Every classroom is different. Although some students struggle with poetry, Roethke's musical tone and the poem's central ambiguity—is it about love? about abuse? both?—may be compelling to many students. You should be aware, however, that you most likely have a student who has lived with abuse in your classroom; approach the material with deliberation and sensitivity.
These lessons and activities provide many different approaches to the text; select those that best suit the strengths and interests of your own class. The thought questions in this lesson plan provide material and ideas that students can use to write short original essays and to develop their powers of analysis.
The...
