Now that you have explored "The Sick Rose" and "Nothing Gold Can Stay," you will engage in a phone or web-based “check for understanding” with your instructor. This conversation will serve as your Application for this topic and will cover some of the aspects of the poetry including the following questions:

1. Who is the speaker of the poem?
2. What do you think the author's purpose was for writing the poem?
3. What images or diction helped you figure out the tone of the poem?
4. What is the tone of the poem?
5. What do you feel is the most prevalent theme in the poem?
6. What images or tones do all three pieces have in common?
7. How could those images contribute to a central theme?
8. How does each piece reinforce something you learned about the other pieces?

During this conversation, your instructor will provide you with a prompt or series of questions about the material that you just learned. Your instructor will expect you to provide detailed information about this topic’s content. In order to be prepared for this activity, you should make sure that you have:

1. Read or viewed the material that has been covered in Topics One though Seven;
2. Taken notes on any assigned content; and
3. Reviewed your notes and instructor feedback from previous assignments.

Your instructor may provide you with more details about this assignment. Please contact your instructor to set up a time to talk to him/her via phone or web conference.