Question

date
\thanatopsis\ by william cullen bryant
\old ironsides\ by oliver wendell holmes
\the first snowfall\ by james russell lowell
from snowbound by john greenleaf whittier
reading strategy: summarize
summarizing is a valuable way to check your reading comprehension. when you summarize
something, you briefly state its main points and key details in your own words.
directions: summarize each stanza below on the lines provided.

1. \thanatopsis\: yet not to thine eternal resting place

shalt thou retire alone, nor couldst thou wish
couch more magnificent. thou shalt lie down
with patriarchs of the infant world—with kings,
the powerful of the earth—the wise, the good,
fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past,
all in one mighty sepulcher.

1. \old ironsides\: oh, better that her shattered hulk

should sink beneath the wave;
her thunders shook the mighty deep,
and there should be her grave;
nail to the mast her holy flag.
set every threadbare sail,
and give her to the god of storms,
the lightning and the gale!

1. from snowbound:

a prompt, decisive man, no breath
our father wasted: \boys, a path!\
well pleased (for when did farmer boy
count such a summons less than joy?)
our buskins on our feet we drew;
with mittened hands, and caps drawn low,
to guard our necks and ears from snow,
we cut the solid whiteness through.
and where the drift was deepest, made
a tunnel walled and overlaid
with dazzling crystal: we had read
of rare aladdins wondrous cave,
and to our own his name we gave,
with many a wish the luck were ours
to test his lamps supernal powers.
we reached the barn with merry din,
and roused the prisoned brutes within...

69

Explanation:

1. Summary for "Thanatopsis" stanza

The stanza says you won’t rest alone in death. Your grave (the earth) is magnificent, and you’ll lie with ancient kings, wise people, and past seers—all in one great tomb.

The stanza argues it’s better for the ship “Old Ironsides” to sink at sea (its grave) where it once shook the deep with its thunder. Nail its flag to the mast, set its sails, and give it to the storm god (lightning, gale) to end its life.

Father (prompt, decisive) tells boys to make a path. The boys (pleased) put on buskins, mittens, caps, and cut through deep snow. They make a crystal - walled tunnel (named after Aladdin’s cave) and reach the barn, rousing the animals inside.

Answer:

You will not be alone in your eternal resting place (death). Your grave (the earth) is magnificent, and you will lie with ancient patriarchs, kings, the wise, good, and old seers, all in one great tomb.

2. Summary for "Old Ironsides" stanza