Good morning Year 5,
I hope you have been reading many books while being at home. I am currently reading ‘The Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind’ which I am finding super interesting and mindblowing! It’s not a children’s book and I am sure you would find it pretty boring but I am really enjoying learning about a scientific viewpoint of where we (humans) came from and how we became so smart!
What are you reading? Please share what you have been reading on our Class Reading Blog.
Today’s English focus is: Reading (Comprehension).
For today’s reading activity I would like you to read the text at the bottom of this blog entry and to answer some questions in the comment section. The printable version can be found here: POG Prologue_printable
Here are some questions to think about while we explore this text:
In your yellow book, jot down any adjectives or phrases you come across while reading the prologue.
Prologue comes from the Greek term prologos, which means “before word,” is an opening of a story that establishes the setting, and gives background details. Generally speaking, the main function of a prologue tells some earlier story, and connects it to the main story.
After you have read the Prologue at the bottom, please write a description of POG in the comment section. What kind of creature is he?
Challenge:
Find and copy one word that describes Pog. Explain your answer using evidence from the text.
We look forward to reading your responses!
Mrs Avdiu and Ms Robertson
Hello Mrs Avdiu and Ms Robertson, I hope you had a wonderful Easter Holidays. I had my birthday on the 15th and it was wonderful!
I think Pog is a and furry creature who has a big heart. He patrols their attic but does get quite lonely. He is alone pretty much all the time and is not allowed to show himself to anyone. He is a kind-hearted animal who is loyal to what he does. He has a good sense of smell and is very stealthy.
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their day!
Hi Elsa
Happy belated birthday for the 15th ??I’m glad you had a wonderful time!
Hi Elsa. Happy belated birthday! I
hope you had a wonderful time.
Thanks for your predictions about who/what Pog is! It’s very interesting that you assume he is an animal! What makes you think this?
POG…
I think that Pog shows both human and animal characteristics, therefore I would say that he is a cross between a human and an animal. Through the text we learn that Pog can wield a sword, talk and suck his thumb, he has feelings which are all human traits. We also learn that he has hackles, good night vision (like a cat), he is furry, and has the uncommon physical agility which allows him to shimmy up a drainpipe; these are all animal traits.
Pog refers to himself as belonging to the ”first folk” which could be an animal tribe who over a period of time progressed to talking but never fully developed into human kind. In fact Pog regards humans as a separate thing referring to them as tall men.
Challenge:
The word describing Pog is furry.
Thank you so much for your very detailed answer which makes excellent references to the text!
Pog is a stealthy and mysterious creature that lurks in and patrolles the attic of a house.He is a furry and lonely animal that is extremely loyal to what he does even though he is alone all the time. He is forbidden to show anyone what kind of creature he really is and is very unfortunate because the family is leaving the house two weeks but he doesn’t know it. When the family leave he will be completely alone when patrolling the empty and dusty attic until they return.
One word that describes Pog in the text is furry. We know he is furry because the girl says “ you are all furry “ and Pog responds Pog is of the first folk we’s all furry.
Yes, I think the reference to his fur implies he is an animal too. I can’t wait to read on…
Hello Mrs Avdiu and Ms Robertson I hope you are all having a great time. I think Pog is a furry creature that always does what he is told and hates doing the wrong thing. Although he respects his job but he also loves helping people to and he doesn’t know which to do sometimes, to help people or to follow the rules in his job. I think Pog would love to have a friend because he is always very lonely doing nothing but roaming around in the dark and I think that would be very boring doing it by myself.
Hi Claudia. I am very well, thank you. How are you?
Thanks for your inferences about Pog. Please could you refer to the text and explain why you think he ‘hates doing the wrong thing’ or how you know that ‘he always does what he is told’?
Prediction
I predict that by the title POG that there is a creature called POG. I think that because pog sounds like a monster/creature name.
I think pog is a furry creature. I picture him as being a small. He is very friendly but scared to talk to people. I also think pog has a great sense of smell.
That’s really interesting because I also imagined Pog to be small even though the author doesn’t reference size from the beginning. What makes you think he is small? Can you refer to the text to explain?
Hello every one !!!!!
POG …
I think the story is about an animal called “Pog”, who meets a human in the forest . When Pog came to see what was there, the human shouted and ran away in the bush. I think that Pog will get him and will show him he is friendly and that he just wants a friend. I also think the human will say “yes” and will show him to the village . When the village will see him, they will be frightened by the beast . The villager will explain everything . At the end they will accept him and they will be all together for the end of time !!!!
The characters are:
*a girl with dark curly hair
* grand – father
*Pog
The main character (hero of the story ) is Pog .
CHALLENGE :
The word to describe POG is furry
Thanks for your predictions Violette!
Hello Mrs Avdiu
I hope you are having a great day!
I think that Pog is a very mysterious and peculiar creature who is very lonely. I think that evidence in the text eg. He is furry and has a great sense of smell makes me assume he is an animal but he also shows some human characteristics. Many humans cannot shimmy up drainpipes and because Pog can, I think that it is clear he is not a human.I think that Pog is very lonely up in the attic and he really hates his job but he is loyal and does not like making people feel upset even if it means he sacrifices his time and happiness in this case. Pog definitely has a big heart and all he wants to do is to help people and be their friends but he knows that he has a job and the responsibility of guarding the attic and he doesn’t want to break any rules .Pog is also very unfortunate because his family have abandoned him in the attic and he is forbidden from going anywhere.
