Close Reading Day 1: Nothing Gold Can Stay
Standards Addressed in Close Reading Lesson:
Reading
Writing
RL.8.4
Determine the meaning of
words and phrases as they are used in
a text, including figurative and
connotative meanings; analyze the
impact of specific word choices on
meaning and tone, including analogies
or allusions to other texts.
Name ________________________________P-___Score _____
W.8.9a Apply grade 8 Reading
standards to literature (e.g., "Analyze
how a modern work of fiction draws
on themes, patterns of events, or
character types from myths,
traditional stories, or religious works
such as the Bible, including describing
how the material is rendered new").
Speaking & Listening
SL.8.1d Acknowledge new information
expressed by others, and, when
warranted, qualify or justify their own
views in light of the evidence
presented.
Language
L.8.5 Demonstrate understanding of
figurative language, word
relationships, and nuances in word
meanings.
Nothing Gold can Stay
by Robert Frost
Vocabulary for Comprehension:
Nature's first green is gold
1. hue: ______________________________________________________________
2. subsides: ___________________________________________________________
Her hardest hue to hold.
Building Background Knowledge:
Her early leaf's a flower;
3. What has occurred in The Outsiders when this poem is presented?
___________________________________________________________________
But only so an hour.
___________________________________________________________________
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
First Read: Comprehension
4. From first impressions, what is the poem about?
So Eden sank to grief,
___________________________________________________________________
So dawn goes down to day.
___________________________________________________________________
5. Write the rhyme scheme of the
Nothing gold can stay.
poem.____________________________________________________________
Second Read: Meanings and Connections
6. Write the words from each line that express alliteration.
LINE
WORDS of ALLITERATION
7. Explain the allusion in line 6. ____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Third Read: Analysis
8. Analyze the meanings of the metaphors of each line.
LINE
MEANINGS & METAPHORS
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. Write the Quarter 3 ELA theme. _________________________________________________________________
How does this poem relate to our Quarter 3 theme? _________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
10. How does this poem relate to the possible themes developing in The Outsiders? __________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Close Reading Day 2: Nothing Gold Can Stay
Standards Addressed in Close Reading Lesson:
Reading
Writing
Speaking & Listening
RL.8.5 Compare and contrast the
structure of two or more texts and
analyze how the differing structure of
each text contributes to its meaning
and style.
W.8.9 Draw evidence from literary or
informational texts to support
analysis, reflection, and research.
SL.8.1d Acknowledge new information
expressed by others, and, when
warranted, qualify or justify their own
views in light of the evidence
presented.
Nothing Gold can Stay
by Robert Frost
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost
Language
L.8.5 Demonstrate understanding of
figurative language, word
relationships, and nuances in word
meanings.
Compare and Contrast Poems
Compare:
Nature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
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.
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
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.
Nothing gold can stay.
Contrast:
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.
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Vocabulary for Comprehension:
1. harness: ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. downy: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Building Background Knowledge:
3. What overall topic does Robert Frost write about in both these poems? _________________________________
First Read: Comprehension
4. From first impressions, what is the poem about? ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Write the rhyme scheme of the poem.____________________________________________________________
Second Read: Meanings and Connections
6. What words give clues to the differing seasons in each poem?
Nothing Gold can Stay: ________________________________________________________________________
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening:__________________________________________________________
Third Read: Analysis
7. In the third column above, list the items which can be compared and contrasted in both poems. Examine the
structure, the figurative language, the meaning of words and poems, and the style of each poem.