1. Robert Frost Page 790 2007 COS – 1a; 2a; 2d
2010 COS – RL ; RL ; RL ; RL ; RI ; RI ; RI ; RI ; W ; W ; W ; SL ; L ; L ; L ; L
AHSGE – R.IV.2

2. Robert Frost
Frost used common language influenced by the men he worked with as a boy on the farm.
It is easy to recognize the speaker in his poems.

3. Literary Terms
Sonnet (p. 792) – a 14-line lyric poem that is usually written in a fixed meter and with a regular rhyme scheme
Simile – comparison using like, as, than, or resembles
Rhyme Scheme – Pattern of rhyme

4. Literary Terms
Allusion (p. 795) – a reference to someone or something known from any branch of knowledge, culture, or history
Alliteration – repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close together

5. Literary Terms
Ambiguity (p 801) – The quality of being open to two or more, sometimes conflicting, interpretations
Symbol – a person, a place, a thing, or an event that has meaning in itself and that also stands for something more than itself

6. “Design” (p. 793)
Find a simile in the first stanza. What two things are being compared?
What is symbolic about the color white?
Why is the use of white ironic in this poem?
What is the rhyme scheme of the first stanza?
What is a possible theme for this poem?

7. “Nothing Gold Can Stay” (p. 795)
Find an example of alliteration in the poem.
Identify an allusion in the poem.
What do the first buds of spring, Eden, and dawn symbolize?
What is a possible theme for this poem?

8. “Mending Wall” (p. 801)
What is ambiguous about the speaker’s thoughts and actions concerning the wall?
Describe the process the speaker and his neighbor use to repair the wall.
The wall is used as a symbol. What are two possible meanings for the wall?
What is a possible theme for the poem?

9. “I must have the pulse beat of rhythm . . .” Informational Text (p. 810)
Who is the speaker?
To whom does Frost say most poets confess a debt?
What type of verse does Frost say he does not write?
What term does Frost use to describe his poetry?
From where does Frost think poets got their idea of free verse?
Summarize Frost’s opinion of free verse.

10. Activity
In this chapter, several of our stories and poems told stories of interesting characters. Write a biographical narrative based on an incident in the life of someone you know. Use precise words and a logical sequence of events to tell your story. Include dialogue and description to develop your story. For additional information see page 813 in your textbook.