100 Love Sonnets Cien Sonetos de Amor Lessonplan

100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de
Amor Lesson Plans

100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor by Pablo
Neruda
(c)2015 BookRags, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contents
100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor Lesson Plans.......................................................... 1
Contents...................................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 4
Lesson Calendar.......................................................................................................................... 9
Chapter Abstracts...................................................................................................................... 18
Character Descriptions.............................................................................................................. 25
Object Descriptions.................................................................................................................... 27
Daily Lessons............................................................................................................................ 29
Fun Activities.............................................................................................................................. 50
Essay Topics.............................................................................................................................. 53
Short Essay Questions.............................................................................................................. 57
Short Essay Questions Key....................................................................................................... 66
Multiple Choice.......................................................................................................................... 80
Multiple Choice Key................................................................................................................. 109
Short Answer Questions........................................................................................................... 110
Short Answer Questions Key................................................................................................... 136
Oral Reading Evaluation Sheet................................................................................................ 163
Reading Assignment Sheet...................................................................................................... 164
Writing Evaluation Form........................................................................................................... 165
One Week Quiz A.................................................................................................................... 166
Two Week Quiz A..................................................................................................................... 169
Four Week Quiz A.................................................................................................................... 172
Four Week Quiz B.................................................................................................................... 175
Eight Week Quiz A................................................................................................................... 178
Eight Week Quiz B................................................................................................................... 181
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Eight Week Quiz C................................................................................................................... 184
Eight Week Quiz D................................................................................................................... 187
Eight Week Quiz E................................................................................................................... 190
Eight Week Quiz F................................................................................................................... 193
Eight Week Quiz G.................................................................................................................. 196
Mid-Book Test - Easy............................................................................................................... 199
Final Test - Easy...................................................................................................................... 205
Mid-Book Test - Medium........................................................................................................... 211
Final Test - Medium.................................................................................................................. 219
Mid-Book Test - Hard............................................................................................................... 227
Final Test - Hard....................................................................................................................... 235
3
Introduction
Teaching 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor
The 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor lesson plan contains a variety of
teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. Inside you'll find 30 Daily Lessons, 20
Fun Activities, 180 Multiple Choice Questions, 60 Short Essay Questions, 20 Essay
Questions, Quizzes/Homework Assignments, Tests, and more. The lessons and
activities will help students gain an intimate understanding of the text, while the tests
and quizzes will help you evaluate how well the students have grasped the material.
Target Grade: 7th-12th (Middle School and High School)
Length of Lesson Plan: Approximately 136 pages. Page count is estimated at 300
words per page. Length will vary depending on format viewed.
Browse The 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor Lesson Plan:
 Introduction  Short Essay Questions

 Lesson Calendar  Multiple Choice
 Chapter Abstracts  Short Answer Questions
 Character Descriptions  Worksheets and Evaluation Forms
 Object Descriptions  Quizzes
 Daily Lessons  Tests
 Fun Activities  Quiz/Test Generator
 Essay Topics
4
Full Lesson Plan Overview
Completely Customizable!
The 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor lesson plan is downloadable in PDF
and Word. The Word file is viewable with any PC or Mac and can be further adjusted if
you want to mix questions around and/or add your own headers for things like "Name,"
"Period," and "Date." The Word file offers unlimited customizing options so that you can
teach in the most efficient manner possible. Once you download the file, it is yours to
keep and print for your classroom.
Lesson Plan Calendars
The Lesson Plan Calendars provide daily suggestions about what to teach. They
include detailed descriptions of when to assign reading, homework, in-class work, fun
activities, quizzes, tests and more. Use the entire 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de
Amor calendar, or supplement it with your own curriculum ideas. Calendars cover one,
two, four, and eight week units. Determine how long your 100 Love Sonnets = Cien
Sonetos de Amor unit will be, then use one of the calendars provided to plan out your
entire lesson.
Chapter Abstracts
Chapter abstracts are short descriptions of events that occur in each chapter of 100
Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor. They highlight major plot events and detail the
important relationships and characteristics of important characters. The Chapter
Abstracts can be used to review what the students have read, or to prepare the
students for what they will read. Hand the abstracts out in class as a study guide, or use
them as a "key" for a class discussion. They are relatively brief, but can serve to be an
excellent refresher of 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor for either a student or
teacher.
Character and Object Descriptions
Character and Object Descriptions provide descriptions of the significant characters as

well as objects and places in 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor. These can be
printed out and used as an individual study guide for students, a "key" for leading a
class discussion, a summary review prior to exams, or a refresher for an educator. The
character and object descriptions are also used in some of the quizzes and tests in this
lesson plan. The longest descriptions run about 200 words. They become shorter as the
importance of the character or object declines.
5
Daily Lessons
This section of the lesson plan contains 30 Daily Lessons. Daily Lessons each have a
specific objective and offer at least three (often more) ways to teach that objective.
Lessons include classroom discussions, group and partner activities, in-class handouts,
individual writing assignments, at least one homework assignment, class participation
exercises and other ways to teach students about 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de
Amor in a classroom setting. You can combine daily lessons or use the ideas within
them to create your own unique curriculum. They vary greatly from day to day and offer
an array of creative ideas that provide many options for an educator.
Fun Classroom Activities
Fun Classroom Activities differ from Daily Lessons because they make "fun" a priority.
The 20 enjoyable, interactive classroom activities that are included will help students
understand 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor in fun and entertaining ways.
Fun Classroom Activities include group projects, games, critical thinking activities,
brainstorming sessions, writing poems, drawing or sketching, and countless other
creative exercises. Many of the activities encourage students to interact with each other,
be creative and think "outside of the box," and ultimately grasp key concepts from the
text by "doing" rather than simply studying. Fun activities are a great way to keep
students interested and engaged while still providing a deeper understanding of 100
Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor and its themes.
Essay Questions/Writing Assignments
These 20 Essay Questions/Writing Assignments can be used as essay questions on a

test, or as stand-alone essay topics for a take-home or in-class writing assignment on
100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor. Students should have a full understanding
of the unit material in order to answer these questions. They often include multiple parts
of the work and ask for a thorough analysis of the overall text. They nearly always
require a substantial response. Essay responses are typically expected to be one (or
more) page(s) and consist of multiple paragraphs, although it is possible to write
answers more briefly. These essays are designed to challenge a student's
understanding of the broad points in a work, interactions among the characters, and
main points and themes of the text. But, they also cover many of the other issues
specific to the work and to the world today.
Short Essay Questions
The 60 Short Essay Questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence
answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of 100 Love
Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor by describing what they've read, rather than just
recalling it. The short essay questions evaluate not only whether students have read the
material, but also how well they understand and can apply it. They require more thought
than multiple choice questions, but are shorter than the essay questions.
6
Multiple Choice Questions
The 180 Multiple Choice Questions in this lesson plan will test a student's recall and
understanding of 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor. Use these questions for
quizzes, homework assignments or tests. The questions are broken out into sections,
so they focus on specific chapters within 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor.
This allows you to test and review the book as you proceed through the unit. Typically,
there are 5-15 questions per chapter, act or section.
Evaluation Forms
Use the Oral Reading Evaluation Form when students are reading aloud in class. Pass
the forms out before you assign reading, so students will know what to expect. You can
use the forms to provide general feedback on audibility, pronunciation, articulation,
expression and rate of speech. You can use this form to grade students, or simply
comment on their progress.
Use the Writing Evaluation Form when you're grading student essays. This will help you
establish uniform criteria for grading essays even though students may be writing about
different aspects of the material. By following this form you will be able to evaluate the
thesis, organization, supporting arguments, paragraph transitions, grammar, spelling,
punctuation, etc. of each student's essay.
Quizzes/Homework Assignments
The Quizzes/Homework Assignments are worksheets that can be used in a variety of

ways. They pull questions from the multiple choice and short essay sections, the
character and object descriptions, and the chapter abstracts to create worksheets that
can be used for pop quizzes, in-class assignments and homework. Periodic homework
assignments and quizzes are a great way to encourage students to stay on top of their
assigned reading. They can also help you determine which concepts and ideas your
class grasps and which they need more guidance on. By pulling from the different
sections of the lesson plan, quizzes and homework assignments offer a comprehensive
review of 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor in manageable increments that
are less substantial than a full blown test.
7
Tests
Use the Test Summary page to determine which pre-made test is most relevant to your
students' learning styles. This lesson plan provides both full unit tests and mid-unit tests.
You can choose from several tests that include differing combinations of multiple choice
questions, short answer questions, short essay questions, full essay questions,
character and object matching, etc. Some of the tests are designed to be more difficult
than others. Some have essay questions, while others are limited to short-response
questions, like multiple choice, matching and short answer questions. If you don't find
the combination of questions that best suits your class, you can also create your own
test on 100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de Amor.
8
Lesson Calendar
Definitions
 Review Chapter Abstracts: Chapter abstracts are synopses of each chapter

that you can use to review the reading assignments with your students.
 Daily Lessons: There are 30 daily lessons detailed in this lesson plan. Select a
new daily lesson for each day.
 Fun Activities: There are 20 fun activities in this lesson plan. They serve as a
way for students to interact with the material in an enjoyable, educational way.
 Read Aloud in Class: Ask students to take turns reading aloud from where they
left off in their most recent reading assignment. Use the Oral Reading Evaluation
Form in this lesson plan to evaluate their reading skills.
 In-Class Handout: An in-class handout can be one of the quizzes/homework
assignments, vocabulary games, worksheets, or an essay/writing assignment. It's
something the students can complete and turn in during class, or begin in-class
and take home to finish as a homework assignment.
One Week Lesson Calendar
Before the unit begins:
 Homework Assignment: Read through XXI - XXX

Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Quiz Day 4 - Day 5 - Test
Introduce Unit Review Unit Review Unit
Review Review Review Review Test

Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter
Abstracts up to Abstracts up to Abstracts up to Abstracts up to
XXI - XXX XLI - L LXXI - LXXX XCI - C
1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from Quiz 1 Lesson from

Daily Lessons Daily Lessons Daily Lessons
1-8 9-15 1 Lesson from 24-30
Daily Lessons
1 Fun Activity 1 In-Class 16-23 1 In-Class
from Fun Handout Handout
Activities 1-10 1 In-Class
Homework Handout Homework
Students Read Assignment: Assignment:
Aloud in Class Read through 1 Fun Activity Study for the
LXXI - LXXX from Fun test
Homework and choose a Activities 11-20
Assignment: homework
Read through assignment Homework
Assignment:
9
XLI - L from one of the Read through
Daily Lessons XCI - C and
assign an
essay, due the
week following
the test
Two Week Lesson Calendar
 Homework Assignment: Read through XI - XX

Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 - Day 5 - Quiz
Introduce Unit Review Unit Review Unit Review Unit
Review Review Review Review Review

Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter
Abstracts up to Abstracts up to Abstracts up to Abstracts up to Abstracts up to
XI - XX XXI - XXX XXXI - XL XLI - L LI - LX
1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from Quiz

Daily Lessons Daily Lessons Daily Lessons Daily Lessons
1-4 5-8 9-12 13-15 Homework
Assignment:
Students Read 1 Fun Activity 1 In-Class 1 Fun Activity Read through
Aloud in Class from Fun Handout from Fun LXI - LXX and
Activities 1-5 Activities 6-10 assign an
Homework Homework essay, due the
Assignment: Homework Assignment: Review for the week following
Read through Assignment: Read through quiz the final test
XXI - XXX Read through XLI - L
XXXI - XL Homework
Assignment:
Read through
LI - LX and
study for the
quiz
Day 6 - Day 7 - Day 8 - Day 9 - Day 10 - Final
Review Unit Review Unit Review Unit Review Unit Test
Review Review Review Review Test

Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter
Abstracts up to Abstracts up to Abstracts up to Abstracts up to
LXI - LXX LXXI - LXXX LXXXI - XC XCI - C
1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from
10
Daily Lessons Daily Lessons Daily Lessons Daily Lessons
16-19 20-23 24-27 28-30
1 Fun Activity 1 In-Class 1 In-Class 1 In-Class

from Fun Handout Handout Handout
Activities 11-15
Students Read 1 Fun Activity Review for the
Homework Aloud in Class from Fun test
Assignment: Activities 16-20
Read through Homework Homework
LXXI - LXXX Assignment: Homework Assignment:
and choose a Read through Assignment: Study for the
homework LXXXI - XC Read through test
assignment and choose a XCI - C
from one of the homework
Daily Lessons assignment
from one of the
Daily Lessons
Four Week Lesson Calendar
 Homework Assignment: Read through Dedication - X

Review Review Review Review Quiz

Chapter Chapter Homework Chapter
Abstracts up to Abstracts up to Abstracts up to 1 Lesson from
Dedication - X XI - XX 1 Lesson from XXI - XXX Daily Lessons
Daily Lessons 7-8
Students Read 1 Lesson from 3-4 Review
Aloud in Class Daily Lessons Homework Students Read
1-2 1 Fun Activity Aloud in Class
Homework from Fun 1 Lesson from
Assignment: 1 In-Class Activities 1-3 Daily Lessons Homework
Read through Handout 5-6 Assignment:
XI - XX Homework Read through
Homework Assignment: 1 Fun Activity XXXI - XL and
Assignment: Read through from Fun choose a
Choose from XXI - XXX and Activities 4-5 homework
one of the choose a assignment
Daily Lessons homework 1 In-Class from one of the
assignment Handout Daily Lessons
from one of the
11
Daily Lessons
Day 6 - Day 7 - Day 8 - Day 9 - Day 10 - Mid
Review Unit Review Unit Review Unit Review Unit Unit Test
Review Review Review Review Review

Chapter Homework Chapter Homework Chapter
Abstracts up to Abstracts up to Abstracts up to
XXXI - XL 1 Lesson from XLI - L 1 Lesson from LI - LX
Daily Lessons Daily Lessons
Review 10-11 Review 14-15 Test
Homework Homework
1 In-Class 1 In-Class Homework
Daily Lesson 9 Handout 1 Lesson from Handout Assignment:
Daily Lessons Read through
1 Fun Activity Students Read 12-13 Review for the LXI - LXX and
from Fun Aloud in Class test assign an
Activities 6-7 1 Fun Activity essay, due the
Homework from Fun Homework week following
Homework Assignment: Activities 8-9 Assignment: the final test
Assignment: Read through Read through
Choose from XLI - L and Homework LI - LX and
one of the choose a Assignment: study for the
Daily Lessons homework Choose from test
assignment one of the
from one of the Daily Lessons
Daily Lessons
Review Unit Review Unit Review Unit Review Unit
Review 1 Lesson from Review Review Review

Chapter Daily Lessons Chapter Homework Chapter
Abstracts up to 17-18 Abstracts up to Abstracts up to
LXI - LXX LXXI - LXXX 1 Lesson from LXXXI - XC
1 Fun Activity Daily Lessons
Review the test from Fun Review 21-22 Quiz
Activities 10-12 Homework
Daily Lesson 1 Fun Activity Daily Lesson
16 Homework 1 Lesson from from Fun 23
Assignment: Daily Lessons Activities 13-14
Students Read Read through 19-20 Students Read
Aloud in Class LXXI - LXXX Homework Aloud in Class
and choose a 1 In-Class Assignment:
homework Handout Read through 1 Fun Activity
assignment LXXXI - XC from Fun
from one of the Homework and choose a Activities 15-16
Daily Lessons Assignment: homework
Homework
12
Choose from assignment Assignment:
one of the from one of the Choose from
Daily Lessons Daily Lessons one of the
Daily Lessons
Review Review Review Daily Lesson Test

Homework Chapter Homework 30
Abstracts up to
1 Lesson from XCI - C 1 Lesson from 1 In-Class
Daily Lessons Daily Lessons Handout
24-25 Review 28-29
Homework Homework
1 Fun Activity 1 In-Class Assignment:
from Fun 1 Lesson from Handout Study for the
Activities 17-18 Daily Lessons test
26-27 1 Fun Activity
Homework from Fun
Assignment: 1 In-Class Activities 19-20
Read through Handout
XCI - C and
choose a Students Read
homework Aloud in Class
assignment
from one of the Homework
Daily Lessons Assignment:
Choose from
one of the
Daily Lessons
Eight Week Lesson Calendar
 Homework Assignment: Read through Dedication - X

Review Daily Lesson 1 Review Review Quiz

Chapter Homework Chapter
Abstracts up to 1 In-Class Abstracts up to Fun Activity 2
Dedication - X Handout Daily Lesson 2 XI - XX
Students Read
Students Read Homework Fun Activity 1 Review Aloud in Class
Aloud in Class Assignment: Homework
13
Complete the Homework Daily Lesson 3
Daily Lesson Assignment:
Read through 1 In-Class
XI - XX and Handout
complete the
Daily Lesson
Day 6 - Day 7 - Day 8 - Quiz Day 9 - Day 10 -
Daily Lesson 4 Review Review Review Fun Activity 5

Homework Chapter Homework
Fun Activity 3 Abstracts up to 1 In-Class
Daily Lesson 5 XXI - XXX Daily Lesson 7 Handout
Homework
Assignment: 1 In-Class Quiz Fun Activity 4 Homework
Complete the Handout Assignment:
Daily Lesson Review 1 In-Class Read through
Students Read Homework Handout XXXI - XL
Aloud in Class
Daily Lesson 6
Homework
Assignment: Students Read
Read through Aloud in Class
XXI - XXX and
complete the Homework
Daily Lesson Assignment:
Complete the
Daily Lesson
Day 11 - Day 12 - Quiz Day 13 - Day 14 - Day 15 - Quiz
Review Unit Review Unit Review Unit
Review Quiz Review Review Review

Chapter Homework Homework Chapter
Abstracts up to Daily Lesson 9 Abstracts up to
XXXI - XL Daily Lesson Daily Lesson XLI - L
Fun Activity 6 10 11
Daily Lesson 8 Quiz
Homework 1 In-Class Fun Activity 7
Students Read Assignment: Handout Students Read
Aloud in Class Complete the Homework Aloud in Class
Daily Lesson Homework Assignment:
Homework Assignment: Read through Fun Activity 8
Assignment: Complete the XLI - L and
Study for the Daily Lesson complete the Homework
quiz Daily Lesson Assignment:
Complete the
Daily Lesson
14
Daily Lesson Review Review Review Test

12 Homework Chapter Homework
Abstracts up to Homework
Fun Activity 9 Daily Lesson LI - LX 1 In-Class Assignment:
13 Handout Assign an
Homework Review essay, due on
Assignment: 1 In-Class Homework Review for the day 38
Complete the Handout test
Daily Lesson Daily Lesson
Students Read 14 Homework
Aloud in Class Assignment:
1 In-Class Study for the
Homework Handout test
Assignment:
Read through Fun Activity 10
LI - LX
Homework
Assignment:
Complete the
Daily Lesson
Daily Lesson Daily Lesson Review Review Quiz

15 16 Homework Chapter
Abstracts up to Daily Lesson
Review the test 1 In-Class Daily Lesson LXI - LXX 18
Handout 17
Review Fun Activity 13
Homework Fun Activity 11 Homework
Assignment: Homework
Complete the Homework Fun Activity 12 Assignment:
Daily Lesson Assignment: Complete the
Read through Daily Lesson
LXI - LXX and
complete the
Daily Lesson
Review Review Review Review Quiz

Homework Chapter Homework Homework
Abstracts up to Fun Activity 15
Daily Lesson LXXI - LXXX Daily Lesson Daily Lesson
Homework
15
19 Review 21 22 Assignment:
Homework Read through
Homework Fun Activity 14 1 In-Class LXXXI - XC
Assignment: Daily Lesson Handout
Read through 20 Homework
LXXI - LXXX Assignment: Homework
and complete 1 In-Class Complete the Assignment:
the Daily Handout Daily Lesson Study for the
Lesson quiz
Students Read
Aloud in Class
Homework
Assignment:
Complete the
Daily Lesson
Review Daily Lesson Review Review Quiz

Chapter 24 Homework Chapter
Abstracts up to Abstracts up to Students Read
LXXXI - XC Fun Activity 16 Daily Lesson XCI - C Aloud in Class
25
Daily Lesson Homework Review Daily Lesson
23 Assignment: 1 In-Class Homework 27
Complete the Handout
Students Read Daily Lesson Daily Lesson Fun Activity 18
Aloud in Class Homework 26
Assignment: Homework
Read through Fun Activity 17 Assignment:
XCI - C and Complete the
complete the Daily Lesson
Daily Lesson
Review 1 In-Class Collect essay Review Test

Homework Handout assignments Homework
Daily Lesson Homework Daily Lesson Daily Lesson

