Nothing Gold Can Stay is a 8 line poem that uses natural imagery and contrasts to convey the inevitable nature of change. The poem notes how nature's earliest blooms are a bright golden hue but only last for a short time, similar to how youth or wealth are only temporary. All things must give way to progression, as Eden sank to grief and dawn fades to day, emphasizing that while appearances change, the underlying essence remains. The poem's purpose is to remind readers that change is natural and necessary, and to appreciate each phase for what it offers.

1. Nothing Gold Can Stay By: Robert Frost Kate Riddle

2. Nature's first green is gold 1 Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. 4 Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. 8

3. Structure Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDD Diction: Simple, no word is longer than 2 syllables Meter: short trimeter, contributes to the shortness of the poem

4. Nature Imagery “ Nature’s first green is gold” (ln 1) As vegetation begins to bloom, it holds a golden hue. Also reveals that some things begin as “gold,” or wonderful in being. “ Early leaf’s a flower; but only so an hour” (ln 3-4) The first stage of something is beautiful, but appearances fade quickly.

5. Nature Imagery Con’t “ Then leaf subsides to leaf” (ln 5) Repetition of “leaf” affirms that the leaf lasts longer than the short bloom of the flower. The appearance of something may change, but there are parts of it that may remain the same.

6. Nature Imagery Con’t “ So down goes down to day.” (ln 7) Shifts focus from seasons to a short day. Nothing is permanent. Life is a cycle of constant change. Some changes last longer than others.

7. Contrasts “ green/gold” (ln 1) “ leaf/flower” (ln 3) “ dawn/day” (ln 7) Each contrasts shows progression. The second word was the first at some point. Emphasizes that appearances change, yet the original value of something does not.

8. Literary Devices Personification: Nature is addressed as a female. “ Nature’s first…Her early leaf” (ln 1-2) Symbolizes the nurturing aspect of Mother Nature Allusion: Frost alludes to the fall of Eden in the bible. “ So Eden sank to grief” (ln 6) Theological value to poem: Life brings bliss and inevitable hardships.

9. Literary Devices Con’t Alliteration “ Nature’s first g reen is g old” (ln 1) “ H er h ardest h ue to h old” (ln 2) “ So d awn goes d own to d ay” (ln 7) Alliteration adds emphasis to the first sound of the words while keeping the poem flowing. Frost’s use of alliteration reaffirms the inevitable result of progression and change: appearances are temporary.

10. Time and Space “ But only so an hour” (ln 4) Emphasizes the brevity of gold . “ So Eden sank to grief” (ln 6) References something from the beginning of time. Change has been happening forever. “ So dawn goes down to day” (ln 7) Everyday we can find changes in the natural world.

11. Natural vs. Manmade “ Green/Gold” Depending on how these words are read, green may represent natural beauty which is always present. Gold is something discovered and longed for by men. The joys of wealth are brief. True happiness finds appreciation in the green (natural world) as well.

12. The Jist Appearances, wealth, and youth are temporary. Only the natural essence of something is timeless. A person is the same person no matter how much they age. A tree is the same tree through every season. It is hard to maintain wealth, but one cannot be truly happy if he only appreciates the appearance of wealth. He must seek happiness is things that are natural and steadfast.

13. Evaluating the Poem Purpose: To tell readers that change in their lives inevitable and ultimately necessary To help the reader take a closer look at the changes in the world around them that occur daily, monthly, and yearly

14. Evaluating the Poem How fully does the poem accomplish the purpose? Very well through the use of imagery, contrasts, and literary devises How important is the purpose? (to me) Important to me because I am able to understand change and appreciate each transition, or phase of that change. Good things last forever, even if their exteriors fade away.