Before Reading
Think About What You Know
With two or three of your classmates discuss the following questions: Do you think gender bias exists in schools, the workplace, and elsewhere? What changes would you like to see in attitudes about gender? How would you feel if someone treated you as if you couldn't do something because of your gender? Keep these ideas in mind as you read this poem in which Finch expresses her feelings about the lost opportunities of women.
During Reading
Use What You Know as You Read
1. Listen as your teacher reads the first 20 lines of the poem. Answer the following questions: What attitudes did people have toward women poets? Why? What was expected of women? How do you feel about these attitudes? How do they compare to attitudes today?
2. Continue reading the selection on your own. Outline the arguments Finch addresses and refutes.
Fix-Up Idea: Refocus on Syntax and Context
Word order in poetry is often switched around. Work with a partner to reorder lines so they sound more like typical speech. Then preview the footnotes. The footnotes provide definitions for some terms and information about allusions made in the poem. As you read, refer to the footnotes as necessary.
After Reading
Summarize What You Learned
With your group from the Before-Reading activity, evaluate Finch's argument. Do you find it convincing? Do you think you would have found it convincing when Finch wrote it? What arguments would you make for gender equality today?