The poem describes a child's frustration with having to follow a strict sleeping schedule due to the varying daylight hours between summer and winter in England. In winter, the child gets up early while it is still dark out since the sun rises late. In summer, the child has to go to bed early while it is still light out since the sun sets late. The child envies the freedom of birds and adults and finds it unfair to have to go to bed during the day when the sky is clear and blue and they would rather be playing outside.

3. BED IN SUMMER
By /
Robert Louis Stevenson

4.  Many of us can remember back to our younger days when we felt just
the same way, lying on our beds, staring at the ceiling, listening to the
world still bright and alive outside, wishing our parents would relent just
this once and let us out to play rather than confining us to our
bedrooms.
 This poem has some interesting things about England to tell those who
have never been there. In winter, around the Christmas time, it’s dark
till 8 am. In summer it’s light till 9 pm.
 The main idea of the poem is that the weather in England causes some
problems to children who have to follow certain system in their lives.
 The sun rises late in winter so they find themselves get up very early
when it is still dark.
 The sun sets late in summer so they find themselves sleep very early
when it is still light.
 The poet, as achild, wants to tell us that he can't enjoy the beauty
of nature because of weather conditions in England. He cann’t fully
enjoy the light of the sun and the day as he goes to bed before the
sunset.
 He finds it unfair to get up too early and sleep too early as well.
Children complain of obeying orders of grown- ups and call for freedom.

5. The first stanza
In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle light,
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
By: during, no later than …

6. Paraphrase
The poet, as a child, is unhappy
because he gets up very early before
sunrise in winter as the sun rises very
late. He also goes to bed very early in
summer before sunset as the sun sets
very late.

7. The second stanza
I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree.
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.
Past (prep.): passed by
Hopping: jumping

8. The poet envies birds and grown-ups
because they are free. He goes to bed
early, but birds jump on the trees
happily and the grown- up people go
around in the streets as he can hear
their footsteps very clearly.
Paraphrase

9. The third stanza
And does it not seem hard to you,
To have to go to bed by day.
And I should like so much to play,
When all the sky is clear and blue.
Should: supposed to, expected to as a child

10. Paraphrase
He asks us a question that shows he is
sad and it is hard for him to go to bed
while the sky is still clear and blue. He
is supposed to play and enjoy the
beauty of nature instead of going to
bed while it is still day time.

11. In your Class NBs

12. In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.
And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?

15. Commentary :
- The poem consists of three stanzas that express
one main theme (idea).
- The rhyming scheme is …
- - The poet's words are simple and are chosen to
suit a child.

18. Thank you!!