28 Assignment: 29 30
Finish the
Fun Activity 19 essay Fun Activity 20 1 In-Class
Handout
Homework Homework
Assignment: Assignment: Review for the
16
Complete the Complete the test
Daily Lesson Daily Lesson
17
Chapter Abstracts
Dedication - X
• In his dedication, Neruda explains to Matilde that he labored and suffered over his 100
sonnets. They are made of wood, and only Matilde herself gives them life and beauty.
• I: The name "Matilde" is a name with a life all its own. It is like an ocean, which Neruda
wants to sail through and rest within.
• II: Neruda laments that his path to love with Matilde has been traveled with great effort
and loneliness. Once together, the love between Matilde and Neruda obliterates all
distance and boundaries.
• III: "Bitter love" is described as a thorny plant, a weapon that has wounded Neruda.
Love has wounded his heart with its thorns.
• IV: Neruda asks Matilde to remember different sights they encounter in nature. He
says that, in that place, time has no meaning, but that the place holds everything he
needs.
• V: Neruda describes Matilde using earth imagery. He remembers that, at one point, he
was not in love with Matilde and even forgot her kisses. He finally remembers love, and
understands that he has found his place with Matilde.
• VI: Neruda is lost in a forest and is suffering from thirst and hunger. He snaps a twig
from a tree, looking for moisture. He hears the forest cry out from a deep and secret
place. The scent from the twig awakens him as from a deep stupor.
• VII: Neruda urges his lover to "Come with me," but his love is unrequited. At last,
Neruda's call is answered by his lover, which causes his repressed pain and grief to
burst forth like a geyser.
• VIII: Matilde is described as being a part of and bestowing life upon ordinary objects.
Neruda's descriptions focus on the yellow-brown color of Matilde's eyes.
• IX: Neruda describes a seaside cliff, upon which the sea's waves crash continually.
The violence of that scene is contrasted with the love between Neruda and Matilde,
which seems to be one of infinite tenderness.
• X: Neruda admires Matilde as she walks along the shore. He wishes that she might
remain forever as she appears in the poem, untouched by time and even by love.
XI - XX
• XI: Neruda describes himself as a predator prowling the streets of a city. He is not
hungry for food in the literal sense, but for Matilde's body.
18
• XII: Love, which appears here as sex, is described as a long journey. There is
something eternal about the nature of the journey itself, but Neruda cannot describe
what that is.
• XIII: Matilde is described as bread. She is sustenance for Neruda, and possesses the
earthy, warm properties of bread.
• XIV: Neruda contemplates Matilde's hair, and says that he does not have time enough
to fully admire its beauty. Without her hair, he is a lost man.
• XV: Neruda says that Matilde is as firm and eternal as bread or wood. Because of
Matilde's earthy qualities, she does not "dissolve like the air," as do other beings.
• XVI: Matilde is all Neruda needs to understand the universe. To Neruda, Matilde's
body is the universe itself and all it contains.
• XVII: Neruda does not love Matilde in the traditional sense, but in a way that he can
not understand or describe. It is not an intellectual, complex love, but a love that exists
in its own right.
• XVIII: Matilde is compared to a breeze or stream that moves through the mountains.
Even a ruined army fortress produces water and flowers in her presence.
• XIX: Neruda contemplates the comings and goings of a bee while he watches Matilde
bathe nude in the ocean.
• XX: Neruda describes both ugly and beautiful aspects of Matilde's appearance.
XXI - XXX
• XXI: Without requited love, Neruda is lost in darkness, looking for his lover's hands or
kisses. Only his lover can bring light to his life.
• XXII: Neruda writes that he loved Matilde before he ever actually met her. Everything
that he experienced before he met Matilde was affected by his love for her.
• XXIII: Matilde's love is a gentle love that cured Neruda of his physical ills. Neruda
imagines that, after the lovers have died, their love will live on.
• XXIV: The author marvels at the beauty of Nature, and invites his lover to share in his
experience.
• XXV: Neruda writes that his life was colorless and empty before Matilde entered it.
Matilde's presence changed his world.
• XXVI: Neruda lists a long catalog of beautiful sights from Nature, and says that nothing
in Nature can ever match Matilde's beauty.
• XXVII: Neruda describes Matilde when she is naked. He compares her to many
different natural images, and says that nudity is her natural state.
19
• XXVIII: Despite the violence the couple has encountered in their travels, nothing can
taint the purity of their love.
• XXIX: Matilde was born into deep poverty in the "poor South." She still carries that
spirit of poverty in her heart, and he admires that aspect of her character.
• XXX: Matilde is compared to various images from Nature. Neruda says that he cannot
disentangle himself from Matilde, and he has no desire to do so.
XXXI - XL
• XXXI: Neruda states that both he and Matilde are born of the earth, and that, because
of their origins, neither are comfortable in the city.
• XXXII: The author describes the natural sleepiness and disorder of his house at dawn.
Matilde, who is "The One Who Puts Things in Order," organizes her home at the start of
the day.
• XXXIII: The lovers return home after their travels. They must go home to rest and
recuperate before traveling again.
• XXXIV: Matilde is from nature, and is able to cause phenomena within nature. Her
dreams are made of natural things.
• XXXV: The lover's hand is withdrawn from Neruda's eyes, bringing morning and the
beauty of nature. When night falls, the lover's hand is replaced on Neruda's eyes.
• XXXVI: Matilde is established as the ruler of the "miniature empire" that is the lovers'
home. Neruda admires Matilde as she completes her daily chores.
• XXXVII: Neruda has built walls around his heart. Love tears them down.
• XXXVIII: The din of Matilde going about her daily duties is a pleasant noise, unlike the
unnatural noise of the city.
• XXXIX: Neruda admires Matilde's gardening skills. He compares her to a bee which
pollinates the flowers and causes them to grow.
• XL: Neruda admires Matilde from a distance as she picks flowers near the ocean.
XLI - L
• XLI: Winter is a hard time for nature. In time, though, spring will come, and everything
will bloom again.
• XLII: Neruda imagines the daylight as a scorching fire. The earth, which does not wish
to be burned, hides itself behind the barrier made by the trees' branches.
20
• XLIII: The author searches other women for a suitable substitute for his lover. While he
sees glimpses of his lover in other women, no one has the natural beauty and grace
that she possesses.
• XLIV: Neruda loves and does not love Matilde. By not loving her, he leaves room to
love her in the future.
• XLV: Neruda pleads with Matilde not to leave him. If she does, he will be empty or
even dead without her presence.
• XLVI: Neruda contemplates all the beauties of nature, and writes of all beautiful things,
he chose only one -- his lover.
• XLVII: Neruda imagines Matilde as a fruit tree. He watches her grow before partaking
of her fruit.
• XLVIII: The lovers are portrayed as one entity that lives in harmony with Nature.
Because of their oneness with Nature, they are eternal.
• XLIX: The author concentrates on the present instead of the past or the future. He
celebrates his lover, which is better that what he has had or might have in the future.
LI - LX
• LI: Neruda describes Matilde's laugh, which is powerful enough to split trees like a
lightening bolt. He imagines that her laughter was born in the mountains or even in a
volcano.
• LII: Matilde's singing causes all of nature to sing along with her. All sounds in the world
are a part of her song.
• LIII: Neruda describes his peaceful home as a sanctuary from the violence and chaos
of the outside world. He praises the "simple tenderness" of Matilde as she does her
daily chores.
• LIV: The lovers spend time together at home, far from the din of the city. The unity of
the lovers creates a transparency between the two.
• LV: Even though the lovers are content in their love, nothing can shield them from the
woes of the world. They, too, partake in the woes that affect all of humanity.
• LVI: Matilde is free of all ugliness, and Neruda sees her in all beautiful things. Matilde,
in turn, frees Neruda from anything unpleasant.
• LVII: Neruda rebuts his critics with the love between himself and Matilde. Matilde's love
has given him a second life.
• LVIII: Neruda feels inadequate in the field of literature. The only thing he can do is to
remain true to himself, and draw inspiration from Nature and his homeland.
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• LIX: Neruda laments the fate of poets who, after their death, are unable to defend
themselves against criticism and derision.
• LX: Literary critics who attack Neruda's work have a negative effect on Matilde.
Neruda wishes that those attacks did not affect Matilde, who has nothing to do with
them.
LXI - LXX
• LXI: Love, though beautiful, may also be painful. When Matilde suffers, Neruda
reminds her that they bear their pain together.
• LXII: Neruda and Matilde's union is marred by those in and of the world who hate love.
• LXIII: Neruda observes his "savage homeland," which is both beautiful and dangerous.
Neruda says that he himself is made of the same material, and that he belongs to his
homeland.
• LXIV: Neruda, who has been healed by Matilde's love, cannot imagine how much he
owes to his lover.
• LXV: Neruda searches for Matilde, who has momentarily left him. Her absence leaves
him with a pain in his ribs, and Neruda writes that he will be lonely and empty until she
returns to him.
• LXVI: Neruda experiences conflicting states of being, from love to not love, hate to not
hate, cold to fire.
• LXVII: Neruda compares the rain that falls upon the island to Matilde's kisses. Like the
rain nourishes and revives the island, Matilde's kisses nourish and revive Neruda.
• LXVIII: Neruda contemplates the wooden figurehead of a ship which has washed up
on the shore. He finds it interesting that while she appears to have eyes and seems to
watch over them, she cannot actually see.
• LXIX: Neruda considers that "nothingness" is the absence of his lover. The "you" and
"I" of the lovers combine into one entity at the end of the sonnet.
• LXX: While he walks in the jungle, Neruda senses that he is wounded, though he does
not bleed. He senses that Matilde's eyes have pierced him, even though he is alone.
LXXI - LXXX
• LXXI: Neruda and Matilde have searched for a place where they can be alone. Despite
all their efforts, though, love itself has not allowed them the peace and quiet they seek.
• LXXII: Winter has descended upon the lovers, and Neruda urges Matilde to seek
warmer climates with him.
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• LXXIII: Neruda describes a scenario in which a man and a woman arm themselves
against love. Despite their efforts, love wins out.
• LXXIV: Although the poem takes place in August, Neruda describes a scene that is
dominated by foggy, wintry images. (Remember that seasons are opposite in South
America, so while odd for us, winter does occur in August there.)
• LXXV: Neruda and Matilde return home after a long absence. The house has fallen
into disrepair and, even though the lovers have returned, the house seems slow to
come to life again.
• LXXVI: Neruda describes Diego Rivera painting Matilde. The painter deliberates over
the proper colors and shapes to portray her.
• LXXVII: Neruda again focuses on the present instead of the past or future. Today
contains all the weight of the past and all the hope of the future.
• LXXVIII: Neruda declares that he has always been and will always be open-minded
and full of love, even in the face of hate.
• LXXIX: Neruda asks Matilde to become one with him as they sleep, so that they might
conquer the darkness in the land of dreams together.
• LXXX: Neruda returns from his travels, and finds comfort in Matilde's singing and
guitar playing. Although his travels are necessary, he is always most alive when he is at
home near his lover.
LXXXI - XC
• LXXXI: Neruda again asks Matilde to join him in his dreams. In dreams they may put
aside pain and work, and can be alone together.
• LXXXII: In the darkness of dreams, individual identities merge with the shadows. In the
shadows, the lovers may become one.
• LXXXIII: Neruda admires Matilde as she sleeps. He is comforted by the nearness of

