How do poets decide to end their poems?

1. How do poets decide to end their poems? What purpose can the ending of a poem serve?

2. In this lesson you will make connections between the ending lines and previous stanzas by drawing arrows to map your thinking.

3. Stanza one stanza one stanza one stanza one Stanza one stanza one stanza one stanza one Stanza one stanza one stanza one stanza one Stanza one stanza one stanza one stanza one Stanza two stanza two stanza two stanza two Stanza two stanza two stanza two stanza two Stanza two stanza two stanza two stanza two Stanza two stanza two stanza two stanza two Stanza three stanza three stanza three stanza three Stanza three stanza three stanza three stanza three STANZA Each stanza has: 1) main idea & 2) purpose

4. THE ROAD NOT TAKEN By: Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–– I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. STANZAS 1-3

5. STANZA ONE Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Decision: Which road to take?

6. STANZA TWO Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, The speaker chooses a road. Both roads actually look worn.

7. STANZA THREE And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. Both roads are undisturbed. Will the speaker ever return?

8. Reading too quickly Not paying attention to the ending

9. THE ROAD NOT TAKEN  By: Robert Frost FINAL STANZA: I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–– I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

10. THE ROAD NOT TAKEN By: Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–– I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. This line seems out of place, or contradictory, to the rest of the poem?

11. “What insight does the ending offer to the rest of the poem?” The last line must be a NEW idea! The final stanza shows the speaker reminiscing with a sigh, thinking about whether or not a different decision would’ve mattered at all. He ends the poem sarcastically, claiming that one road made all the difference.

12. 1 • Re-read the final lines of the poem. 2 • Draw arrows to connect the final lines with related parts of the text. 3 Ask: “What insight or new info does the ending offer to the rest of the poem?”

13. In this lesson you have learned to make connections between the ending lines and previous stanzasby drawing arrows to map your thinking.

14. Re-read the poem “D.C.” and pay close attention to the final lines of the poem. D.C. By Elmer, a student I’m from PS1 to PS3 to movies to TV shows I play and I watch resident evil I’m from a city that can handle crime most of the time to school that is boring by the way to sometimes friendly teachers to lots of homework to friends I’m from a home with mocking brothers to sarcastic sisters to a loving mom to a great dad I’m from a city where the people hold the power white house to pentagon to president I’m not from new york or chicago or baltimore  or even hollywood, no none of these cities which I would go see I’m from D.C. 

15. Draw arrows to connect the final lines with related parts of the text. Then, ask: “What insight or new info does the ending offer to the rest of the poem?” The final stanza shows that:

16. Explain how the following endings could change the course of a story or poem completely. • One example: A sudden snowstorm - could trap characters together, causing conflict. • 1) The family pet gets hit by a car • 2) The “dead” zombie comes back to life • 3) The driver decides to turn around

17. Write a new poem which uses the ending to: • Present new information • Cause deeper reflection • Change the mood/feeling

18. Re-read the poem “Cripple” and pay close attention to the final lines of the poem.

19. Draw arrows to connect the final lines with related parts of the text. Then, ask: “What insight or new info does the ending offer to the rest of the poem?” The final stanza shows that: