1. “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost
Analysis
Context: While they hid at the church in Windrixville, Johnny recites this poem to Ponyboy. He says, “I always remembered it because I never quite got what he meant by it” (Hinton 78).
1. First, determine the poem’s RHYME SCHEME, the pattern of rhyming in the poem.
Steps for labeling a rhyme scheme:
Place the letter A after the last word in LINE 1 (gold).
Look at the last word in LINE 2. Does it rhyme?
YES! So put the letter A after the word HOLD too. Your first two lines will have the letter A at the end. This shows lines 1 and 2 rhyme with each other.
Look at the last word in Line 3 – FLOWER. Does that rhyme with GOLD and HOLD?
NO! So put the letter B after the word flower.
4. Look at the last word in LINE 4. Does it rhyme with Gold or Flower? What letter should you give that line?
Follow this pattern for the rest of the poem. Write the 8-letter rhyme scheme on your paper.

2. Let’s Find Some Meaning!
Couple means TWO. This makes sense!
2. Separate the poem into two line couplets. (Click to see how this is done.)
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.

3. Nature’s first green is gold,
Couplet #1
Here’s the part where you’re going to write all over your poem sheet!
Circle this word on your sheets. If something is gold, it is .
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
A hue is a color.
In Michigan, we know very well what that first green of spring is like to us. The pinks and reds yellows of spring don’t last long though. What happens to them?

4. Her early leaf’s a flower.
Here’s the part where you’re going to write all over your poem sheet!
Couplet #2
Her early leaf’s a flower.
But only so an hour.
What is the antecedent here? Hint: It can be found in couplet #1.
Spring flowers last longer than an “hour,” right? What is the writer saying about spring colors?
Both couplets are similar. What is common about the first green (couplet #1) and the early leaves (couplet #2) of spring? Note your thoughts directly on your paper.

5. Then leaf subsides to leaf.
Here’s the part where you’re going to write all over your poem sheet!
Couplet #3
This verb means reduces or diminishes. The leaves of spring become the summer leaves.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
In The Bible, this was a place of perfect beauty.
How is this couplet similar to the others? What common thing happens in all three? Note your thoughts directly on your paper.

6. So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. Couplet #4
Here’s the part where you’re going to write all over your poem sheet!
The beginning of the day.
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Think: What similar thing happens in each couplet? Record your thoughts directly on your paper.

7. Reread the first three sentences page 65?
Make the Connection!
Reread the first three sentences page 65?
Can you identify a common theme in both these sentences and the Robert Frost Poem? Make an educated, thoughtful guess!

8. ALLITERATION
Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in words real close to each other.
Label the examples of alliteration you can find in the poem. There are at least 2 other examples.
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.

9. Personification
Challenge: Find and label the personification in this poem. Where has the author attributed human qualities to something nonhuman?
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.
Click the spacebar when you’re ready for a hint.
The answer can be found in the pronouns!

10. What is the theme of this poem
What is the theme of this poem? A theme should be written as a statement.
What life lesson is this poem making? Write your thoughts directly on your paper.

11. You can go though these directions again or begin reading Chapter 5.
Nice Job!
You can go though these directions again or begin reading Chapter 5.