Before Reading
Think About Theme
A theme is a central idea in a literary work. Look at the title of this poem. What would you expect the central idea of such a work to be? Write down what you expect the theme to be.
During Reading
Look for Theme as You Read
1. Listen as your teacher reads the first stanza of the poem. What words and images stick out to you? Do these things relate to the theme you expected?
2. Continue reading the selection on your own. Keep looking for words and images that support the theme.
Fix-Up Idea: Read in Smaller Chunks
Pause after each stanza. Answer any Guided Reading Questions related to the stanza. Summarize the main idea of the stanza before you move on.
After Reading
Relate to the Theme
Work with a few of your classmates to answer the following questions: What is the theme of this poem? Do you agree with this idea? Explain situations to which this theme would apply.