Choosing to Apply an Understanding Activity 5.8 SUGGESTED Learning Strategies: Marking the Text, Oral Reading, TP-CASTT, Summarizing P o e t r y Robert Frost (1874-1963) was one of America s most popular twentieth-century poets. For much of his life, he lived on a farm in New Hampshire and wrote poems about farm life and the New England landscape. He wrote Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening in 1922, and he described it as his favorite work, calling it his best bid for remembrance. by Robert Fros t Whose woods these are I think I know, His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. Unit 5 How We Choose to Act 287
Activity 5.8 Choosing to Apply an Understanding P o e t r y Samuel Allen, who also wrote under the pen name of Paul Vesey, was a lawyer and an educator as well as a poet. Allen earned a law degree from Harvard in 1941, and he later studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. His poems reflect his African American heritage and are noted for their artistic expression. by Samuel Allen Sometimes I feel like I will never stop Just go on forever Til one fine mornin I m gonna reach up and grab me a handfulla stars Throw out my long lean leg And whip three hot strikes burnin down the heavens And look over at God and say How about that! 288 SpringBoard English Textual Power Level 2
P o e t r y Activity 5.8 by Robert Bly Robert Bly has published more than 30 books of poetry, essays, and translations. Bly honed his writing craft through two years at the Writers Workshop at the University of Iowa. After living in Norway, translating Norwegian poems into English, he started a literary magazine to publish poetry translations and essays on American poets. Bly s interest in myth, story telling, and meditation influence his work. His book Iron John: A Book About Men was an international best seller. It is a cold and snowy night. The main street is deserted. The only things moving are swirls of snow. As I lift the mailbox door, I feel its cold iron. There is a privacy I love in this snowy night. Driving around, I will waste more time. Unit 5 How We Choose to Act 289
Activity 5.8 Choosing to Apply an Understanding P o e t r y Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance. His poems, plays, and stories frequently focused on the African American experience, particularly on the struggles and feelings of individuals. by Langs ton Hughes 5 10 15 Well, son, I ll tell you: Life for me ain t been no crystal stair. It s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor Bare. But all the time I se been a-climbin on, And reachin landin s, And turnin corners, And sometimes goin in the dark Where there ain t been no light. So boy, don t you turn back. Don t you set down on the steps Cause you finds it s kinder hard. Don t you fall now For I se still goin, honey, I se still climbin, And life for me ain t been no crystal stair. 290 SpringBoard English Textual Power Level 2
P o e t r y Activity 5.8 for Rosa Parks by Phil W. Petrie Phil W. Petrie is a freelance writer and former book publishing editor. He lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, and has written articles for numerous publications, including Black Enterprise and The New Crisis. Then he slammed on the brakes Turned around and grumbled. But she was tired that day. Weariness was in her bones. And so the thing she s done yesterday, And yesteryear, On her workdays, Churchdays, Nothing-to-do-I ll-go-and-visit Sister Annie Days She felt she d never do again. And he growled once more. So she said: No sir...i m stayin right here. And he gruffly grabbed her, Pulled and pushed her Then sharply shoved her through the doors. The news slushed through the littered streets Slipped into the crowded churches, Slimmered onto the unmagnolied side of town. While the men talked and talked and talked. She Who was tired that day, Cried and sobbed that she was glad she d done it. That her soul was satisfied. That Lord knows, A little walkin never hurt anybody; That in one of those unplanned, unexpected Unadorned moments A weary woman turned the page of History. 5 10 15 20 25 30 Unit 5 How We Choose to Act 291
Activity 5.8 Choosing to Apply an Understanding 1. Your teacher will assign a poem to your group. Work with your group to analyze your poem using TP-CASTT. TP-CASTT Acronym Directions for analysis Response T: Title Ponder the title before reading the poem. P: Paraphrase Restate the poem in your own words. C: Connotation Contemplate the poem for word meanings beyond the literal. Choose two or three key words. A: Attitude Observe both the speaker s and the poem s tone. S: Shift Note the shifts in speaker, place, attitude, etc. T: Title Revisited Examine the title again, this time on an interpretive level. T: Theme Determine the message about life implied in the poem. 2. Research the author, subject, and/or historical setting of Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening to help you develop a deeper understanding of the poem. 3. As a group, decide how you would like to present your poem. Using your Inflection Key, mark the text to indicate the inflections you will use when delivering the poem. Rehearse your poem to be sure that you are reading with fluency and communicating the theme and tone effectively. Finally, perform your oral interpretation. 292 SpringBoard English Textual Power Level 2