First and sixth periods took a test on the short stories unit. We’ll begin the poetry unit tomorrow.

Second and fourth periods looked at tonal shifts in poetry. We examined two poems by Billy Collins (“Forgetfulness,” available here, and “The Lanyard,” available here) and “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” (available here).

Seventh period completed “The Highwayman” (available here), looking at all the ways the poem is similar to a short story. We’ll read one more narrative poem tomorrow.

The Highwayman Inn - geograph.org.uk (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Homework

• First and sixth periods: none.
• Second and fourth: read “The Road Not Taken” and determine the location of the tonal shift and identify the contrasted tones.
• Seventh period: none.