Silent, Sustained Reading!
What you need:
 Your SSR book
 Your brain
 That’s it!
http://www.online-stopwatch.com/countdown-timer/
Letters to a Young Poet
By Rainer Maria Rilke

Letter #1 Review
 5 W’s Summary: Who? What? Where? When? Why?
Who:
What:
When:
Where:
Why:
Rilke  the young poet
Rilke is responding to the young poet’s request
to criticize his poetry
1903
Paris, France
The young poet is struggling to decide to
become either a soldier or a poet

“There is only one thing you
should do. Go into yourself.
Find out the reason that
commands that commands you
to write; see whether it has
spread its roots into the very
depths of your heart; confess to
yourself whether you would
have to die if you were
forbidden to write. This most of
all: ask yourself in the most
silent hour of your night: must I
write?...if you meet this solemn
question with a strong, simple “I
must,” then build you’re your
life in accordance with this
necessity” (Rilke 1-2).
Lady Gaga’s
German tattoo
“There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands
that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your
heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. This
most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write?...if you meet this
solemn question with a strong, simple “I must,” then build your life in accordance with this
necessity” (Rilke 1-2).
Think, Pair, Share!
Turn to a neighbor and discuss the following:
 What does this quote mean? Paraphrase (put this quote into your
own words).
 Why would Lady Gaga tattoo this quote from Rilke’s Letters to a
Young Poet on her bicep? What personal connection(s) do you
think she has with this quote?
 Cite (pull out) two important words or phrases from the quote to
support your answer!
“I had this tattooed on my arm so that every single day I would be
reminded that my gift is songwriting and I have to do it. It’s not an
option. It’s like breathing” (Lady Gaga).
Lady Gaga’s
German tattoo
 “Confess to yourself in the
deepest hour of the night
whether you would have
to die if you were
forbidden to write. Dig
deep into your heart,
where the answer spreads
its roots in your being, and
ask yourself solemnly,
Must I write?” (Rilke)
Letter 1, Paragraph 3
5 W’s Summary: Who? What? Where? When? Why?
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
What is the central idea?
 Central Idea = theme, the thing that ties together the whole story

What is the author’s main argument in the text?
 What is/are the central idea(s) of paragraph 3?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Beauty lies within the individual
Poetry/art is a personal practice
Art comes from within the individual
Being a poet/artist is both a blessing and a curse
External praise/criticism does not matter when it comes to art
Don’t look to others for answers about your own life. Only you have the answers.
 Finish reading paragraph 3
 Make annotations
 Brainstorm possible central ideas
 Write 1 central idea
Ticket-Out-The-Door
On a separate piece of lined paper with a proper heading:
 Determine one of Rilke’s central ideas and analyze its
development over the course of “Letter One”.
 Use 3 pieces of textual evidence to support your analysis.