christmas away from his family, and he misses the woods. Hannah bakes cookies with nuts
and raisins and Mrs. Schermer knits a scarf to cheer him up. Richard sends them to him with his
next letter. Mr. Kilmer writes back that he likes the delicious cookies and the warm comforting
scarf.
6. In spring, Mr. Higby tells the class the bad news. The Germans have bombarded Paris and forced a
British retreat. Mr. Kilmer writes that he and his comrades are living in trenches which are like
coffins. In another letter, Mr. Kilmer says that he is now a sergeant. He also describes nature and the
"gutter babies" begging for handouts at the mess line.
7. In late May, the Allies are victorious after American troops push back the Germans marching
along the Marne River in France. All the students cheer and sing.
8. On the last day of school, the students have a picnic on a grassy meadow about a mile away.
Hannah is Richard's date. They sit under a large tree and eat the food that her mother prepared. Hannah
describes the tall buildings and people in New York as well as East Side to him.

9. Suddenly, Hannah thinks about her brother and feels sad. Richard too, is worried about Mr.
Kilmer and his brother, who wants to enlist in the Army.

10. Then Richard takes Hannah to a big oak tree on which many couples carve their initials in its
trunk. Richard carves a heart and the letters R and H inside it with his pocket knife. Suddenly, he
hears Hannah groaning and sees that her ankle is bleeding.
11.Someone has thrown a stone at Hannah or shot it from a slingshot at her. Richard picks up the stone
and sees the word "Hun" written on it.

CHAPTER 9

1. After graduation, Gus tells his father that he has enlisted. His father is shocked and unhappy.
2. Gus tells his father not to worry as he is too tough and smart to be killed. His father is angry and
grumbles that Gus always runs away from farm work with excuses like sports and now, the war. He
is actually afraid of losing Gus in the war like his brother.
3. Gus walks away, frustrated. Richard tries to calm him, but Gus tells him that their father is disappointed
with both of them. He will not be a farmer, and Richard is always dreaming and thinking of
poems.
4. The next morning, Gus rides to Sioux City with his friend to catch the next troop train. His father
remains silent, and Richard worries that he may never see Gus.
5. Summer is good with a lot of crops for Richard's father. But, Richard is not happy working with him
because he is silent and bitter now Richard confides in Angie about their father but she tells him
that he is just worried about Gus and he is not the talking type.
6. For relief and comfort, Richard visits the Schermers whenever he can and writes poetry. In July, he
sends a new poem to Mr. Kilmer.
7. In August, Richard receives Mr. Kilmer's reply. He writes that he misses his family and his comrades
are dying in the trenches. He is writing a poem titled "The Rouge Bouquet", which may be his best. He
also encourages Richard to read the works of great poets and continue writing poetry when poets like

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 him die fighting because poets are important in this world.
8. Richard writes back to Mr. Kilmer that he will never give up writing poetry. He also asks Mr.
Kilmer what poets and poetry do to make the world better.
9. Richard wants to mail his letter right away at the post office. On the way, he stops at Hannah's house. She
tells him that Mr. Kilmer has died, but he is too shocked to cry.
CHAPTER 10
1. Mr. Schermer gives Richard the newspaper. Richard reads how Mr. Kilmer was killed. The Allies and
the Germans were fighting when Sergeant Kilmer crossed a small hill looking for German machine
nests. Suddenly, a bullet from a German sniper struck his head and killed him immediately. Richard
cannot cry in front of the Schermers.
2. Richard runs to his favourite oak tree. He climbs to the highest branch and sobs. He is frustrated that
poetry could not prevent Mr. Kilmer from being killed and it could not stop this war from happening.
He does not want to write another poem, but he is already thinking of the verses for the next poem.
3. Richard goes home and writes his tribute to Sergeant Joyce Kilmer. He wants to share it with the
Schermers because only they understand his friendship with Mr. Kilmer and his passion to write
poetry.
4. The next day, Richard reads his poem to the Schermers. Mrs. Schermer suggests that he get his poem
printed in "The Turtle Lake Weekly'; the local newspaper. Richard is afraid that his father would be
furious with him when he knows about it.
5. The Schermers persuade Richard to send his poem to the newspaper office immediately. Richard gives
his poem to Mr. Garrison, the newspaper's owner. He tells Hannah that he is afraid to embarrass his
father further and make him mad.
6. A few days later, Richard is amazed to see his tribute to Mr. Kilmer in the middle of page 3A. He tries
to tell his father about it so that he will not be shocked, but he just cannot say anything. After the farm
work, Richard's father looks at the newspaper and asks Richard if he knows that Mr. Kilmer has died.
Richard says he does and quickly goes to his bedroom. He worries that his father will be angry when
he sees his poem.
7. Then Richard's father comes into his room with the newspaper and talks about his brother, Roland,
to him. He died fighting in Cuba on July 1. A major newspaper wrote that American casualties were
slight in that war. Richard's father has been very upset because to him, Roland was the world and
not a slight casualty.
8. Richard's father sobs that he kept repeating, "A world is dead and gone!" when Roland was buried. Richard
comforts him. He is amazed how Richard could use the same words in his poem. Now, both Richard
and his father understand why he writes poems.
9. In mid-November 1918, the war ends when the Allies win. Richard shows the Sioux City newspaper
after school to Angie and his father. They read the news and laugh because Gus is still training hard for
a war that is over. Gus and Otto are safe. Anti-German feelings will still continue, but they will not
last forever without a war.
10.Winter approaches and Richard goes to school. He works on the farm and visits the Schermers too
whenever he can. His poems are a regular feature in "The Turtle Lake Weeldy". They are mainly about
farm life, so he gets his father's help as he is an experienced farmer. Every night, Richard reads his poems
aloud for him to correct or give suggestions to improve them. For the Knight family, all has ended
well.

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