I hope you enjoyed reading my opinion on Pog and I hope you are all well.?
Erin, I really like your comparisons to humans – this does indeed help us to somehow understand what kind of creature Pog is.
Thank you!
I think POG is a furry little creature who is lonely without anyone in the attic of the girl’s house. I think he is waiting for the little girl he helped in the woods. He also probably has a great sense of smell because it says in the text that he can smell a human.
The word to describe POG is furry.
Fantastic inferences to the text, Gabi! Which words or phrases make you think he is ‘lonely’?
Pog is a stealthy and mysterious creature who patrols around an attic inside a family’s house. Lonely in the house, Pog is a very obedient and he is very sad to see the girl leave. He calls people ‘tall man’ and he refers himself to belonging to the ‘old folk’.
A word to describe Pog is furry.
Fantastic summary of what you have inferred about the character from a very short prologue. Thank you!
Hi I hope everyone is well.
I think Pog is a fictional or magical creature that looks like a mole but has human characteristics (I think the front cover influenced my view point). He is male, small and furry and he can see in the dark. Pog is nimble and runs through the forest easily. He also has a good sense of smell which, allows him to identify humans. Pog has human emotions because he is lonely and shows he is caring by helping the girl. I like Pog because is cute and kind.
Wow… I never thought he might be a mole! He does seem to be around humans a lot though so I am not sure. I can’t wait to read on with you all in the coming weeks 🙂
Hi Elena. I’m very well thank you, hope you are too!
Thanks for your recommendation. Please could you also post this on our Reading blog here: https://www.stvincentsprimary.org.uk/blog/home-reading/ ? Thank you!
POG is a mysterious creature that lurks in and patrols the attic. He seems very friendly but quite scared to approach people and speak to them.
I imagine him to be small and friendly looking , with cute fluffy ears. Because if he was big and scary looking I think that the girl would have been scared of him and would have ran away.
That’s a very good point! The author was very successful in portraying him as being friendly and liked by humans. I wonder why he might be so lonely…
Hi everyone,
Pog is a frizzy, furry and friendly creature. Pog patrols the forest floor at night where he meets a girl who is lost in the heart of the forest. Pog soon makes friends with the girl and he leads her to her house where her family is very pleased to see her. Pog is very upset about leaving the girl so he sneaks into the girl’s attic. But Pog doesn’t know that the girl will be gone for many summers until finally someone comes.
Thanks for your predictions Sebastiao!
Hello Yr 5!
I have been enjoying reading all of your responses to Pog so far.
I too definitely think that Pog is some sort of furry creature, as he refers to the girl, human child and the adults as ‘the tall ones’.
The author also writes ’Pog is of the first folk – all furry . Not like you tall folk. He also has a terrific sense of smell!’
Hello Mrs Avdiu ans Ms Robertson, I hope you are well and have enjoyed the Easter break.
Here is my description about Pog:
Pog is a creature that lives alone, patrolling the attic and isn’t allowed to be seen by people. He is furry all over and has hackles. Pog is understanding and kind, showing both human and animal characteristics. He has a big heart and knows how to be reassuring. Pog has a very good sense of smell and knows how to move swiftly through the forest’s vegetation. He knows how to fight with a sword.
Challenge:
Pog is friendly. I know this because he is kind towards the girl and makes her feel comfortable. Knowing that “hiding from her was only making things worst”, Pog comes out from his hiding place to make her feel better. He also tries “to keep his tone light and friendly” to not make the girl feel frightened. Pog shows her the way and acts like a friend towards her and finally his words to the girl are comforting.
See you on tomorrow blog!
Thank you so much Jeanne. You made so many references to the text, quoting much of the vocabulary from what we have read. You are right, the author gives us lots of clues to suggest he is friendly.
Hello,
At first I thought that POG was a dog because the text says ‘POG’s hackles immediately stood on end’ and it describes him as furry but then afterwards he pulls out a staff and sword. This made me think that POG was like a monster, upright with arms and covered in shaggy hair but then I realised that he was not allowed to reveal himself. So he must be following some sort of way and is not bad but is still kind of like a monster but not scary. The word I would use to describe POG is lonely because he has never had a friend before as it said in the text and on the last page it says that what POG didn’t know was that in two weeks time the girl would be gone and then her grandparents would follow and POG would be left in the attic keeping to a long-kept promise, guarding and patrolling the house. Until they came.
Thank you Zavan for making references to the text. What do you think the long kept promise might be?
Hello Year 5,
Its Mrs Lynch here…
I have just read the prologue of POG and I am intrigued. I think it is definitely a furry creature as it says he has ‘furry ears’ and he must be very small as he ‘climbs through a small hole into the attic’. I think I am going to read this book as it sounds exciting. I miss you all and I hope you are all well.
Thank you for your predictions Mrs Lynch! I miss you a lot! 🙂
I think that Pog is a furry half human and half animal, although like Zavan said, I also thought he was a dog at the beginning. Pog is a hairy creature who patrols the forest at night and is not allowed too reveal himself. I thought that at the beginning Pog was not a pleasant creature but actually, he is really kind too humans as he helped the girl who was lost at the heart of the forest. He carries his staff and sword but means no harm. I also think that he has a lot of grip because he climbed up a drain pipe quickly.