Advancing in Poetry Advancing in Poetry    

Lesson 15: Sunset

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Performer: Librivox - Beth Peat


The river sleeps beneath the sky,

And clasps the shadows to its breast;

The crescent moon shines dim on high;

And in the lately radiant west

The gold is fading into gray.

Now stills the lark his festive lay,

And mourns with me the dying day.



While in the south the first faint star

Lifts to the night its silver face,

And twinkles to the moon afar

Across the heaven's graying space,

Low murmurs reach me from the town,

As Day puts on her sombre crown,

And shakes her mantle darkly down.

    Advancing in Poetry Advancing in Poetry    

Lesson 15: Sunset

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Performer: Librivox - Beth Peat

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

Paul Laurence Dunbar's 'Sunset,' describes the sights, sounds, and activities surrounding the fall of day and the rise of night.

Concepts

  1. Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in 1872 in Dayton, Ohio.
  2. Zoom in and find Dunbar's state of birth, Ohio (OH), on the map of the United States.
  3. Dunbar's parents were slaves in Kentucky before being emancipated after the American Civil War. Find Kentucky (KY) on the map of the United States.
  4. Dunbar started writing poetry as a child and published his first poem at the age of 16.
  5. Dunbar was editor of his high school newspaper and president of its literary society.
  6. Dunbar was a novelist (wrote books), playwright (wrote plays), and lyricist (wrote words to songs) in addition to being a poet.
  7. Dunbar was the first black American poet to attain widespread international recognition.
  8. Dunbar died of tuberculosis in Dayton, Ohio at the age of 33.

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 93-98 of 'Elementary Poetry 4: Advancing in Poetry.'

References

  1. 'Paul Laurence Dunbar.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.