One Day I Wrote Her Name Upon the Strand - Level 1

Prep Phase:

In a moment, you will read a poem called, "I Wrote Her Name Upon the Strand" by Edmund Spenser. Based on the title, predict what you think the poem will be about:

Take a moment to identify the words and phrases that stuck out or resonated with you and write them down:

What did you already know about this poem, if anything, before you read it? After reading it, what did it remind you of?

Retention Phase:

Where does the poem take place?

What was the speaker doing at the beginning of the poem?

Writing his lover a song.

Writing his lover's name in the sand

Writing his lover's name in his diary

Writing poetry to his lover

What keeps happening to what the speaker is writing?

The wind constantly blows it away

Nothing

His sister keeps setting it on fire

The waves keep washing it away

Who does the speaker speak to in the poem?

Himself

His sister

His beloved

A friend

The woman in this poem thinks the speaker is:

Romantic

Silly

Vain

Passionate

What does the speaker’s beloved say about his efforts?

She asks him to keep trying so that she can see her name written in the sand.

She says it is pointless because, just as she will die someday, her name will be wiped out and forgotten

She scolds him for doing such a ridiculous thing

She praises his efforts for immortalizing her name.

What does the speaker say his beloved shall live through?

Song and dance

His poetry

His love

All of the Above

Which summary best suits the poem?

The speaker keeps writing his lover’s name in the sand, but the waves keep washing them away. He tries again and again and again. The speaker’s beloved then tells the speaker it’s useless to keep trying to put her name in the sand and reminds him that not only will the ocean waves wash away her name, but in time she herself will vanish from life. She also calls him vain and seems to be castigating him for his arrogance. The speaker contradicts her, however, saying that she will live in fame through his poetry, which he will use to praise her. He will hail her virtues and praise her beauty in his poetry.

The speaker keeps writing his lover’s name in the sand, but the waves keep washing them away. The speaker’s beloved then tells the speaker it’s useless to keep trying to put her name in the sand and reminds him that not only will the ocean waves wash away her name, but in time she herself will vanish from life. The speaker contradicts her, however, saying that she will live in fame through his poetry, which he will use to praise her.

One Day I Wrote Her Name Upon the Strand - Level 1

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