1a. In what season does the poem take place?
2a. What does the speaker recall about softness?
3a. What does the speaker carry hidden in her bosom?
4a. Identify the patterns described in the poem.
5a. Foreshadowing is the act of presenting materials that hint at events to occur later in a literary work. The poem uses foreshadowing to hint at the news of Lord Hartwell's death. Which example of foreshadowing do you find the most effective? Why?
1b. What irony occurs between the events and the time of year?
2b. Why does the speaker wish to see her gown "lying in a heap upon the ground"?
3b. What is the speaker figuratively burying in her bosom?
4b. In what ways are the patterns confining to the speaker?
5b. Imagine that a scientist and a poet are debating the question that the speaker asks at the end of the poem: "What are patterns for?" Summarize the views of each.
Theme. What themes are central to the selection?
Repetition. What idea is reinforced by the repeated images of dropping water and leaves? Use a cluster chart like the one below to list examples of this repetition.
1. Imagine that you are the speaker and that you have not yet received the bad news about Lord Hartwell. Write a letter to him, being sure to include memories of the time you spent together as well as your hopes for the future.
2. Imagine that you are the speaker and that you have just received news of Lord Hartwell's death. Write a journal entry envisioning your future without him.
3. Write a paragraph describing how the patterns of nature, love, and death portrayed in the poem are interconnected.
Prepositional Phrases. Rewrite each of the sentences below, expanding each by adding a prepositional phrase.
1. The gardener knelt slowly.
2. Daffodils, tulips, and irises bloomed.
3. The rains washed the garden path.
4. The fountain had been carved from marble.
5. She enjoyed the sound of the water splashing.
Researching Patterns in Art. Research various patterns in different art forms, such as textiles, ceramics, paintings, and photographs. Use the following Research Log to record your findings. Then, on your own paper, copy or compose three or four patterns to present to the class.
Notes on Design Patterns:
Sources Used:
Comparing and Contrasting. Complete the chart below in order to compare and contrast the patterns of joy and the patterns of sorrow as described in the poem. One example has been done for you.
7b. Patterns of sorrow
10b. Patterns of sorrow
