Silent, Sustained Reading! What you need:  Your SSR book  Your brain  That’s it!

 Letters to a Young Poet By Rainer Maria Rilke

Letter #1 Review  5 W’s Summary: Who? What? Where? When? Why? Who: Rilke  the young poet What: Rilke is responding to the young poet’s request to criticize his poetry When: 1903 Where: Paris, France Why: The young poet is struggling to decide to become either a soldier or a poet

 “There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write?...if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple “I must,” then build you’re your life in accordance with this necessity” (Rilke 1-2). Lady Gaga’s German tattoo

“There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write?...if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple “I must,” then build your life in accordance with this necessity” (Rilke 1-2). Think, Pair, Share! Turn to a neighbor and discuss the following:  What does this quote mean? Paraphrase (put this quote into your own words).  Why would Lady Gaga tattoo this quote from Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet on her bicep? What personal connection(s) do you think she has with this quote?  Cite (pull out) two important words or phrases from the quote to support your answer!

“I had this tattooed on my arm so that every single day I would be reminded that my gift is songwriting and I have to do it. It’s not an option. It’s like breathing” (Lady Gaga).  “Confess to yourself in the deepest hour of the night whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. Dig deep into your heart, where the answer spreads its roots in your being, and ask yourself solemnly, Must I write?” (Rilke) Lady Gaga’s German tattoo

Letter 1, Paragraph 3 5 W’s Summary: Who? What? Where? When? Why? Who? What? When? Where? Why?

What is the central idea?  Central Idea = theme, the thing that ties together the whole story  What is the author’s main argument in the text?  What is/are the central idea(s) of paragraph 3? Beauty lies within the individual Poetry/art is a personal practice Art comes from within the individual Being a poet/artist is both a blessing and a curse External praise/criticism does not matter when it comes to art Don’t look to others for answers about your own life. Only you have the answers.

 Finish reading paragraph 3  Make annotations  Brainstorm possible central ideas  Write 1 central idea

Ticket-Out-The-Door On a separate piece of lined paper with a proper heading:  Determine one of Rilke’s central ideas and analyze its development over the course of “Letter One”.  Use 3 pieces of textual evidence to support your analysis.