Before Reading
Preview Organization of a Villanelle
Read about villanelles in Literary Tools on page 941. As you read, look for the repeated lines and think about the themes they develop.
During Reading
Use Organization as You Read
1. Listen as your teacher reads the first stanza aloud. What ideas does the speaker present?
2. Continue reading the selection on your own. What lines are repeated? What ideas does this repetition emphasize?
Fix-Up Idea: Refocus
Instead of focusing on the organization of the villanelle, try refocusing on attitudes toward death. Review your response to the Reader's Journal activity. Think about what you would say to somebody who was dying. Keep these ideas in mind as you read.
After Reading
Summarize Your Ideas
Discuss the following questions with a partner: What ideas are repeated in the poem? What new ideas are introduced in each stanza? What is the overall theme of the poem? Write a paragraph summarizing your ideas.