Nothing Gold Can Stay Activity

Nothing Gold
Can Stay.
By Robert Frost
© Presto Plans
Nothing Gold Can Stay.
Click the image or link to
hear a reading of the
poem from the film
adaptation of The
Outsiders. Follow along
with the poem that has
been printed for you.
© Presto Plans
Your Group Task
The next slides will break down the poem line by line. For
each line (or set of lines), there will be a couple of discussion
questions. Spend some time discussing each question then
record your group’s ideas on the group brainstorm sheet! Be
prepared to share your ideas with the whole class.
© Presto Plans
Nothing Gold Can Stay.
Line 1
Question 1
a) What does "nature's first green” mean?
b) Why is it "gold"? Do you think Frost

means the color gold? What else could
gold symbolize/represent?
© Presto Plans
NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY
Line 2
Question 2
a) What is a "hue"?
b) Do you think nature has a hard time

"holding" onto green?
© Presto Plans
Lines 3 & 4
Question 3
a) What would an "early leaf" be?
b) Why is it only that way for an hour? Is

it really an hour? What is Frost saying
here?
© Presto Plans
Lines 5 & 6
Question 4
a) What does the word "subsides" mean?
a) What is "Eden"?
c) What do you think is meant by the

reference to "grief"?
© Presto Plans
Lines 7 & 8
Question 5
a) We don't typically think of dawn, or a
sunrise, as "going down", as we would
with dusk. Why do you think Frost
worded it like this?
b) What is meant by "nothing gold can

stay"? © Presto Plans
FINAL THOUGHT
Question 6:
Do you think the message of
this poem could apply to The Outsiders
more than nature? What S.E. Hinton
does it say about people and
life in general or how could it
relate to the novel?
© Presto Plans
Possible Interpretations
Question 1 (Line 1):
a) What does "nature's first green” mean?
b) Why is it "gold"? Do you think Frost means the color

gold? What else could gold symbolize/represent?
Nature’s first green could be interpreted as spring

when plants and greenery come to life after the cold,
barren winter. It is described as gold. This can be
interpreted to mean that springtime is precious and
valuable.
© Presto Plans
Question 2 (Line 2):
a) What is a "hue"?
b) Do you think nature has a hard time "holding"

onto green?
This line suggests that the green of springtime (or the

‘gold’) is a color (hue) that does not last long or is
difficult to ‘hold’. This line shows that nature’s
precious and valuable green is fleeting.
© Presto Plans
Question 3 (Lines 3 & 4):
a) What would an "early leaf" be?
b) Why is it only that way for an hour? Is it really an

hour? What is Frost saying here?
Frost is reiterating the idea that in early spring,

nature is full of beautiful flowers, but that this
precious gift only lasts a short while. This is
shown when it says the flowers last only an hour.
© Presto Plans
a) What does the word "subsides" mean?
a) What is "Eden"?
c) What do you think is meant by the reference to "grief”?
Subsides means to go down. These lines show the change

from the ‘golden’ early spring of lush flowers and beautiful
hues to leaves slowly falling as the season changes. The
speaker is also comparing mankind’s fall from the Garden
of Eden (Biblical reference) to the changes described in the
first part of the poem. These ideas are connected to show
the negative repercussions that come from change.
© Presto Plans
a) We don't typically think of dawn, or a sunrise, as "going
down", as we would with dusk. Why do you think Frost
worded it like this?
b) What is meant by "nothing gold can stay”?
These lines stand out as most people see the dawn as ‘rising
up’ rather than going down. The author changes this idea to
show the temporal and passing nature of dawn. The final line
connects directly with the first line of the poem. When Frost
says ‘Nothing gold can stay’. He means that good things
must eventually come to an end. and that change is
inevitable.
© Presto Plans
Question 6:
Do you think the message of this poem could apply to more
than nature? What does it say about people and life in
general or how could it relate to the novel?
This poem relays the message that all good things must
come to an end. This idea can be applied to holding onto
youth and innocence in this novel. Later in the novel, you
will see the idea of ‘gold’ again and it will become clear that
this poem relates to holding onto innocence and being
shielded from the harsh realities of life. Characters will be
encouraged to hold onto ‘golden’ qualities that set him
apart from the other members of the gang.
© Presto Plans
Final Discussion/Journal
What are some things in your lives
that will eventually change? How do
you think you cope with these
changes?
© Presto Plans

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Nothing Gold

b) Why is it "gold"? Do you think Frost

b) Do you think nature has a hard time

b) Why is it only that way for an hour? Is

c) What do you think is meant by the

b) What is meant by "nothing gold can

b) Why is it "gold"? Do you think Frost means the color

Nature’s first green could be interpreted as spring

b) Do you think nature has a hard time "holding"

This line suggests that the green of springtime (or the

b) Why is it only that way for an hour? Is it really an

Frost is reiterating the idea that in early spring,

c) What do you think is meant by the reference to "grief”?

Subsides means to go down. These lines show the change

b) What is meant by "nothing gold can stay”?

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