By Robert Frost “NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY”

 Take out a piece of paper and title the page “Nothing Gold Can Stay”  At the top, make a list of at least 10 things (or more!) that you can thing of that CHANGE. BEFORE WE START

PLEASE WRITE THE POEM DOWN ON YOUR PAGE Nothing Gold Can Stay Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.

Nothing Gold Can Stay Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. 1.Do you like the poem? 2.What do you think it means? 3.Why does Ponyboy think the poem represents the sunset? 4.What are some images you see when you read the poem? Be ready to discuss…… INTRO TO THE POEM

 Nature’s first green is gold,  Metaphor – figure of speech that compares or equates two or more things and does NOT use like or as. Interpretation: Ideas? BREAKING IT DOWN….

Notes:  Gold is precious, valuable  Symbol of rebirth, new life  Beginning, fragile  Green also stands for purity and youth and is compared to gold. First sign of spring.  Metaphor for life being fresh, new and young in the beginning NATURE’S FIRST GREEN IS GOLD,

 Alliteration – is the repetition of sounds, most often consonant sounds, at the beginning of words.  The “H” repeats in this line.  Personification – figure of speech in which an animal, object, force of nature, or idea is given human qualities or characteristics.  “Her” is nature holding on. HER HARDEST HUE TO HOLD.

Notes:  Gold is hard to hold on to, like wealth itself.  Appearances soon change, people grow up  Youth is hard to hold on to; we take it for granted.  Innocence is lost and things become harder.  “Hue” – a shade of color  Nature can’t hold on to the buds and beginning sprouts…the beginning of early life, they grow and fall away. HER HARDEST HUE TO HOLD.

 Metaphor  Notes:  Reinforces the passage of time  Impermanence of spring HER EARLY LEAF’S A FLOWER;

 Assonance – repetitive vowel sounds.  “O” repeats In this line  Hyperbole – an extreme exaggeration. Notes:  Time goes fast, but not that fast.  “only an hour” – isn’t literal…it takes much longer for nature and people to grow and change BUT ONLY SO AN HOUR.

 Paradox – exhibiting contradictory characteristics.  Notes: There is a change in condition which is hard to see at the time. The gold hue can not be preserved and the leaf becomes green, the flower can’t last long – just like youth. THEN LEAF SUBSIDES TO LEAF.

 Allusion – reference to another piece of literary work or historical event.  The poem itself is an allusion in the book. Notes: Garden of Eden in the Bible Fall of Man by eating the apple – connects to fall of leaves at end of cycle. Everything changes- even paradise of Eden couldn’t stay the same SO EDEN SANK TO GRIEF,

Any questions of clarification? QUICK CHECK: THUMBS UP OR DOWN…ARE YOU WITH ME?

 Alliteration – repetition of sounds, most often consonant sounds, at the beginning of words. Notes: “D” repeats Sunrise disappears as day (sun) continues to rise. Sunset also ends the day leading to a new “dawn”. Things pass quickly. SO DAWN GOES DOWN TO DAY.

 MetaphorNotes: Change happens and nothing “good” can last forever. We have to appreciate the little things when they happen before they are lost. NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY.

 The cycle of flower, leaf, bud, fruit, into the full life that includes loss, grief and change.  Shortness or length of poem reflects the shortness of life.  Nature is a metaphor about human concerns, thoughts and feelings. Notes: Youth and Nature are similar – begin and end, move quickly and are not missed until they are gone. FROST METAPHOR

 What is theme? Theme is the overall message of a literary work. Notes: Theme of poem….precious things and precious moments are short- lived and that is why they are precious. Would it be precious if it lasted forever? THEME

 With your table, you will discuss and make a list, on a piece of paper, describing the theme of this poem and how it relates to Pony’s situation in the book.  Discuss if the poem is true about life in general, or untrue, and give examples to support your opinion from your own life and The Outsiders (Chapter 5 has the poem, page 77).  Be ready to share with the class in about 15 minutes. CONNECTING TEXT-TO-TEXT AND TEXT-TO-SELF

 On a sheet of paper, using the notes and discussion information, write a 7-9 sentence summary paragraph that includes:  The poem’s theme and meaning  At least two literary terms we discussed in class.  Importance of the poem and “Stay Gold” to the plot and story, The Outsiders. Think about Johnny’s explanation and use Chapter 5 for reference if needed.  Be sure to use examples from the book.  You may also use examples from “real life”.  You may use the rest of class to work on this. Please hand in your paragraph before you leave today. If you have time, you may want to do a “good copy”.  Please DOUBLE SPACE YOUR WORK INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT