1a. In lines 1–5 of "Winter," what winter scenes does the speaker describe?
2a. In lines 6–8, what two things does the speaker say happen during winter nights?
3a. What winter scenes does the speaker describe in lines 9–13?
1b. What feelings do these scenes create in the reader? On what qualities of winter is the speaker focusing?
2b. Compare and contrast the scene outdoors on winter nights as described in lines 6 and 7 with the indoor scene described in line 8. What feelings and thoughts do you have about these two scenes?
3b. If you had to categorize the scenes of winter in lines 9–13 in the following categories, under which category would you put each scene: images of illness or discomfort, images of cold winter weather, images of nature, and images of cozy indoor scenes. You may wish to put certain scenes in more than one category.
4a. Classify the scenes of winter presented in this poem, explaining whether they are primarily realistic or primarily idealized, whether they portray life in urban or in rural areas, and whether they show beautiful and elevated or down-to-earth images of winter. Point to specific lines from the poem to support your opinion.
4b. Based on your analysis in question 4a, summarize what you think is the speaker's opinion of winter. You should use evidence from the poem to support your opinion.
5a. Explain whether you think "Winter" is successful in capturing the sensory details—the sights, sounds, feelings, tastes, and smells—of winter. Would this poem have been more or less appealing to you if the poet had chosen to focus on another aspect of winter, such as skiing, ice skating, or other positive aspects of the season?
5b. In what ways are the scenes in "Winter Fairyland in Vermont" similar to or different from those presented in "Winter"? Which poem do you like better? Explain the reasons behind your choice.
Image and Imagery. Create a sensory detail chart, like the one you did for "Winter," for Francis P. Osgood's "Winter Fairyland in Vermont." List the images of winter you can find in Osgood's poem. Now compare and contrast your two sensory detail charts. What images does Osgood transform or change?
Rhyme. As you read in the Prereading section, "Winter" is not only a poem but a song. What is the effect of rhyme on a song? Do more of the songs you can think of rhyme, or do they avoid the use of this technique?
Refrain. What is the refrain in "Winter"? Why do you think the writer chose to make these lines the refrain of the poem? You may wish to think about your responses to question 2b in Investigate, Inquire, and Imagine as you form your answer to this question.
1. Write a poem describing your favorite season. It need not rhyme, but try to use specific images to convey your feelings about the season to the reader.
2. Imagine that you are Joan and write a retort, or snappy comeback, to Shakespeare for his unflattering description of you in his poem.
3. Shakespeare's poem reflects an older time in which many homes had servants and times were tougher because of a lack of modern heating methods. He also uses some archaic, or old-fashioned, language. Create a rewrite of his poem, using modern characters and words.
One Word, Many Definitions. Each of the Words for Everyday Use in this selection has more than one common definition. Use a dictionary to find two different definitions for each word. Then use each word in context in an original sentence.
1. brood brood Definition 1: Word in Context: Definition 2: Word in Context:
2. nip nip Definition 1: Word in Context: Definition 2: Word in Context:
3. foul foul Definition 1: Word in Context: Definition 2: Word in Context:
Formal and Informal English. Depending on the situation, you might use either formal English or informal English when you speak or write. Informal English uses colloquialisms and slang. It also allows grammatical constructions that would not be acceptable in formal English. Rewrite the following formal English sentences into informal English. Identify colloquialism and slang used in your new sentences.
1. Lisa's dress was stunning.
2. A rainforest is humid and hot.
3. The dinner was unsuccessful.
4. Charlie was upset over the game's final score.
5. I was angry when she didn't arrive on time.
6. I was extremely hungry.
7. The circus was fun.
8. On Saturday I relaxed all day.
9. Where are you all going?
10. I'm going to leave at noon.
Researching Shakespeare's Work: Research Log. Use this log to keep track of the sources you use, the information you find, and your reactions to what you learn.
Internet sources:
Books and other print sources:
Notes:
How many plays did he write?
Which ones had you heard of before?
Was Love's Labor's Lost a tragedy, a comedy, or a romance? How do you know?
