Read the Prereading information on page 159 of your textbook. Think about what you already know about freedom. Have you encountered any other literary works, television shows, or movies that deal with the issue of freedom? Have you dealt with the issue of freedom in your own life, in school, with parents, or with friends? Quickwrite for five minutes about freedom and your experiences, both literary and personal, with issues surrounding freedom.
1. Write in your own words a definition of freedom. Compare your definition with those of two or three other students’. Then, read aloud the poem titled “Freedom” in a small group. Discuss how the poem reflects or differs from your definitions. What method does the poet use to define freedom? Do you think he captures the essence of the word’s meaning? Why, or why not? Discuss these questions and record your answers.
2. When you have finished your group discussion about “Freedom,” read aloud “The Road Not Taken.” Recall from the Prereading information that this poem is an allegory for life. How does this poem relate to the concept of freedom? How might Frost have defined freedom? Does this poem remind you of other literary works or events in your own life? Discuss these questions and record your answers.
If you have difficulty understanding the poems and making connections, reread the poems silently to yourself. Focus on word choice and word order. Stop at the end of each stanza to silently review what you have just read. Once you have finished rereading the selection silently, discuss with your group the meaning of the poems and the connections you made.
Share with your group your quickwrite from the Before Reading activity. Then, as a group, compare the ideas in the quickwrites to those discussed and recorded during reading. When you have finished discussing this comparison, write a paragraph about whether your ideas about freedom have changed since reading the two poems.