Before Reading
Make a Plan
Read the Literary Tools and About the Selection sections carefully. Think about your response to Prufrock as you read. Get sticky notes to mark passages. If you do not have sticky notes, set up a page in your notebook by drawing a line down the center. In the left-hand column, write a key phrase and line number, and in the right-hand column, write your comments and responses.
During Reading
Take Notes as You Read
1. Read along as your teacher reads the epigraph and first stanza aloud. As you listen, use your sticky notes or chart to comment on Prufrock's thoughts and observations. Some of the kinds of comments you can make as you read: note personal connections, note things you wonder about, make predictions, or tell Prufrock what you think he should do. Comments can be brief and may include words, pictures, or both.
2. Read the rest of the poem on your own. Continue to use sticky notes or fill in the chart in your notebook.
Fix-Up Idea: Read Short Sections
If you have trouble following this long poem, try reading shorter sections. Read each stanza slowly and carefully. Pause after every stanza to summarize what you have read, and answer any Guided Reading Questions in the stanza. If you have questions about the stanza, reread the stanza to find the answer. If you still have questions, talk with a classmate or your teacher to clarify a point. When you reach a set of bullets, stop and think about the preceding stanzas. What overall idea do you have about the section? Continue reading in this manner until you reach the end of the poem.
After Reading
Summarize
When you finish reading, look back over your notes. If you have unanswered questions, see if you can answer them now. If you made predictions, see if they were right. If you have other notes, put them together to get a full picture. With your partner, share your notes and discuss your reactions to the poem.