her body, but is aware that her heart and spirit are far away in the land of dreams.
• LXXXIV: Neruda describes the process of the lovers' preparations for sleep. As the
day becomes night, time seems to slow, and all is enveloped in darkness.
• LXXXV: Autumn has come, bringing fog, dampness and the changing of leaves.
During the chilly change in the season, Matilde's body is a fire that comforts Neruda.
• LXXXVI: Neruda pays homage to the Southern Cross, and asks it to come to earth to
fill the lovers with its power.
• LXXXVII: Neruda sees three birds flying across the cold sky. The sight prompts
Neruda to contemplate loneliness and its origins.
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• LXXXVIII: March arrives, and it is a time of cold, inconsistent weather. Love's fire
brings warmth to the sea of cold.
• LXXXIX: Neruda wishes that, when he dies, Matilde will remain and continue to live life
to the fullest. She will be a reminder of what Neruda loved during his life.
• XC: Neruda thinks that he is dying. During his near-death experience, he realizes that
the love between himself and Matilde is the only thing that matters, and all of his
accomplishments and possessions mean nothing.
XCI - C
• XCI: Neruda contemplates the inevitable passage of time. Time and age do not
discriminate against either man or Nature; it affects all equally. Even Neruda and
Matilde's love is affected by time.
• XCII: Neruda begins to wonder what will happen if one lover dies and the other does
not. He chooses instead to focus on the present and the love he and Matilde share.
• XCIII: Neruda asks Matilde that if she is to die before him, she leave her mouth half-
open. That way, Neruda can die kissing her "crazy cold mouth."
• XCIV: Neruda asks Matilde to carry on if he should die before she does. He says that
should Matilde grieve for him, her sadness would cause him to die a second time.
• XCV: Neruda contemplates his love life and admires its longevity. He wishes to
resurrect his "ancient" love with newness and make it bloom again.
• XCVI: Neruda realizes that the present age will pass despite the efforts of those who
would cling to it. A new age will replace it, and no more tears will be shed.
• XCVII: Neruda laments modern society's infatuation with flight. The popularity of flying
renders the earth useless.
• XCVIII: The sonnets that Neruda has written for his lover will not long only be read by
Matilde. The sonnets threaten to burst into song and sing Matilde's name to the whole
earth.
• XCIX: Neruda wonders about the future and the new innovations and technologies the
future will bring. In the future, Matilde's love will still circulate in Neruda's heart, long
after his heart has turned to dust.
• C: The lovers are in the center of the earth, where they are finally alone together and
protected from the sorrows of the world. They celebrate their solitude with a kiss.
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Character Descriptions
The Speaker, The Authorappears in Throughout
This character's most obvious trait is his eternal, passionate and fierce love for his
subject, Matilde.
The Subject, The Lovedappears in Throughout

This character is Neruda's third wife and the object of Neruda's great affection.
Detractorsappears in Sonnets LVII, LVIX

These characters most likely pan his poetry and other writing, and are critical of
Neruda's strong socialist/communist views and political statements.
Acario Cotaposappears in Sonnet L

This friend of Neruda and Matilde, a composer, is mentioned as remarking upon
Matilde's unusual and striking laughter.
The Girl, The Figureheadappears in LXVIII

Neruda remarks upon this object, found among wreckage on the beach. The object
looks on into eternity and yet is not alive.
My Ugly Loveappears in Sonnet XX

Neruda gently chides this character as ugly, remarking upon her small breasts and big
mouth, for example.
Pre-Love Speaker Nerudaappears in Sonnets XXII,

XXV
This character sometimes appears as a hungry puma stalking the streets for food, or a
desperately lonely man or wounded bird who wanders the earth without aim or purpose.
Love is then a salvation for this lost soul.
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The Crowds in the Cityappears in Sonnets LIV, LXII
This is full of critics, cacophony and prying eyes, and is a place of violence and
confusion. Only away from this pandemonium can the lovers enjoy peace and fully
consummate their love.
The Houseappears in Sonnets LXXV, LIII

This is object is given very human characteristics though it is not alive at all. Without the
love and energy of the lovers when they are gone for periods of time, it weeps,
becomes dark and dies.
The People of the Poor Southappears in Sonnets V,

XXIX
They hail from the southern part of Chile, a mountainous, rugged region, a hard place to
live, where poverty reigns.
26
Object Descriptions
Breadappears in Dedication, Sonnets XIII, XV
Matilde is frequently described as this. This emphasizes her basic simplicity, her
earnestness and her earthiness. She is like a simple sustenance for Neruda to enjoy.
Woodappears in Dedication, Sonnets XV, XLVII

Neruda states that he makes his sonnets out of this. Neruda describes this as a basic
gift of the earth, without pretensions, a difficult but solid material to work with.
Lightappears in Sonnets XVI, XXI, XXXV

Matilde is, many times, likened to this object/substance. This reference symbolizes how
Neruda views Matilde; she brings life to death, knowledge to ignorance, being to non-
being.
Pumaappears in Sonnet XI
In one Sonnet, Neruda is this, which stalks the streets, desperately hungry. This image
describes Neruda's mental state of being before he found love with Matilde.
Isla Negraappears in Sonnet XIX, XL, LXVII

Neruda established a home on this location in Chile. Its natural splendor and easy
access to the sea and jungle no doubt influenced many of the nature images found in
these sonnets.
The Seasonsappears in Sonnet XL, XLI, LXVI

The changing of these natural phenomena has a great effect on the speaker. One
period brings exuberance, whereas other periods cause introspection and musings on
death.
Carnationsappears in Sonnets II, VII, XVII

This is perhaps the speaker's favorite flower.
27
The Wounded Birdappears in Sonnet LXIV
Neruda is compared to this, which is nursed back to health by Matilde and made to fly
again. This is an obvious analogy for what Neruda believes Matilde has done by loving
him.
The Rainappears in Sonnets LXVII, XCI

This is a common topic in the sonnets. Neruda is interested in its duality: it both
provides life to the earth, and invokes a sadness in him as he watches it.
Dreamsappears in Sonnets LIV, LXXIX, LXXXI

These afford Neruda a place to be fully alone with his love, conquering the problems of
the violence of the natural world. However, these are also frightening, as they remind
Neruda of death.
28
Daily Lessons
Lesson 1 (from Dedication - X)
Objective
Neruda's dedication and his sonnets are full of metaphors that describe innumerable
objects and concepts. This lesson will cover metaphor as a literary device, and will
enable students to recognize and comprehend metaphors throughout Neruda's 100
Sonnets.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Lead a discussion with students about metaphor as a literary

device. What is a metaphor? What is a difference between metaphor and simile? What
are some advantages of using metaphor instead of describing something in a literal
manner? How is Neruda's description of his poems as wood a metaphor? What
metaphor does Neruda use to describe Matilde's name in Sonnet I?
2) Group Activity: Split students into small groups. Ask each group to read Neruda's
dedication and Sonnet I. What metaphors does Neruda use in those works? Make a list
of metaphors Neruda uses. Be ready to present answers to the rest of the class.
3) Analysis: Choose one metaphor from the list compiled by the group. What does that
metaphor describe? What does it compare that object to? Is Neruda's metaphor
sufficiently descriptive? Or would a literal description of the object be more effective? Be
ready to present answers to the rest of the class.
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, assess Neruda's use of metaphors in his

dedication and Sonnet I. What does the author accomplish through his use of
metaphor?

Objective
This lesson will build upon the concepts covered in Lesson #1. Today, students will learn
about conceits, or extended metaphors, by analyzing Sonnet III.
Lesson
1) Group Discussion: Lead a discussion with students about conceit as a literary device.
How is a conceit similar to a metaphor? How is it different? Can students think of any
famous literary conceits? Is the image of love as a plant in Sonnet III a conceit or a
29
mere metaphor? In Lesson #1, students discussed Neruda's metaphor of his sonnets as
wood. What other images does the author use to turn that metaphor into a conceit?
2) Group Activity: Split students into small groups. Ask each group to analyze Sonnet III.
What concept does Neruda describe using a conceit? What is the conceit in the sonnet?
Choose some key phrases that Neruda uses in his conceit?
3) Critical Thinking: Based on the conceit Neruda develops in Sonnet III, how does
Neruda feel about love? Use specific words or phrases from the poem to build an
argument.
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, compile a short list of conceits and metaphors
Neruda uses in Sonnets I-X.

Objective
In this lesson, students will become acquainted with the form of a sonnet, which
traditionally is comprised of 14 lines with a preset rhyme scheme, although the rhyme
scene may vary depending on the type of sonnet. They will examine Neruda's
interpretation of the sonnet as a form of poetry, and will be able to compare and contrast
traditional sonnets with Neruda's sonnets.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Lead a class discussion about the traditional form of a sonnet,
giving a brief overview of different types of sonnets. A traditional sonnet's primary
distinguishing characteristic is its 14 lines and its rhyme scheme, which varies
depending on the style of sonnet. Some sonnets may have a prescribed meter, like the
English/Shakespearean sonnet, which is written in iambic pentameter. Are students
aware of any famous traditional sonnets?
2) Group Assignment: Now that students have a rough idea of the traditional form of the
sonnet, ask them to make a list of pros and cons associated with that particular form of
poetry. What are some advantages of writing a poem within such a rigid form? What are
some disadvantages?
3) Analysis: Ask students to consider Neruda's version of the sonnet. What aspects of
the traditional form does Neruda carry over into his own work? What does he change?
Students should be ready to share their answers with the rest of the class.
4) Homework: Assess Neruda's use of the sonnet form. Choose a sonnet from among
Sonnets I-X and compare it to the traditional sonnet form. Based on the ideas discussed
in class, is Neruda's poem a true sonnet? Explain.
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Lesson 4 (from XI - XX)
Objective
This lesson will address the concepts of mood and tone in Neruda's Sonnets XI-XX.
Students will learn how to discern the mood and tone of Neruda's poetry. Students will
also be able to pinpoint how Neruda uses specific words and phrases to establish and
perpetuate a poem's mood and tone.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Discuss the concepts of mood and tone in poetry. What, exactly,
are mood and tone? How might a poet establish the mood or tone in his poems? What
literary devices does Neruda use to establish the mood and tone of his poetry? Ask
students to consider Sonnet XI. What is the mood of this sonnet? What words does
Neruda use to establish the mood of his poem? (Examples: "Crave," "silent and
starving," "hunger," "pace," etc.)
2) Group Activity: Split students into small groups. Ask groups to choose three poems
from Sonnets XI-XX and identify the mood of each poem. Each group should compile a
short list of words or phrases from the poems that support the overall mood/tone of the
poem.
3) Analysis: Assess Sonnets XI-XX. For each poem, choose one word or phrase that
summarizes that poem's mood/tone. Is there a pattern of recurring moods/tones in this
section of Neruda's work? If so, what is the recurring mood/tone, and what sonnets fall
into that category? If not, what tones/moods does Neruda incorporate in this section of
the book?
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, explain what literary devices Neruda seems to
use most effectively to establish mood/tone in Sonnet XVIII. Some literary devices one
may wish to consider include visual imagery, metaphor and/or conceit, and descriptive
imagery.

