Advancing in Poetry Advancing in Poetry    

Lesson 8: The Lockless Door

by Robert Frost

Performer: Librivox - Carolyn Frances

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read or listen to the poem.
• Review the synopsis.
• Read about the poet.
• Complete the enrichment activities.

Synopsis

In Robert Frost's 'The Lockless Door,' the narrator lives the life of a hermit, tucked away from the world within a refuge that has no visitors and needs no lock...until the day a knock sounds at the door. The narrator climbs out the window and stands outside before calling, 'Come in,' through the window. Just one knock changes the narrator's refuge into a hostile land and the outside hostile land into his refuge.

Concepts

1. Robert Frost was born in 1874 in San Francisco, California. Study his portrait.

2. Frost moved to Massachusetts at age 11 when his father died of tuberculosis.
3. Zoom in and find Frost's state of birth, California (CA), on the map of the United States. Trace his path when he moved to Massachusetts (MA).

4. Frost's time spent in New England inspired his poetry.
5. Frost worked many jobs including as a factory worker, a farmer, a school teacher, and a college professor, but thought his true calling was that of a poet.
6. Frost married and had six children, although many of the children died young and only two outlived their father.
7. Frost died of a heart attack in Boston, Massachusetts at the age of 88.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite Poem Information

Recite the title of the poem and the name of the poet.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

Study the poem picture and describe how it relates to the poem.

Activity 3: Recite the Poem

Practice reciting the poem aloud.

Activity 4: Complete Book Activities   

• Click the crayon above, and complete pages 44-48 of 'Elementary Poetry 4: Advancing in Poetry.'

References

'Robert Frost.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.