“NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY”
By
Robert Frost
BELL WORK
Nothing Gold Can Stay
1.
2.
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.
4.
Do you like the poem?
What do you think it
means?
Why does Ponyboy think the
poem represents the
sunset?
What are some images you
see when you read the
poem?
Be ready to discuss……
LEARNING GOAL:
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO
EXPLAIN AND GIVE
EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC
POETRY TERMS, DETERMINE
THE THEME AND CENTRAL
MEANING OF A POEM, AND
CONNECT IT TO THE
OUTSIDERS.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS:

CC.7.R.L.1 Key Ideas and Details: Cite several
pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of
what the text says explicitly as well as inferences
drawn from the text.

CC.7.R.L.2 Key Ideas and Details: Determine a
theme or central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text; provide
an objective summary of the text.

CC.7.R.L.4 Craft and Structure: Determine the
meaning of words and phrases as they are used
in a text, including figurative and connotative
meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and
other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a
specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a
story or drama.

CC.7.R.L.5 Craft and Structure: Analyze how a
drama’s or poem’s form or structure (e.g.,
soliloquy, sonnet) contributes to its meaning.
BREAKING IT DOWN….

Nature’s first green is
gold,
Interpretation:
Ideas?

Metaphor – figure of
speech that compares
or equates two or more
things and does NOT
use like or as.
NATURE’S FIRST GREEN IS GOLD,
Notes:
 Gold is precious, valuable
 Symbol of rebirth, new life
 Beginning, fragile
 Green also stands for purity and youth and is
compared to gold. First sign of spring.

Metaphor for life being fresh, new and young in the
beginning
HER HARDEST HUE TO HOLD.

Alliteration – is the
repetition of sounds,
most often consonant
sounds, at the
beginning of words.

The “H” repeats in this
line.

Personification – figure
of speech in which an
animal, object, force of
nature, or idea is given
human qualities or
characteristics.

“Her” is nature holding
on.
HER HARDEST HUE TO HOLD.
Notes:
 Gold is hard to hold on to, like wealth itself.
 Appearances soon change, people grow up
 Youth is hard to hold on to; we take it for granted.
 Innocence is lost and things become harder.
 “Hue” – a shade of color

Nature can’t hold on to the buds and beginning
sprouts…the beginning of early life, they grow and
fall away.
HER EARLY LEAF’S A FLOWER;

Metaphor

Notes:
 Reinforces
the passage of time
 Impermanence of spring
BUT ONLY SO AN HOUR.



Assonance – repetitive
vowel sounds.
“O” repeats In this line
Hyperbole – an
excessive
overstatement or
exaggeration.
Notes:
 Time goes fast, but not
that fast.
 “only an hour” – isn’t
literal…it takes much
longer for nature and
people to grow and
change
THEN LEAF SUBSIDES TO LEAF.

Paradox – exhibiting
contradictory
characteristics.
The leaf looks like a flower
or bud when it starts but
only for a moment and
then it is a leaf (always
was – metaphor).
Notes:
There is a change in
condition which is hard to
see at the time.

The gold hue can not be
preserved and the leaf
becomes green, the flower
can’t last long – just like
youth.
SO EDEN SANK TO GRIEF,



Symbolism- items that
function as themselves
but stand for larger
ideas.
Allusion – reference to
another piece of literary
work or historical event.
The poem itself is an
allusion in the book.
Notes:
Garden of Eden in the Bible
Fall of Man by eating the
apple – connects to fall of
leaves at end of cycle.
Everything changes-even
paradise of Eden couldn’t
stay the same
QUICK CHECK:
THUMBS UP OR DOWN…ARE YOU
WITH ME?
Any questions of clarification?
SO DAWN GOES DOWN TO DAY.

Alliteration – repetition
of sounds, most often
consonant sounds, at
the beginning of words.
Notes:
“D” repeats
Sunrise disappears as day
(sun) continues to rise.
Sunset also ends the day
leading to a new “dawn”.
Things pass quickly.
NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY.

Metaphor – which is
what?
Notes:
Change happens and
nothing “good” can last
forever.
We have to appreciate the
little things when they
happen before they are
lost.
FROST METAPHOR


The cycle of flower, leaf,
bud, fruit, into the full
life that includes loss,
grief and change.
Shortness or length of
poem reflects the
shortness of life.

Nature is a metaphor
about human concerns,
thoughts and feelings.
Notes:
Youth and Nature are
similar – begin and end,
move quickly and are not
missed until they are gone.
THEME

What is theme?
Theme is the overall principle or idea of a literary
work.
Notes:
Theme of poem….precious things and precious
moments are short-lived and that is why they are
precious.
Would it be precious if it lasted forever?
TYPE OF POEM:

Couplet
Any questions or clarification?
QUICK CHECK – ARE YOU WITH ME?
THUMBS UP OR DOWN
CONNECTING TEXT-TO-TEXT AND
TEXT-TO-SELF

With the partner sitting next to you, you will discuss
and make a list, on a piece of paper, describing the
theme of this poem and how it relates to Pony’s
situation in the book.

Discuss if the poem is true about life in general, or
untrue, and give examples to support your opinion
from your own life and The Outsiders (Chapter 5 has
the poem, page 77).

Be ready to share with the class in about 5 minutes.
ASSESSMENT ASSIGNMENT (TOD)

On a sheet of paper, using the notes and
discussion information, write a 7-9 sentence
summary the includes:
 The
poem’s theme and meaning
 At least three literary terms we discussed in class.
 Importance of the poem and “Stay Gold” to the plot
and story, The Outsiders. Think about Johnny’s
explanation and use Chapter 5 for reference if
needed.