Objective
Neruda uses many images of food in his poems. In one example, Neruda develops and
extended conceit in which he compares Matilde to bread. In this lesson, students will
examine the significance of food imagery in Sonnets XI-XX, most specifically in Sonnets
XI, XII and XIII. At the end of today's lesson, students will be able to identify the role
food imagery plays in Neruda's sonnets and the various objects and concepts
symbolized by food imagery.
31
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Lead a class discussion about the usage of food imagery in
Neruda's Sonnets XI-XX. In which poems does Neruda use food imagery? Consider
Neruda's Sonnet XIII. What does that food imagery contribute to the poems' overall
mood/tone? What literary devices (i.e. metaphor, conceit, visual imagery, etc.) does
Neruda use?
2) Group Activity: Split students into small groups. Ask each group to choose one poem
from Sonnets XI-XX that incorporates food imagery. What food does Neruda use? What
does that food symbolize? Be prepared to share answers with the class.
3) Analysis: In Sonnet XI and Sonnet XII, Neruda compares Matilde to food. What does
that image reveal about Matilde -- either her appearance or her personality? What does
it reveal about how Neruda views his lover?
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, examine Neruda's use of food imagery in

Sonnets XIII and XX. How are the images similar? How are they different?

Objective
In this lesson, students will discuss Neruda's use of opposites in his poetry. Students
will focus primarily on Sonnet XX. However, this lesson will enable students to
recognize and understand Neruda's use of opposites in many of his other poems in the
100 Sonnets.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Discuss Neruda's use of opposites in his poetry. In Sonnet XX,
what opposites of Matilde's characteristics does Neruda contemplate? What tone does
Neruda establish with the inclusion of these opposites?
2) Group Activity: Divide class into small groups. Examine Sonnet XX, and list the "ugly"
and beautiful aspects of Matilde's appearance Neruda lists in the poem. Does Neruda's
evaluation of Matilde's appearance seem to be more positive or negative? Be prepared
to discuss with the whole class.
3) Analysis: Address Neruda's use of opposites in Sonnet XX. What do the opposites in
the poem reveal about the relationship between Neruda and Matilde? How does Neruda
view his lover?
4) Homework: Find three other poems in which Neruda uses opposites. What opposites
does he use? What purpose does he achieve by incorporating those elements?
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Lesson 7 (from XXI - XXX)
Objective
Neruda's poems deal extensively with the concept of love; after all, his book is entitled
"100 Sonnets of Love." This lesson will address the properties of love as described in
Neruda's sonnets. Students will analyze the complexities of the love between Neruda
and Matilde.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Based on Sonnets XXI-XXX, what may one discern about the
nature of the love between Neruda and Matilde? Consider Sonnet XXII specifically.
What are some of the characteristics of that love? Is it complex, or is it simple? Is it
cerebral, or emotional, or neither? What, if any, are its origins? Use Neruda's text as a
guide in answering these questions.
2) Group Activity: Divide students into small groups. Ask each group to choose ONE
poem from among Sonnets XXI-XXX. What are the properties of the love described in
that particular poem? Compile a list of words or phrases from the poem to describe that
particular poem's love.
3) Critical Thinking: Analyze Sonnet XXI, Sonnet XXIII and Sonnet XXV. Based on these
poems, how does Neruda view love? Choose a few key words or phrases to describe
Neruda's thoughts on love.
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, examine how the love described in Sonnet XXV
influences Neruda. Address love's direct influence on Neruda, and compile a short list of
words or phrases that summarize how love affects Neruda.

Objective
Through his 100 Sonnets of Love, Neruda's vivid visual imagery is full of color. In this
lesson, students will analyze Neruda's inclusion of color in his poems. Students will
focus primarily on Sonnet XXIV, but will draw from all poems covered thus far.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: In which poems, from Sonnet I to Sonnet XXX, does Neruda focus
on color or include specific colors in his descriptions? Can different color affect the
mood and tone of a poem? What does using specific colors in descriptive language
accomplish?
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2) Group Activity: Neruda's Sonnet XXIV focuses extensively on the color blue. Ask
each group to complete a short list of emotions or feelings that may be associated with
the color blue. Are any of those feelings or emotions captured in Sonnet XXIV?
3) Recall: Read over Sonnet XXVII and Sonnet XXIX and decide what colors Neruda
uses in his poems. What emotions, feelings, or thoughts are associated with those
colors? Make a short list of quotes from the poems to support each point.
4) Homework: Think back over the poems the class has covered. What colors in
Neruda's sonnets are associated with Matilde? Write a short paragraph listing those
colors and the poems in which they appear.

Objective
Matilde's childhood in the poor regions of southern Chile are described at length in
Sonnet XXIX. The poverty and humility of that region are reflected in Matilde's
personality, and those qualities attract Neruda to his lover. In this lesson, students will
examine the significance of Matilde's childhood and the importance it plays in the
relationship between Matilde and Neruda.
Lesson
Class Discussion: Matilde's childhood is addressed extensively in Sonnet XXIX. What

characteristics define Matilde's childhood and her homeland? Where is she from? What
effect does Matilde's childhood have on her?
Group Activity: Divide the class into small groups. Ask students to make a short list of
characteristics that Matilde and her homeland seem to share in Sonnets XXIX and XXX.
How does Matilde's upbringing influence how Neruda portrays her? How does her
upbringing influence Neruda's decision to choose Matilde for his wife?
Analysis: Have students draw two columns on a sheet of paper. In each column, write
the characteristics of Matilde's homeland as described in Sonnets XXIX and XXX. What
are some characteristics that are similar in both poems? What characteristics are
different? How do the different characteristics influence the mood/tone of the poems?
Homework: Matilde comes from an unnamed part of Southern Chile. In a short

paragraph, give a brief description of the southern areas of Chile today. How is southern
Chile in contemporary society similar to the way it appears in Neruda's poems? How is it
different?
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Lesson 10 (from XXXI - XL)
Objective
This lesson will examine the significance of Neruda's house on Isla Negra. Sonnets
XXXII and XXXVI and, to some extent, some of Neruda's other sonnets in Section
XXXI-XL, deal extensively with the couple's home. In this lesson, students will consider
the symbolic significance of the home, as well as the emotions associated with the
dwelling.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Consider Sonnets XXXII and XXXVI. How does the house affect
the couple? What are some characteristics associated with the house? How do the
lovers view their home? Feel free to include references to the home in other poems as
well.
2) Group Activity: Divide class into small groups. Ask each group to brainstorm for a few
minutes and come up with a few ideas about how the house reveals Neruda's opinions
about the world outside their island home. Answers should be drawn largely from
Sonnets XXXII and XXXVI. Students should be prepared to share their answers with the
rest of the class.
3) Recall: How does Matilde fit into Neruda's description of his home? Hint: students
may want to consider poems that have already been covered in class.
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, compare Neruda's descriptions of his home to his
descriptions of the places he has traveled. Use descriptions of his home from Sonnets
XXXII and XXXVI, as well as from Sonnet XXXIII.

Objective
Neruda's poems are packed with countless images of the sea. In this lesson, students
will analyze the importance of the sea in Neruda's poetry and its various roles within the
sonnets. Students will examine the emotions associated with the sea, and how the sea
reflects Neruda's feelings about Matilde.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Lead a discussion about the significance of the sea in Neruda's
poems. What about Neruda's location makes the sea so important? What aspects of the
sea fit into Neruda's recurring motif of cycles? Ask students to consider Sonnets XXXIII
and XL; what emotions does the sea arouse in those poems?
35
2) Group Activity: Divide the class into small groups. Ask each group to examine Sonnet
XXXIV. How are Matilde and the sea related? What are some phrases from that poem
that can be used to describe both the sea and Matilde?
3) Recall: Choose any three of the poems the class has discussed thus far that contains
an image of the sea. What do the images of the sea in the poems have in common?
What is different?
4) Homework: In Sonnets XXXIII and XXXIV, Neruda contemplates the sea, which
arouses powerful emotions within the author. In a short journal entry, write a quick
description of the sea's apparent effect on Neruda. What are some emotions or ideas
the sea evokes from Neruda? Use quotes from Neruda's poems to support any
assertions.

Objective
The concept of cycles in Neruda's poetry has been touched on in some lessons, but this
lesson will focus exclusively on cyclical imagery in Neruda's poems. Using Sonnet
XXXV as an example, students will examine the significance of cycles in his poems and
will establish the relationship between cycles and some of Neruda's other recurring
themes.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Lead a discussion with the class about cycles in nature. What are
some examples of cycles in nature? What are some examples of natural cycles found in
Neruda's poems? What does their inclusion reveal about Neruda? How does the theme
of cycles fit with his recurring themes of nature and opposites? How do Sonnets XXXII
and XXXV fit into this theme?
2) Group Activity: Split the class into small groups. Ask each group to consider Sonnet
XXXV. What cycle is included in that Sonnet? What, if anything, does that cycle
symbolize? How does that cycle make Neruda feel? Students should be prepared to
share their answers with the rest of the class.
3) Recall: Choose at least three sonnets that contain images of cycles from the poems
already covered in class. What cycles do they include? Make a short list of the titles of
the sonnets, the included cycles and key words or phrases that describe those cycles.
4) Homework: In some poems, Neruda includes images that are cycles and opposites at
the same time (light and dark, day and night, death and life, etc.) In a short journal entry,
answer this question: are cycles always made up of opposites? Are all opposites part of
a cycle? Use examples. Some sonnets to consider include Sonnet XXXV and Sonnet
XXXIV.
36
Lesson 13 (from XLI - L)
Objective
In Sonnets XLI-L, Neruda includes several examples of his search for Matilde and his
selection of Matilde as his lover. Throughout the 100 Sonnets, the search for Matilde is
always an arduous process that commonly causes Neruda intense pain or stress, and
then his relief. In this lesson, students will consider that search and selection, as well as
what that process reveals about the relationship between Neruda and Matilde. They will
focus predominantly on Sonnets XLIII and XLVI, but will draw their conclusions from
other poems the class has already covered.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Lead a discussion with the class about Neruda's search for Matilde
and his ultimate selection of a lover, using Sonnets XLIII, XLV, XLVI and XLVII for
answers. What is the process of searching for Matilde like? What does his search reveal
about Neruda? How does Neruda's search for Matilde influence his feelings about her?
About their relationship as a whole?
2) Group Activity: Divide the class into small groups. Using Sonnets XLII and XLVI, ask
students to write a concise summary of Neruda's search for Matilde. Students can use
many different forms; they can make a time line, they can create a new poem, they can
write a narrative, etc. Ask students to use specific quotes from the poems in their
summary.
3) Recall: Find three other poems from the sonnets already covered in class wherein
Neruda searches for and chooses Matilde. Choose a few key phrases from each poem
that describes his search.
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, answer this question: What does Neruda's search
for Matilde in Sonnets XLIII, XLV, XLVI, and XLVII reveal about the author and his
personality?

