To a Daughter Leaving Home By Linda Pastan

1. Personal Connections

1.1. Friends leaving my school

1.1.1. Having to cope with leaving

1.1.2. Letting go of my friend

2. Universal Connections

2.1. Everybody has lost smometing

3. Why poetry?

3.1. Expressing yourself

3.1.1. Structure

3.1.1.1. No major  plot, only description

3.1.1.2. Metaphors aren't too dramatic

3.1.2. Sound

3.1.3. Grammar

3.2. No major plot, only description of event

4. Meaning

4.1. Surface meaning

4.1.1. A mom coping with her daughter leaving home

4.2. Deeper meaning

4.2.1. Accepting

4.2.2. child is growing

5. Evidence

5.1. Imagery

5.1.1. "Wobbled away"

5.1.1.1. Not in control

5.1.2. Hair flapping

5.1.2.1. Daughter waving goodbye

5.2. figurative language

5.2.1. Simile

5.2.1.1. "The hair flapping behind you like a handkerchief waving goodbye"

5.3. symbols

5.3.1. Bike

5.3.1.1. Freedom

5.3.2. "Curved path"

5.3.2.1. life

5.3.2.2. Unpredictable

5.3.2.3. Not ready to take the risk?