Poetry: Finding the Main Idea of the Poem

Poetry: Finding the main idea of the poem by Curtis Heath

He climbs the wind above green clouds of pine, WIND AND SILVER Honking to hail the by Amy Lowell gathering migration. And, arching towards the Greatly shining, south, pulls to align His flight into the great The Autumn moon floats in the spearhead formation. thin sky;

And the fish-ponds shake their He’ll find a bayou land of backs and flash their dragon scales hidden pools, And bask amid lush fern As she passes over them. and water lily Far from the frozen world of earth-bound fools Who, shivering, maintain Title of Poem: “Wind and Silver” that geese are silly. Does the title give you any clues about the main idea? The title tells me that the poem might have something to do with wind and something silver. Title of Poem: “Wild Goose” Who or what is the subject of the poem? Does the title give you any clues about the main idea? The subject of the poem is the moon. The title tells me that the poem could be about a wild goose. What words or phrases tell you about the subject? Who or what is the subject of the poem? “Greatly shining” and “autumn moon.” The subject of the poem is a goose’s migration. Describe the action in the poem. What words or phrases tell you about the subject? The autumn moon floats in the night sky and you can see the fish in The words “migration” and “spearhead formation” and the phrase the ponds in the moonlight. “from the frozen world of earth-bound fools who, shivering, maintain What is the main idea of the poem? that geese are silly.” The magical effect of the moonlight illuminating a fish pond. Describe the action in the poem. The first stanza of the poem gives me information about the action, such as, “He climbs the wind above green clouds of pine, honking to hail the gathering migration.” The second stanza also has plenty of information about the goose’s actions. What is the main idea of the poem? The main idea of “Wild Goose” is that a goose’s migration is smart and beautiful.

Wild Goose Poetry: Finding the theme of the poem Birds' Nests by Edward Thomas

City Autumn by Joseph Moncure March The summer nests uncovered by autumn wind, Some torn, others dislodged, all dark, The air breathes frost. A thin wind beats Everyone sees them: low or high in tree, Old dust and papers down grey streets Or hedge, or single bush, they hang like a mark. And blows brown leaves with curled up edges At frightened sparrows on window ledges. A snowflake falls like an errant feather: Since there's no need of eyes to see them with A vagabond draws his cloak together, I cannot help a little shame And an old man totters past with a cane That I missed most, even at eye's level, till Wondering if he'll see spring again. The leaves blew off and made the seeing no game.

What is the main idea of the poem? How do you know? 'Tis a light pang. I like to see the nests The changing of the seasons affects nature, animals, and the people Still in their places, now first known, in a city. We know this because the title mentions city autumn and the At home and by far roads. Boys knew them not, words in the poem describe what happens to nature, animals and Whatever jays and squirrels may have done. people in the city during the change of seasons. What is the tone or voice of the poem? Identify the words or phrases that helped you identify it. The voice of “City Autumn” is somber and reflective. The words the And most I like the winter nests deep-hid poet uses to describe the actions, such as “Thin wind beats old dust,” That leaves and berries fell into: “a vagabond draws his cloak together,” and “an old man totters Once a dormouse dined there on hazel-nuts, past. . .” give us a somber feeling. And grass and goose-grass seeds found soil and grew. What message does the poem have for the reader? How did you draw this conclusion? What is the main idea of the poem? How do you know? We might say that the message or theme of “City Autumn” is to enjoy I think the main idea of this poem is many birds’ nests are now visible life because you never know if you will be around to see another due to the change in the season because the title mentions birds’ season. We drew this conclusion by gathering the information about nests and the words in the poem describe what happens to a birds’ the poem’s main idea and voice to identify the message or theme. nests in autumn. What is the tone or voice of the poem? Identify the words or phrases that helped you identify it. After reading the poem aloud, I feel somber or somewhat sad. Phrases such as: “hang like a mark,” “I cannot help but a little shame,” and “made the seeing no game,” give me a feeling of sadness. What message does the poem have for the reader? How did you draw this conclusion? I think the theme of this poem is to take time to notice nature’s beauty before it is too late. Gathering the information about the poem’s main idea and voice can help to identify the message or theme.