Objective
In many of his poems, Neruda describes Matilde as a force of nature or endows her with
life-giving powers. Sometimes, Matilde's thoughts or dreams seem to be capable of
causing natural phenomena. In this lesson, students will focus on Matilde as a force of
nature or life-giver. They will focus on Sonnets XLI-L, but will be able to notice these
qualities of Matilde's in other poems.
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Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Lead a discussion with your class about Matilde's qualities as a
force of nature or a life-giver. What are some qualities Neruda mentions that allows him
to portray her in this manner? How does Matilde's role as a force of nature or life-giver
tie into his themes of nature and cycles? How is Neruda's opinion of Matilde revealed
through these descriptions?
2) Group Discussion: Divide the class into small groups. Ask each group to analyze
Sonnet XLVII and XLIX, which contain examples of Matilde functioning as a natural
force. How does Matilde affect nature? How does nature reflect her personality?
3) Analysis: Read and analyze Sonnets XLVII and XLIX. Make a short list of ways
Matilde functions as a bringer of life. Feel free to include any references from other
poems.
4) Homework: Recall three other poems from past sections wherein Matilde functions
either as a life-bringer or force of nature. Compile some quotes from each poem
describing Matilde as she functions within these roles.

Objective
In keeping with his themes of cycles and opposites, many of Neruda's poems in section
XLI-L include contrasting images of day and night. In this lesson, students will analyze
the role of day time and night time in section XLI-L, and will reflect on the inclusion of
these elements in other poems. Students will also consider how day and night fit into
Neruda's recurring themes throughout 100 Sonnets.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Lead a discussion with the class about how Neruda's inclusion of
day and night in sonnets XLI-L fit into his overall writing style. How does it mesh with his
recurring theme of opposites? Cycles? Nature? What emotions does Neruda associate
with the two periods?
2) Critical Thinking: Ask students to read Sonnets XLII, XLVIII and XLIX, and to create
two lists. One list should include emotions, key words and phrases that Neruda
associates with night time. The other should include emotions, key words and phrases
that Neruda associates with day time. Students should focus primarily on the
aforementioned poems that include day/night imagery, but can draw from other poems
that include similar imagery.
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3) Analysis: In a short paragraph, answer this question: How does Matilde's role as a
force of nature fit in with the day/night pattern in Sonnet XLIX? Students should be
prepared to discuss their answer with the class.
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, answer this question: How does Neruda view
day? How does he view night? Does he prefer one over the other? Explain.
Lesson 16 (from LI - LX)

Objective
In Sonnets LI, LII and LIII, Neruda focuses extensively on Matilde's voice, including her
laughter. Matilde's laughter and voice have the ability to cause natural phenomena and
invoke strong emotions in Neruda. In this lesson, students will analyze Neruda's
descriptions of Matilde's voice, and will learn how this particular element of Sonnets LI,
LII and LIII fit in with Matilde's recurring roles in Neruda's poetry.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Lead a class discussion about the significance of Matilde's voice.
Ask students to scan over Sonnets LI-LX. What poems include references to Matilde's
voice? Based on Neruda's descriptions of her voice and laughter in Sonnets LI and LII,
what may one infer about Neruda's view of Matilde? What do these poems reveal about
Matilde's personality?
2) Brainstorming: Ask students to come up with a list of words and phrases that
describe Matilde's voice. Words can come directly from the Sonnets XLVII and L, or
students can brainstorm their own descriptions based on Neruda's poems.
3) Group Activity: Divide the class into two groups, and assign Group One Sonnet LII
and Group Two Sonnet LIII. Ask each group to analyze the role of Matilde's voice in
their poem. What does Matilde's voice symbolize? How does it affect her environment?
How does it fit into Matilde's role as either a force of nature or life-bringer?
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, compare Matilde's songs in Sonnet LII and
Sonnet LIII with Neruda's song in Sonnet LVI. How are the songs different? How are
they alike?

Objective
As Neruda's 100 Sonnets move from "Afternoon" through "Evening" to "Night," Neruda
incorporates a growing level of sadness or melancholy into his poetry. In Sonnets LI-LX,
some of Neruda's poems deal specifically with sorrows or trials the couple faces. In this
39
lesson, students will examine the effect of negative circumstances on the lovers, and
will evaluate the lovers' means of dealing with the sorrow they encounter.
Lesson
1) Group Activity: Split students into small groups. Ask students to scan sonnets LI-LX
and note any sonnets wherein Neruda and Matilde deal with negativity or face sorrow.
Each group should compile a list poems in which Neruda and Matilde face sorrow, and
should make a list of words or phrases that describe the pair's experiences. Students
should focus extensively on Sonnets LIV, LV and LX.
2) Class Assignment: Lead the class in a discussion about the effect of negative
circumstances on the two lovers in Sonnets LIV, LV and LX. How does Neruda view
negativity? What negative circumstances do Neruda and Matilde encounter? What
makes them susceptible to experiencing sorrow? Ask them to support their assertions
with the quotes they compiled during the group activity.
3) Analysis: Ask individual students to read Sonnet LVI and LVII. How do Matilde and
Neruda deal with sorrow, both as individuals and as a couple? Students should be
ready to share their answers with the class.
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, answer this question: Do Matilde and Neruda
seem to deal with their negative circumstances constructively? Explain why or why not.
Base answers on Sonnet LVI and LVII.

Objective
When Pablo Neruda was alive, he faced constant criticism for everything from his
writing style to his political views and his personal life. In several poems in section LI-
LX, Neruda addresses his critics or comments on their criticisms. In this lesson,
students will assess the way Neruda deals with the criticism he faces.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Ask your class to scan through section LI-LX and note any sonnets
that might address Neruda's critics. What do his critics condemn him for? What do
students know about his personal life that might cause people to criticize Neruda? What
about his political views? His writing style?
2) Group Discussion: Divide the students into groups. Have the groups research
Neruda, his life, politics and writing style - and also any references to literary critics of
the day - to try to understand why he faced criticism. Discuss findings among the entire
group. In group discussion, ask them to read Sonnet LVII and Sonnet LVIII to see what
40
the critics say about him? What might "'The quick spontaneous mermaids' amber'" from
Sonnet LVII refer to? How does Neruda answer his critics' barbs?
3) Critical Thinking: Neruda displays strong feelings in the sonnet's condemnation of

literary critics. What may one infer about Neruda's feelings about critics from this
sonnet?
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, assess Neruda's responses to his critics. Does he
deal with them effectively? Why or why not?
Lesson 19 (from LXI - LXX)

Objective
Perhaps because of the criticisms that sparked Neruda's Sonnet LVII and Sonnet LVIII,
Neruda contemplates the effects of his trials on his wife Matilde in section LXI-LXX. In
this lesson, students will examine the effects of the criticism Neruda faces on Matilde,
and will view the couple's suffering in context with their relationship.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Ask students to scan sonnets LXI-LXX. Lead the class in a
discussion about Neruda's trials and their effect on Matilde. Do Neruda's personal
battles affect Matilde? If so, is that unusual based on what the students know about the
couple's relationship? Can students think of any well-known instance when one
person's struggles affect their significant other? What clues does Neruda leave in his
poems about why Matilde would be so profoundly impacted by Neruda's troubles?
2) Group Activity: Divide the class into three groups. Assign Sonnet LX to Group One,
Sonnet LXI to Group Two and Sonnet LXII to Group Three.
Group One: In Sonnet LX, what troubles affect Matilde? How?
Group Two: In Sonnet LXI, what sorrow affects Matilde, and how is it related to Neruda?
Group Three: In Sonnet LXII, who is the "they" that brings sorrow to the couple? Why?
3) Analyze: Ask individual students to scan over section LXI-LXX. What, if anything,
comforts the lovers? If nothing can comfort them, why is that the case?
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, answer this question: Based on the sorrow that
Neruda and Matilde share in sonnets LX-LXII, would the couple be better off if they
were separated? Why or why not?
41
Objective
Just as Matilde's homeland in the "poor South" influences her character, so Neruda's
homeland seems to affect him as a person. In Sonnet LXIII, Neruda describes the
harsh, savage, but beautiful land which is his homeland. In this lesson, students will
analyze Neruda's description of his homeland and will examine that land's effect on
Neruda.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Lead students in a discussion about Neruda's homeland. Neruda

was born in a town called Parral in the south of Chile. Ask students to thoroughly read
Sonnet LXIII. Based on his descriptions of his homeland in Sonnet LXIII, what is his
homeland like? Ask students to analyze the language Neruda uses in his description;
how does Neruda seem to feel about the land of his birth?
2) Visual Aid: Find Parral, Chile, using either a map of the country or the internet. What
do students learn about Neruda's birthplace? What is Parral like? What is the
countryside like? Does Neruda's description of his birthplace seem accurate?
3) Group Activity: Split students into small groups and ask them to consider Sonnet
LXIII. If Neruda belongs to the land that he describes, what does that imply about the
qualities of the author? Based on what Neruda reveals about himself in his poems, what
does he seem to have in common with the landscape described in the sonnet? What is
different?
4) Homework: Neruda hints that he and Matilde come from the same area, or at least
from the same type of background. In a short journal entry, answer this question: how
does Neruda's homeland compare to Matilde's? How are they different? How are they
the same?

