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Interactive
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Robert Frost at Jfk's Inauguration

For Students 3rd - 8th
Can you imagine being asked to speak at a presidential inauguration and then not being able to read what you had intended to say? That's what happened to Robert Frost. Visit this site to find out how he solved this problem.
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Website
The Washington Post

Robert Hass on Walt Whitman

For Students 9th - 10th
Poet laureate Robert Hass writes about Walt Whitman and the controversies that have often surrounded his writing and life.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: American Women: Edna St. Vincent Millay

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief look at American poet, Edna St. Vincent Millay, along with a portrait of her painted by Charles Ellis.
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Website
Other

Literary Traveler: An Encounter With William Stafford

For Students 9th - 10th
This essay on William Stafford and gives insight into some of Stafford's thoughts on life.
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Website
The Washington Post

Washington Post: Poems by Theodore Roethke and Elizabeth Bishop

For Students 9th - 10th
Poet laureate Robert Hass writes about the poetry form called villanelle and uses poems by Roethke and Bishop to demonstrate the form.
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Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

For Students 7th - 8th
Ernest Lawrence Thayer (1863-1940) was an American writer and poet, best known for the following poem, which is considered a classic in sports-related literature. As you read, take notes on how the author develops the mood of the poem....
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Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: At a Window by Carl Sandburg

For Students 7th - 8th
Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) was an American poet and writer who won three Pulitzer Prizes in his lifetime. His work is known for the way it plays tribute to the common man. "At A Window" was published in Poetry in 1914. As you read, make...
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Article
Library of Congress

Loc: Commentary on "I Hear America Singing"

For Students 9th - 10th
On this site learn more about "I Hear America Singing" and listen to a recording of it being read by Billy Collins.
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Graphic
Library of Congress

Loc: American Memory: Gertrude Stein

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides links to several interesting photos of Gertrude Stein.
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Website
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Gary Snyder: Short Bio

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a short biography on Snyder written by Ann Charters from "The Portable Beat Reader."
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Website
Other

Amba: Gary Snyder: Biography, Bibliography, Photo

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a biography of Gary Snyder on this American Museum of Beat Art site. There is also a bibliography of his works.
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Handout
Bartleby

Bartleby.com: Cambridge History of Eng and Am Lit: Henry W Longfellow's Youth

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed biographical information about Longfellow's youth and early education. Discusses the influence of his native Maine. Describes Longfellow's first publication, at the age of 13, in a local newspaper.
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Handout
Bartleby

Bartleby.com: Cambridge History of Eng and Am Lit: Henry W Longfellow Matures

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Discussion of the influence of Europe and the death of his wife on Longfellow's writing. Includes an analysis of his prose work, "Hyperion", and Longfellow's collection of poetry called "Voices of the Night."
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Handout
Vroma Project

Cambridge History of Eng. And Am. Literature: Longfellow at Harvard

For Students 9th - 10th
Examines Longfellow's position at Harvard, his dissatisfaction with the academic life, and his second marriage. Includes a discussion of one of Longfellow's best-known poems, "A Psalm of Life."
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Carl Sandburg

For Students 9th - 10th
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1978 to commemorate writer Carl Sandburg, who won two Pulitzer Prizes. With a short biographical passage.
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Website
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: John Haines

For Students 9th - 10th
This note on the poet John Haines includes an example of one of his verses.
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Activity
Other

Official Site of Gary Soto

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a brief biography of author, Gary Soto, and includes links to his current works.
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Unknown Type
My Hero Project

My Hero: Robert Lee Frost

For Students 9th - 10th
The author of poem "The Road Not Taken," Robert Frost was honored as "America's poet laureate" and the "national bard." Read about his contributions to world of poetry and literature and check out the "related links" and bibliography for...
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Website
Other

Book Page Interview: Gary Soto

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, part of the online version of the magazine BookPage, provides a 1998 interview with Gary Soto, in which he discusses the themes of some of his works, his background, and his use of different genres of writing.
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Famous Americans: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn brief information from the National Postal Museum on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, famous American poet who was featured on the one cent postage stamp.
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Famous Americans: Walt Whitman

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn brief information from the National Postal Museum on Walt Whitman, famous American poet, who was featured on the five cent postage stamp.