First published in 1900, Thomas Hardy’s “The Darkling Thrush” is a poem about historical change. The speaker stares out at a barren winter landscape and sees in it the remains of the 19th century. With the traditions of the past abandoned in the onrush of modernity, only a singing thrush brings a note of hope. Hardy uses metaphors to imbue the landscape with deeper historical and cultural implications.

Skills: analysis, drawing inferences from text, close reading, identifying the relationship between words

About This Document

The Owl Eyes Analyzing Metaphor activity gives students an opportunity to practice examining and analyzing metaphors. Students will engage with specific selections of the text and work collaboratively to identify the vehicle, tenor, and implications of each metaphor. The main components include the following:

• A brief introduction to the text
• A detailed handout on metaphor types
• A step-by-step guide to activity procedure
• A detailed answer key for teachers

In completing this worksheet, students will learn to classify and analyze different kinds of metaphors in order to develop close reading skills and draw deeper inferences from the text.