Warm-Up and Freewrite

1. Close reading is reading a text for complete understanding. When close reading, evaluate the text and pay close attention to the words used and the ideas presented. The purpose is to gain insight into what is being read and to be able to discuss the text with great understanding.
2. Pastoral is acting as if one were a shepherd. The formal definition of pastoral as a verb in Oxford English Dictionary is to play at being shepherd or shepherdess. Etymology: N.E.D 1904. Nymph is a pretty young woman. The formal definition is a chiefly poet, beautiful young woman, a maiden, a damsel. Etymology: second half of 12th century, Old French. Mistress is a secret lover. The formal definition of mistress is a woman loved and courted by a man, a female sweetheart, or a female considered to be chief, first, or unequalled among a specified group. Etymology: 13th century.

Freewrite:

1. Heart: love, family, people
2. Desert: dry, hot, sand, mirages, alone
3. Universe: huge, search for the unknown, earth, people, stars, planets, exploration, empty
4. Shepherd: sheep, mentioned in the Bible