DATE:
BLOCK:
Thursday, 16 April 2009
3 (Poetry)
WORK DUE/COLLECTED/CHECKED:
CLASSWORK:
1. “Uphill” by Christina Rossetti (#10)
 How many speakers are there? What are the identities of the speakers?
 Speaker number one is a traveler, and speaker number two is another traveler
who has made the journey already
 A person who is going to die, and the second one is God
 A person moving out or leaving comfort of surroundings, and a person who is
comforting the first person
 Seeking the answer to how to be a “good person,” and the second person is
giving guidance
 A friend with practical questions, and a friend who is answering the questions
 Why did the poet not use quotation marks to indicate the change from one speaker
to another?
 It’s the poet’s style
 They are unnecessary because of the indentation
 It leaves it open to interpretation
 Just one speaker
 Would look sloppy (shape of poem)
 What are the key symbols in the poem? What clues prompt the reader to interpret
them symbolically? What do they symbolize?
 The road: path of life
 The inn: heaven (or where someone goes when he or she dies), death, safety
from life’s troubles (wherever comfort is)
 The darkness: temptation or sin, death, end of life, bad things in life
 Beds: heaven, place for those who die, “come to me” is god, believers only or
all?, cemetery (graves)
 After life: everyone has a place
 Wayfarers: people who are dying, friends or elders who could guide people
 Door: gates of heaven, door to being helped
2. “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath (#11)
 Count the number of syllables in each line, then count the number of lines.
 Like its first metaphor, this poem is a riddle to be solved by identifying the literal
terms of its metaphors. After you have identified the speaker (“riddle,”
“elephant,” “house,” “melon,” “stage,” “cow”), identify the literal meanings of
the related metaphors (“syllables,” “tendrils,” “fruit,” “ivory,” “timbers,” “loaf,”
“yeasty rising,” “money,” “purse,” “train”).
 Syllables: nine syllables per line, nine months of pregnancy

Tendrils: threadlike, clinging part of a climbing plant. Her legs are small
compared to the rest of her. She feels uneven, weak, or uncertain when she is
walking
 Fruit: a result or product (“fruit of your labors”!), Adam and Eve
 Loaf: a molded mass of bread
 Yeasty rising: fungus that makes dough rise or full of vitality. Both “yeasty
rising” and “loaf” refer to the growth of the fetus
 Money: people get a tax break for children, children cost a lot of money, baby
shower money and gifts
 Purse: actual purse or her belly
 Train: the pregnancy itself
 Bag of green apples: crab apples, which make people sick. Morning sickness!
Sour feeling or taste
 How should the last line be interpreted?
 She is unsure about the pregnancy, but she knows she can’t do anything about
it (time period: abortion was not an option). Perhaps she’ll give up the baby
for adoption? Regardless of her feelings, she knows she will be having the
baby and cannot change that fact.
 There was some debate over whether or not the woman wants the baby or
does not want the baby, but both sides agree that she cannot change the
outcome either way.
 Discussion of other interpretations:
 Woman with eating disorder (either overeating or anorexia/bulimia)
 Poor body image
 Woman struggling with some figurative “weight”
3. Who Are You” (#12)
 For five minutes, brainstorm what makes you the person you are
 Specifically, focus on your hobbies and your interests: how do you feel when you
are doing those things? Adjectives are key.
HANDOUTS/NOTEBOOK UPDATE:
1. Metaphors (#11)
2. Who Are You? (#12)
ASSIGNMENTS/REMINDERS:
1. Bring in your favorite poems or lyrics to share with the class tomorrow!