Page 70 - 100 Best Loved Poems - Teaching Unit

“Hymn: Sung at the Completion of the Concord Monument”
by Ralph Waldo Emerson, page 49

Vocabulary
votive – given as the mark of a vow or pledge
sires – fathers

1. What has happened to the “rude bridge”?

The bridge no longer stands since it was swept down the stream.

2. What does the speaker ultimately ask the “Spirit” to do?

The speaker asks the “Spirit” to do what it can to protect the monument and keep it standing.

3. “Occasional poems” are poems written to be read on a specific occasion, much as speeches are
written. What occasion was “Concord Hymn” written to mark?

“Concord Hymn” was written to mark the completion of the Concord Monument.

“Sonnet XLIII”
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, pages 49-50
Vocabulary
[none]

1. What is the tone of the poem?

The poem is written in a reflective, loving tone.

2. What does the speaker mean when she writes, “by sun and by candle”?

The speaker is using the imagery of the daylight and the candlelight to suggest that her love
lasts all day.

3. Who are the “lost saints”?

The speaker is referring to those whom she has loved before, most likely family members.

4. Why do you believe words like “Being” and “Grace” are capitalized in this poem?

Answers may vary. Example: The words that are capitalized in this poem are words that are
associated with moral goodness and purity. These words tie into the final capitalized word in
this poem, God.

5. According to the final last lines of this poem, how long will the speaker’s love endure?

The speaker’s love will endure even “after death,” should God allow.

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