Objective
In the midst of the "Evening" section of his 100 Sonnets, Neruda muses on the
implications of Mathilde's absence. In Sonnet LXV and LXIX, particularly, the idea of
being without his lover seems to weigh heavily on the author. In this lesson, students
will examine the aforementioned sonnets, and will analyze the poet's feelings about
Matilde's absence.
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Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Lead a discussion about the consequences of Matilde's absence in

Sonnet LXV and LXIX. Ask students to remember that Neruda often describes the
lovers as being one entity. If that is the case, what are some repercussions of Matilde's
absence? What emotions does her absence seem to cause in Neruda?
2) Group Activity: Compare and contrast Sonnet LXV and Sonnet LXIX. How is Matilde's
absence different in one poem than in the other? How is it the same? In each poem,
what is implied will happen when Matilde returns? What are the consequences of her
absence in each poem? Groups should be ready to present their answers to the class.
3) Recall: Ask students to work individually. Ask them to look back over the poems
already covered in class and find three poems that are marked by Matilde's absence.
What are the consequences of those absences? Are they like or unlike the absences
described in Sonnet LXV and Sonnet LXIX?
4) Homework: Write a short journal entry answering this question: Based on what we
know about Matilde's roles as a force of nature and a giver of life, how might Neruda's
life change if he had to live without his lover?
Lesson 22 (from LXXI - LXXX)

Objective
In sonnets LXXI-LXXX, Neruda builds upon a theme of escape from different

circumstances. In Sonnet LXXI, Neruda describes his desire to escape with Matilde to a
private sanctuary where the two can be alone. Sonnet LXXII contains a plea from
Neruda to Matilde to escape the oncoming winter by fleeing to warmer climates. In this
lesson, students will analyze the theme of escape in these two poems.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Ask your class to scan Sonnet LXXI-LXXX. In which poems does
the theme of escape arise? Lead your class in a discussion about this element. What do
Matilde and Neruda want to escape? Where do they want to escape to? Is it possible for
the couple to truly escape the circumstances they wish to flee?
2) Visual Aid: Find Isla Negra on a map. Then, locate Arabia and Tocopilla. Based on
Sonnet LXXII and the locations mentioned in that poem, would these locations be good
places to escape the oncoming winter? What might the weather be like in those two
destinations?
3) Group Activity: Divide the class into small groups, and ask each group to answer
questions about Sonnet LXXII. In Sonnet LXXII, Neruda and Matilde wish to escape
43
more than just cold weather. In this poem, what do the two wish to elude? What is their
perfect sanctuary like?
4) Homework: Think back over the poems previously discussed in class. Which poems
contain images of a sanctuary or escape? Do those poems share any particular
elements with Sonnet LXXI and Sonnet LXXII?

Objective
Although Pablo Neruda is largely remembered solely as an author today, he attracted

widespread attention for his political views in his lifetime. His socialist views even
resulted in his exile from Chile during one point in his life. In this lesson, students will
examine Neruda's political views within the context of his poetry, and will assess the
influence of his political inclinations on Sonnet LXXCIII and LXXX.
Lesson
1) Group Activity: Split the class into small groups. Ask each group to compile some
information about Neruda's political activities during his lifetime. While they do so, ask
each group to consider Sonnets LXXVII and LXXX and the hints Neruda leaves about
his political ideals.
2) Group Discussion: Ask students to contribute the information about Neruda's political
leanings they compiled during the group activity. Compare what they learned to Sonnet
LXXVII and LXXX. How do Neruda's beliefs influence those sonnets? What key phrases
in the poems hint at his political background?
3) Analyze: Ask individual students to consider what they now know about Sonnet
LXXVII and LXXX, and compare those poems to the critics Neruda addresses in Sonnet
LVII. What may one infer about how Neruda's political beliefs were received when he
was alive?
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, answer these questions: How do Neruda's

political beliefs influence his poetry overall? What themes or motifs reflect his personal
political persuasion?

Objective
Sonnet LXXIII is a poignant portrayal of two individuals' fight against love. The poem
contains several of Neruda's recurring themes, including images from nature, the
element of irresistible love and what is probably a portrayal of both Neruda and Matilde
44
before their love. In this lesson, students will analyze Sonnet LXXIII and place it within
the context of Neruda's other work.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Ask students to carefully read Sonnet LXXIII. Lead a discussion
with the class about the significance of this work. Which of Neruda's recurring themes
(the power of love, nature, opposites, cycles, etc.) are included in this poem? What
does this poem reveal about the beginnings of Neruda and Matilde's relationship?
2) Group Activity: Split the class into small groups. Ask each group to come up with
ideas about the identity of the "razor-faced man" and "pallid woman" in the poem. Could
the couple be Neruda and Matilde? If so, why? If not, who are they?
3) Recall: Ask each student to think back over the poems already covered in class.
Does Neruda reference a resistance to love in other poems? Which ones? Include key
words and phrases from each poem.
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, consider the outcome of the fight the man and
woman in Sonnet LXXIII wage against love. What is the outcome of that fight? What
does that outcome reveal about the power of love?
Lesson 25 (from LXXXI - XC)

Objective
In section LXXXI-XC, the theme of sleep dominates many of Neruda's poems. In his
sonnets, Neruda views sleep as a way to slip the bonds of every day life and exist with
his love on another plane. When the couple is asleep, time seems to slow and become
irrelevant. In this section, students will analyze the element of sleep in Sonnets LXXXI,
LXXXII, LXXXIII, LXXXIV and LXXXVI.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Ask students to scan the poems in section LXXXI-XC, making note
of all poems that reference sleep as a major theme. Lead the class in a discussion
about the significance of sleep to both Neruda as an individual and to Neruda and
Matilde as a couple. How does Neruda describe sleep? Is it pleasant or unpleasant?
Why is sleep so attractive to the author?
2) Brainstorm: Ask each student to read and analyze Sonnet LXXXI and LXXXIII. How
does Neruda view his sleeping lover? What emotions are aroused in Neruda as he
regards Matilde? Ask each student to make a list of words and phrases from the poems
that summarize Neruda's feelings. Students should be prepared to share their answers
with the class.
45
3) Analysis: Ask each student to read Sonnet LXXXVI. Why does Neruda choose to
write an ode to the Southern Cross instead of another constellation? What about the
Southern Cross endears that particular group of stars to the author? How does that
constellation play into the theme of sleep in the poem?
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, answer this question: How does sleep fit into
Neruda's desire to become one with his wife?

Objective
As Neruda nears the end of his 100 sonnets, the theme of loneliness appears to
become increasingly prevalent in his poetry. Sonnet LXXXVII, in which Neruda muses
about the origins of loneliness as he watches three birds fly across the sky, is a
particularly moving example of the author's apparent loneliness. In this lesson, students
will contemplate this theme of loneliness and its importance in the last few poems of
Neruda's masterpiece.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Ask students to skim through section LXXXI-XC. Which poems
include the element of loneliness? Lead a discussion with the class about this theme.
What images does Neruda use in his poems to evoke feelings of loneliness in the
reader? Does Neruda seem to be truly lonely in his poems, or is he merely musing on
loneliness? If Neruda is really lonely, how does he seem to deal with that emotion?
2) Analysis: Ask students to read and analyze Sonnet LXXXVII. How does nature reflect
the concept of loneliness? Does loneliness directly affect nature, or does nature merely
arouse feelings of loneliness in the author? How does that author relay that emotion to
his readers? Students should be prepared to present their answers with the rest of the
class.
3) Recall: Ask students to think back over poems the class has covered. Does
loneliness appear in other poems? Why do these particular poems (Sonnet LXXXVII
and the others in section LXXXI-XC) seem to focus so intently upon this particular
emotion?
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, consider Neruda's descriptions of loneliness in

his poems. Do his descriptions seem accurate? Is the reader able to relate to the
author's emotions?
46
Objective
In the last few sonnets in Neruda's masterpiece, the element of death rises to the
surface of many of Neruda's poems. Sonnet LXXXIX and XC deal extensively with the
subject. In this lesson, students will analyze those two sonnets, and will begin to
contemplate Neruda's views on death and the afterlife. This lesson will prepare students
to analyze the last few poems of Neruda's book, which also deal extensively with this
subject.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Ask students to carefully read Sonnet LXXXIX and XC. Based on
those two sonnets, how does Neruda seem to view death? Is he afraid of death? Which
of Neruda's recurring themes (the power of love, nature, opposites, cycles, etc.) does
death fit into? What do these poems reveal about Neruda's belief concerning what
happens to a person after death?
2) Critical Thinking: Ask students to consider Neruda's descriptions of death in Sonnet

LXXIX and XC. How does Neruda's descriptions of death relate to the themes of sleep
and loneliness in Lesson 24 and 25?
3) Brainstorming: Ask each student to consider Neruda's near-death experience in

Sonnet XC. What revelations does Neruda have in that poem? What do those
revelations reveal about his life?
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, assess the request Neruda asks of Matilde in
Sonnet LXXXIX. Is it reasonable for Neruda to ask Matilde to live happily after he dies?
Why or why not?
Lesson 28 (from XCI - C)

Objective
As Neruda's 100 Sonnets of Love draws to a close, Neruda contemplates the passage
of time and the future in several of his poems. Sonnets XCI and XCVI, as well as others,
focus on this theme. In this lesson, students will analyze the inclusion of this element in
Neruda's final poems.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Ask your students to scan Sonnet XCI-C, making note of the
poems that include references to the passing of time and speculations about the future.
Lead the class in a discussion about the passage of time, mortality and the future in
47
Neruda's poems. How does Neruda view the passage of time? How does he view his
own mortality? How does he view Matilde's mortality? What are his emotions
concerning his death? Matilde's?
2) Brainstorm: Ask your students to scan through section XCI-C. Have them make a list
of words or phrases that describe time and mortality, as well as Neruda's emotions
concerning the future.
3) Critical Thinking: Ask your students to consider the themes of mortality, time and the
future in relation to the recurring themes he includes in his poems. Based on Neruda's
feelings about cycles and nature, are Neruda's emotions concerning the elements of
time, mortality, etc. true to his beliefs?
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, answer this question: Based on Sonnet XCIX,
what does Neruda believe his and Matilde's role will be in the future? Feel free to
incorporate quotes from other poems to support any arguments.

