1. Themes Across Genres: Nature Poetry Nature as a Reflection of Humanity

2. Faith and Doubt in "Dover Beach” p. 656 In this poem: Nature, especially the sea, is a metaphor. What does it stand for? Do you think that this poem is ultimately pessimistic? About faith? About life? Why or why not? Why do you make of the allusion to Sophocles in lines 15-20? Why do you think he includes this? What else can we say about Arnold's use of nature in this poem?

3. Nature as a source of self-knowledge? In all of these works, the speaker or main character experiences an epiphany, a moment of realization. What does each of these characters know at the end of the work that they did not know at the beginning? What did they have to go through to get there?

4. Attitudes Towards Nature If you had to describe these authors' attitudes toward nature, what would you say about each of them? In “How to Build a Fire”, how does the relationship between the man and the dog change over the course of the short story, and what do you think that says about London’s attitude towards “human” intelligence?

5. Langston Hughes: “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” p. 686 Our friend Langston again! How is this poem similar to “Negro”? Why does this poem focus on a geographical feature? How does that give focus to the poem? Can this poem meant to be seen as a companion to “Negro”? How so? How do we know? What evidence do you see for this?

6. Mary Oliver “Wild Geese” p. 634 This poem expresses a view of nature that is a little different than the other’s we have looked at. This poem expresses nature and humanity as one. Where do we find evidence of this in this poem? This poem views the relationship between humanity and nature as one of inspiration, oneness, and healing. That although we rush around and worry and think of ourselves as so separate and isolated from the world, we are part of a greater whole, and that realizing that, noticing nature and seeing ourselves as a part of it and not apart from it, we can heal.

7. Robert Frost: “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” p. 680 This is probably one of the most famous nature poems in the world, but is it really about nature? Many people argue it is not. What is it about? Anyone want to give us their interpretation of this poem? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfOxdZfo0gs

8. Essay 2: Themes in Poetry We have been discussing themes over the past 2 weeks: Love Nature War There are many, MANY other themes in literature of course. What are a few you can think of? We have also been reading a lot of poetry. Essay 2 asks that you explore a theme in poetry and compare/contrast poems in relation to their treatment of a particular theme. [Pass out the prompt and discuss.]

9. From Last Week: Strange Love Last week when we discussed our “Strange Love Poems” I gave you all a challenge for extra credit to write a love poem with as many gross words/images as you could. Did anyone do this? Would you like to share it with us?

10. Next Week’s Theme: War Tuesday, March 24 Themes Across Genres: War Homework Due: Read 1 short story and two poems and do Read & Respond: Short Story: Tim O’Brian’s “The Things They Carried” p. 269-281 Poem: Denise Levertov “What Were They Like?” (handout) Poem: Yusef Komunyakaa “Facing It” (handout) NOTE: all three of these works are about the same war—make sure you understand which one. Thursday, March 26 Topics: War Poetry Homework Due: Read 3 Poems and do Read & Respond: Richard Lovelace “To Lucasta: Going to the Wars” p. 527, Wilfred Owen “Dulce et Decorum Est” p. 642, Yusef Komunyakaa “Facing It” (handout) Wislawa Szymborska “The End and the Beginning” p. 648