Poetry Pre-Post Reading Questions
1. “miss rosie ” 
Pre-reading question to drop:  Take a look at the picture linked on the “miss rosie” webpage.  Consider the image as a SYMBOL (representative of something beyond the literal depiction): what might the image symbolize? Briefly explain. 
Response question to post:  The poet uses “I stand up” twice in the poem, perhaps providing a clue to how the poet wants us to feel about Miss Rosie.  Think about it, what does it mean to “stand up” for someone?  The poet certainly “stands up” for Rosie by recognizing Miss Rosie’s life through poetry, but why does the poet “stand up” for Miss Rosie?  Is Miss Rosie a SYMBOL of something beyond herself?  What would you say Miss Rosie symbolizes to the poet?
2. “Mending Wall” 
Pre-reading question to drop: “Good fences make good neighbors.”  Provide arguments for and against this statement.  Include at least two points per argument.
Response question to post:  Connection to Fences: The good times with neighbor/friend Jim Bono seem strained now.  Out in the yard on Saturday morning, working on Rose’s fence, Jim Bono suggests that  Rose wants the fence to hold on, protect, the one’s she loves; keep her family together in her loving embrace.  Bono’s comment challenges Troy’s recent actions with Alberta.  Jim leaves saying “I want to see you put that fence up by yourself” which might suggest that Troy must right whatever wrongs he’s caused. 

Frost’s poem relates a scene of two neighbors working on a fence (wall) as well, but is somewhat ambiguous.  The poem presents opposing views about the wall.  Which mindset does the poet seem to favor:  the neighbor’s view or the speaker’s view?  Furthermore, if the speaker dislikes walls, why does he initiate mending the wall each spring?  Quote the poem and provide commentary explaining how the quoted material helps show that your assertion (opinion, interpretation) is well-supported by the text.
3. “The Prodigal” by Elizabeth Bishop, “The Prodigal” and “The Father” by Sara Henderson Hay 
Pre-reading question to drop:  What are the definitions of “prodigal”?  Do you agree that the father should have embraced his prodigal son?  Why or why not.  
Response question to post:  Connection to Fences: Troy’s son Lyon’s at first appears to perhaps be a type of prodigal son, coming around Troy’s house on pay day to bum $10.  Though Troy does give him $10, Troy hardly provides a “feast” for Lyons, though Rose certainly offers Lyons dinner.  (Ah! the compassionate Rose!) Lyons returns in Act 1 scene 4, on pay day again, but despite Troy’s commentary, Lyons has come to repay the $10 loan.  Not only does Troy give Lyons a hard time before he finds out Lyons has come to PAY and not BORROW, Troy refuses to accept the money.  I wonder why Troy refuses to accept payment, especially after hearing about all the financial troubles he’s facing.

Compare and contrast the voices of the two “Prodigal Son” poems.  How are they similar; how are they different?  Quote lines from the poems along with your commentary relating the quotes to your assertion (how the voices are similar, different).

How is the father in “The Father” different from the father of the parable?  Who is more believable?  Again, quote lines from the poem, parable, along with your commentary relating the quotes to your assertion (the difference and believability of the two fathers).