“Ghost House” by Robert Frost TPCASTT Robert Lee Frost was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life in America, particularly in the New England area . Lived: Mar 26, 1874 - Jan 29, 1963 (age 88) Spouse: Elinor Frost (1895 - 1938) Awards: Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (1943 - 1943) · United States Poet Laureate Education: Dartmouth College · Harvard University (1897 - 1899) Children:: Elinor Bettina Frost · Marjorie Frost Lesley Frost Ballantine Elliot Frost One of only 2 persons who has ever written poetry for a presidential inauguration.

I dwell with a strangely aching heart In that vanished abode there far apart On that disused and forgotten road That has no dust-bath now for the toad. Night comes; the black bats tumble and dart; 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 It is under the small, dim, summer star. I know not who these mute folk are Who share the unlit place with me-- Those stones out under the low-limbed tree Doubtless bear names that the mosses mar. 25 They are tireless folk, but slow and sad, Though two, close-keeping, are lass and lad,-- With none among them that ever sings, And yet, in view of how many things, As sweet companions as might be had. 30 Ghost House by Robert Frost I Dwell in a lonely house I know That vanished many a summer ago, And left no trace but the cellar walls, And a cellar in which the daylight falls, And the purple-stemmed wild raspberries grow. 5 O'er ruined fences the grape-vines shield The woods come back to the mowing field; The orchard tree has grown one copse Of new wood and old where the woodpecker chops; The footpath down to the well is healed. 10

T – Title (Predict what the poem is about just by using Title.) The poem could be about a house that is haunted by a ghost.

(Read Poem) P – Paraphrase/Summary (Tell about the parts of the poem you find difficult.) Someone lived in a tumbled down old abandoned house. This person has now died and now he watches the house decay a little more each day. There is a couple (male and female) that share the space with him. He is alone and they are together. He finds peace and comfort watching their companionship.

I dwell with a strangely aching heart In that vanished abode there far apart On that disused and forgotten road That has no dust-bath now for the toad. Night comes; the black bats tumble and dart; 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 It is under the small, dim, summer star. I know not who these mute folk are Who share the unlit place with me-- Those stones out under the low-limbed tree Doubtless bear names that the mosses mar. 25 They are tireless folk, but slow and sad, Though two, close-keeping, are lass and lad,-- With none among them that ever sings, And yet, in view of how many things, As sweet companions as might be had. 30 P – Paraphrase – Summarize the poem. BME Ghost House by Robert Frost I Dwell in a lonely house I know That vanished many a summer ago, And left no trace but the cellar walls, And a cellar in which the daylight falls, And the purple-stemmed wild raspberries grow. 5 O'er ruined fences the grape-vines shield The woods come back to the mowing field; The orchard tree has grown one copse Of new wood and old where the woodpecker chops; The footpath down to the well is healed. 10

C – Connotation (Highlight words you see as meaningful C – Connotation (Highlight words you see as meaningful. What ideas or feelings are associated with these words?) (mood)

I dwell with a strangely aching heart In that vanished abode there far apart On that disused and forgotten road That has no dust-bath now for the toad. Night comes; the black bats tumble and dart; 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 It is under the small, dim, summer star. I know not who these mute folk are Who share the unlit place with me-- Those stones out under the low-limbed tree Doubtless bear names that the mosses mar. 25 They are tireless folk, but slow and sad, Though two, close-keeping, are lass and lad, With none among them that ever sings, And yet, in view of how many things, As sweet companions as might be had. 30 C – Connotation – Hilight words you see as meaningful. What ideas or feelings? (Mood) Ghost House by Robert Frost I Dwell in a lonely house I know That vanished many a summer ago, And left no trace but the cellar walls, And a cellar in which the daylight falls, And the purple-stemmed wild raspberries grow. 5 O'er ruined fences the grape-vines shield The woods come back to the mowing field; The orchard tree has grown one copse Of new wood and old where the woodpecker chops; The footpath down to the well is healed. 10

