Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant: Poem Analysis, Hands-on Symbolism Activity

Looking for a ready-made lesson plan for "Thanatopsis" by William Cullen Bryant"? You and your students will enjoy this resource that requires little prep and gets them thinking about how a poem from the 1800s relates to today.

What's included . . .

► Step-by-step instructions for each day.

► Defining Romanticism handout for researching the term and determining its meaning.

► Clean copy of poem with text-dependent questions that require comprehension, inference, and analysis skills - These questions model the types of ideas students should be pondering as they read. During this lesson, students will examine figurative language, make meaning of the poem, determine theme, and decide on Romantic qualities present. (Answer key)

► Symbolism activity creating a mosaic for "Thanatopsis" using scraps of paper. This hands-on activity is very fun and engaging, and it also gets students thinking about the poem thematically!

► Related Ted Talk that will intrigue your students plus a guide to keep students on task while viewing/listening.

► Quiz with 10 multiple-choice questions in 2 versions with scrambled answers - Editable

This "Thanatopsis" lesson will have students thinking critically and working collarboratively while discussing, sharing, and creating. Students will also employ close reading and higher order thinking skills. One great hook to get students interested is that high school students can identify with the writer because the author was only 17 when he wrote this!

❤️Enjoy having everything ready to print and teach for this lesson on William Cullen Bryant's famous poem!

You might also like these resources related to Romanticism time period . . .

• "A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

• "Old Ironsides" - USS Constitution

• Romanticism Bundle

If you would like an ENTIRE semester of American literature lessons and activities at your fingertips, visit American Literature Full Semester for more stress-free planning!