“Nothing Gold Can Stay” By Robert Frost Do you like the poem? 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. Do you like the poem? What do you think it means? What are some images you see when you read the poem? Be ready to discuss……

“Nothing Gold Can Stay” By Robert Frost

Learning Goal: Students will be able to explain and give examples of specific poetry terms, determine the theme, and central meaning of a poem.

Breaking it down…. 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?

Nature’s first green is gold, 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

Her hardest hue to hold. 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 early leaf’s a flower; Metaphor Notes: Reinforces the passage of time Impermanence of spring

But only so an hour. Assonance – repetitive vowel sounds. “O” repeats In this line Hyperbole – an excessive overstatement or 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

Then leaf subsides to leaf. Paradox – exhibiting contradictory characteristics. The leaf looks like a flower or bud when it starts but only for a moment and then it is a leaf (always was – metaphor). 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.

So Eden sank to grief, Symbolism- items that function as themselves but stand for larger ideas. 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 dawn goes down to day. 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.

Nothing gold can stay. Metaphor – which is what? Notes: Change happens and nothing “good” can last forever. We have to appreciate the little things when they happen before they are lost.

Frost Metaphor 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.

Theme What is theme? Theme is the overall principle or idea 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?

Type of Poem: Couplet

Connecting text-to-text and text-to-self With the partner sitting next to you, you will discuss and make a list, on a piece of paper, describing the theme of this poem. Discuss if the poem is true about life in general, or untrue, and give examples to support your opinion from your own life. Be ready to share with the class in about 5 minutes.

Assessment assignment On a sheet of paper, using the notes and discussion information, write a 7-9 sentence summary the includes: The poem’s theme and meaning At least three literary terms we discussed in class.