New and Selected Poems | Teaching Setting, Symbolism and Objects

Object Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major objects in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

Objects

Dogs - In several pieces, these are represented as creatures whose loyalty is beyond reproach.

Love - The author states this is one of the most important ingredients in a human being's life.

Birds - For the poet, these are marvels of creation whose free-wheeling flights remind her of the freedom of the soul when it is in its element.

Water - This is the carrier of ideas, the transporter of thought and experience and memory.

Aging - This is a natural part of the process of life and where Oliver is concerned,...
(read more)