Connotation – Mood – forlorn, lonely, seeking C – Connotation Highlight words you see as meaningful. What ideas or feelings are associated with these words? (mood) lonely, vanished, strangely aching heart, that strange and forgotten road, night comes…..bat tumbles, stones out under a low limb tree….slow and sad…keep closing….lass and lad

I dwell with a strangely aching heart In that vanished abode there far apart On that disused and forgotten road That has no dust-bath now for the toad. Night comes; the black bats tumble and dart; 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 It is under the small, dim, summer star. I know not who these mute folk are Who share the unlit place with me-- Those stones out under the low-limbed tree Doubtless bear names that the mosses mar. 25 They are tireless folk, but slow and sad, Though two, close-keeping, are lass and lad,-- With none among them that ever sings, And yet, in view of how many things, As sweet companions as might be had. 30 A- Attitude- What is the speakers attitude toward the situation? (tone) Ghost House by Robert Frost I Dwell in a lonely house I know That vanished many a summer ago, And left no trace but the cellar walls, And a cellar in which the daylight falls, And the purple-stemmed wild raspberries grow. 5 O'er ruined fences the grape-vines shield The woods come back to the mowing field; The orchard tree has grown one copse Of new wood and old where the woodpecker chops; The footpath down to the well is healed. 10

A – Attitude What is the speakers attitude toward the situation? (tone….. pull out green tone sheet) Three Words and/or thoughts 1. Melancholy - sad and lonely 2. Sentimental - when talking about falling fences, dying fruit trees, graves stones under oak tree 3 Reflective - looking backward in time to

I dwell with a strangely aching heart In that vanished abode there far apart On that disused and forgotten road That has no dust-bath now for the toad. Night comes; the black bats tumble and dart; 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 It is under the small, dim, summer star. I know not who these mute folk are Who share the unlit place with me-- Those stones out under the low-limbed tree Doubtless bear names that the mosses mar. 25 They are tireless folk, but slow and sad, Though two, close-keeping, are lass and lad,-- With none among them that ever sings, And yet, in view of how many things, As sweet companions as might be had. 30 S – Shifts (Speaker or Attitude) What is line # and reasons? Ghost House by Robert Frost I Dwell in a lonely house I know That vanished many a summer ago, And left no trace but the cellar walls, And a cellar in which the daylight falls, And the purple-stemmed wild raspberries grow. 5 O'er ruined fences the grape-vines shield The woods come back to the mowing field; The orchard tree has grown one copse Of new wood and old where the woodpecker chops; The footpath down to the well is healed. 10

S – Shift Does the poem shift? Where and Why ? The poem shifts from the narrator telling about himself and his abode in stanzas 1-3 to 4 – 5 where the narrator is telling about 2 sweet souls.

I dwell with a strangely aching heart In that vanished abode there far apart On that disused and forgotten road That has no dust-bath now for the toad. Night comes; the black bats tumble and dart; 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 It is under the small, dim, summer star. I know not who these mute folk are Who share the unlit place with me-- Those stones out under the low-limbed tree Doubtless bear names that the mosses mar. 25 They are tireless folk, but slow and sad, Though two, close-keeping, are lass and lad,-- With none among them that ever sings, And yet, in view of how many things, As sweet companions as might be had. 30 T- Title After Reading the poem, have your ideas about the poem changed? How So? Ghost House by Robert Frost I Dwell in a lonely house I know That vanished many a summer ago, And left no trace but the cellar walls, And a cellar in which the daylight falls, And the purple-stemmed wild raspberries grow. 5 O'er ruined fences the grape-vines shield The woods come back to the mowing field; The orchard tree has grown one copse Of new wood and old where the woodpecker chops; The footpath down to the well is healed. 10

I think it may be symbolic for the longing he has for wife and son who died before him. Even if it is….. You would have to know a lot about the poet and his latter years to come up with that spin on the poem. The point of the poem still would be loneliness and isolation. T – Theme What point is the author trying to make? What is the theme of the poem? (life lesson) I think the poem is about loneliness and isolation. The need for companionship is eternal.