Objective
Whereas Neruda seems self-conscious about his writing in his dedication of 100
Sonnets of Love and several other poems, he seems confident that this text will be
widely read. This is evidenced in Sonnet XCVII. In this lesson, students will reevaluate
Neruda's opinion of his work in light of this poem, and will reflect upon Neruda's
prediction that his poems to Matilde will be widely published.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Lead a class discussion about Sonnet XCVIII. How does that
sonnet relate to Neruda's feelings about his poetry as evidenced in his dedication and in
his poems throughout the book? Does Neruda consider his poems to be a part of
himself, or as a separate entity? How is his writing characterized in this poem as
opposed to the rest of the book?
2) Brainstorming: Ask students to reread Sonnet XCVIII and the book's dedication. Have
them compare "the word" in Sonnet XCVIII and the wooden sonnets from Neruda's
dedication. How is it possible for the two to be the same thing? Is it possible at all?
3) Analysis: Ask students to analyze stanza two of Sonnet XCVIII. What do the images
in stanza two indicate about Neruda's writing? About the circumstances that surround
the writing?
4) Homework: In a short journal entry, answer this question: Was Neruda's prediction
that the poems he wrote for Matilde would be widely proclaimed? Why or why not?
48
Objective
In this lesson, students will review Pablo Neruda's 100 Love Sonnets. They will review
recurring themes and motifs, dominating emotions and the author's style of writing.
Lesson
1) Class Discussion: Ask students for their opinions about the book. What aspects of
Neruda's writing did they enjoy? What aspects were particularly powerful to them? What
bothered them? Does Neruda's poetry seem easily accessible, or is it hard for the
reader to identify with the author?
2) Class Game: Divide students into two groups. Give students a predetermined amount
of time to come up with as many recurring themes, images, motifs and emotions that
appear in Neruda's poetry. The group with the most items on their list wins the game.
3) Evaluation: Poll your students: does Neruda's writing seem to fit the description of the
"wooden" sonnets from the dedication? Or is more like the victorious word that is
proclaimed by the springtime in Sonnet XCVIII?
4) Homework: Ask each student to act as a literary critic and assess Neruda's 100 Love
Sonnets. Be sure to address the style and content of the text as a whole, using specific
examples from the texts to support any assertions.
49
Fun Activities
Creative Writing: Metaphor Practice
Create a metaphor of your own choosing. Relate two or more objects or concepts that
are seemingly unrelated. Turn your metaphor into a poem of your own choosing.
Compare and Contrast: Sonnet Practice

Rewrite a preexisting sonnet in another form. For example, one could rewrite a
traditional Shakespearean sonnet in the form of a free verse sonnet like Neruda's. Or,
one could rewrite one of Neruda's poems in a traditional form. Alternatively, one could
write a sonnet of their own in two different forms.
Color Study: Mood and Color

In many of his sonnets, Neruda uses colors to evoke specific moods or emotions.
Choose a mood or emotion to portray, and create an art project that uses color to
capture that mood or emotion.
Picturebook: The Emotions of the Sea

Collect several images of the sea and present them as a small book. Use pictures that
capture the different emotions associated with the sea in Neruda's sonnets, and
accompany excerpts from Neruda's poems with the different pictures.
Creative Thinking: A Portrait of Matilde

Create a collage, sculpture, drawing or other work of art that portrays Matilde. Try to
capture her based on Neruda's description of her. For instance, one might draw her as a
Naiad, as in Sonnet XXXIV, or as she appears in Sonnet XXX, where she is "crowded
and crowned with feathers and timber." Make sure to include a quote describing Matilde
as she is portrayed in the artwork.
Love Poems: Secret Admirer

Choose an object, person or concept you admire, and write a "love" poem to that
subject. Your poem could be directed at something serious, like a family member or pet,
or something as small as a favorite food or sport! Write it from the perspective of a
secret admirer.
50
Monologue: In Matilde's Shoes
Neruda writes that his love poems to Matilde will, someday, cry out to be read by other
people. Imagine you are Matilde; do you want others to read the poems Neruda has
written for you? Write a brief monologue capturing your feelings.
Journal Entry: A Day on La Isla Negra

Pretend to be either Neruda or Matilde, and write a dairy entry describing what you
imagine to be a typical day on Isla Negra. Be sure to include details or activities that are
included in Neruda's poems. Feel free to include drawings or descriptions of your
activities.
Personal Reflection: Your Own Hometown

Neruda and Matilde's lives were dramatically affected by their upbringing and their
homelands. Describe your own homeland -- even your own home town -- and describe
how your background has shaped you.
Poetry Practice: Home Sweet Home

In several poems, Neruda writes about returning home from a long journey. Imagine you
are returning home after an extended trip, and write a poem describing how you feel.
Illustration: Through Neruda's Eyes

Choose any poem from Neruda's 100 Sonnets, and illustrate the events or scenes
described in that poem.
Dominant Themes: Cycles in Poetry

Neruda focuses extensively on natural cycles in his poetry. Choose a cycle, either from
nature or from another facet of life, and incorporate it into a poem.
Poetry Practice: Ode to a Constellation

In Sonnet LXXXVI, Neruda pens an ode to the Southern Cross. Choose a constellation
like Orion, the Pleiades or the Big Dipper, and write an ode to that set of stars.
51
In Neruda's Shoes: A Letter to the Critics
In several poems, Neruda responds to his many critics. Pretend you are Neruda and,
instead of writing a poem, write a letter defending your poetry from those who criticize it.
Visual Aid: La Isla Negra

Create a diarama, picture or diagram of Isla Negra, combining elements from both
Neruda's poems and your own imagination.
Cooking: Food Images

Neruda makes extensive use of food imagery. Find or cook a food that appears in
Neruda's poems, like peaches or bread. How does looking at the food in real life or
making the food yourself influence your perception of the author's poems? Are those
images good descriptions for Matilde?
Imagination: Your Own Private Sanctuary

Neruda and Matilde are constantly searching for a peaceful sanctuary from the woes of
the world. Write a few paragraphs describing your own ideal personal sanctuary, or
create an illustration of the same.
Poetry Practice: Writing for the Senses

Many of Neruda's poems use imagery that appeals to all five senses. Write a poem
describing something or someone you adore, using imagery that appeals to every
sense.
Double Feature: Ode to a Feature

Neruda often dedicates entire poems to describe one feature of Matilde's appearance.
Write a short poem describing a part of your own appearance or that of someone you
admire.
Visual Aid: Neruda and Matilde's Journeys

Use a world map to highlight locations Neruda and Matilde visited during their lifetimes.
Be sure to include the various locations mentioned in Neruda's 100 Sonnets.
52
Essay Topics
Essay Topic 1
Wood is a recurring theme in Neruda's 100 Sonnets. Analyze Neruda's usage of that
motif and examine the symbolism and imagery associated with wood. Be sure to
support all assertions with examples from the book.
Essay Topic 2
In many poems, Neruda ascribes life-giving or healing properties to Matilde. Describe
Matilde's role as a healer or life-bringer throughout the 100 Sonnets. Be sure to use
specific examples from the text.
Essay Topic 3
Neruda's poems are filled with images of the sea and rivers. What do the sea and rivers
symbolize in his poetry? What role do they play? How do bodies of water affect Neruda
and Matilde? Support any assertions with examples from the book.
Essay Topic 4
Discuss the importance of the forest in Neruda's poems. Topics one may want to
consider include the forest's effect on Neruda, its role in developing Neruda and Matilde
as characters, and the concepts or moods the forest symbolizes in various poems. Be
sure to include specific examples from the text.
Essay Topic 5
Summarize Matilde as she appears in Neruda's poems. Use Neruda's poetry to define
various aspects of Matilde's person; some aspects one may want to explore include her
appearance, her sexuality, her domesticity, her personality and any other aspects from
the poems. Use specific examples from the sonnets.
Essay Topic 6
Many of Neruda's poems include examples of cycles or cyclical images. Examine the
poet's inclusion of cycles in his poems and the importance of those cycles to the
overarching themes contained in Neruda's 100 Sonnets. Use specific cycles that are
found in the poems, and support all assertions with examples from the texts.
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Essay Topic 7
Neruda includes images of many opposites in his poems, including heat and cold, order
and chaos, love and hate, and innumerable others. Very often, the author compares and
contrasts those opposites before incorporating both opposites into one unified concept.
Analyze at least three poems that contain opposites, and explain how the author
reconciles opposite concepts to create one unified idea. Be sure to use specific
examples from the sonnets.
Essay Topic 8
Describe the significance of sleep to Neruda and Matilde. Why does Neruda urge
Matilde to sleep in Sonnets LXXIX and LXXXI? Why is sleep so attractive to the two
lovers? What roles do sleep and dreams play in the couple's relationship? Include
specific examples from the book.
Essay Topic 9
Neruda's poetry is packed with images from nature, and nature plays a dominant role in
most of Neruda's sonnets.
1) Trace the importance of nature through Neruda's 100 Sonnets. What are some
concepts that nature symbolizes? Some concepts one may want to consider include the
relationship between nature and Matilde, nature and love, nature and Neruda's
childhood, etc.
2) Choose at least three concepts or objects discussed in Part 1, and analyze the
relationships between those objects and nature. Provide an in-depth assessment of
those images and concepts, using specific examples from the book.
Essay Topic 10
Examine Neruda's opinions on literature as a whole, on poetry, on his own work and
talent as a writer and on other poets. How does he feel about each subject? Support all
arguments with specific examples.
Essay Topic 11
In many poems, Neruda describes both his and Matilde's homelands. How does Neruda
describe his homeland? Matilde's? What can the reader infer about each lover based on
the descriptions of their homeland? Use specific examples from the text.
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Essay Topic 12
Throughout his 100 Sonnets, Neruda makes extensive use of metaphor and conceit to
describe certain concepts or objects that are important to him. Analyze Neruda's use of
metaphor and conceit throughout the text, using examples from at least at least four
different sonnets. What does Neruda achieve by using metaphor and conceit instead of
literal descriptions of the described object or concept? Use quotes from the book to
support all assertions.
Essay Topic 13
The specific imagery in each of Neruda's sonnets creates a definite mood and tone for
each poem. Using at least four different poems, provide an in-depth analysis of mood
and tone in Neruda's work. For each poem, provide specific examples of words or
phrases that contribute to the poem's overarching mood, and explain how each poem's
syntax perpetuates the mood established in each sonnet.
Essay Topic 14
Analyze Neruda's use of food imagery. What objects or concepts does Neruda relate to
food? What properties do the described objects and the food they are compared to have
in common? What do the food images in Neruda's poems indicate about the poet
himself and how he views the object being described? Support any assertions with
examples from the text.
Essay Topic 15
In many of Neruda's sonnets, particularly those near the end of the 100 Sonnets,
Neruda deals extensively with the concept of death. How does the author view death?
What are his wishes for himself if Matilde dies before he does? What are his wishes for
Matilde should he die first? What does he believe will happen to the souls of the two
lovers after their deaths? Use quotes from the sonnets to support any assertions.
Essay Topic 16
Choose at least three recurring motifs that appear throughout Neruda's works. Explore
the significance of each recurring motif, including any symbolism associated with the
motif. Support all assertions with examples from the text.
Essay Topic 17
Analyze the importance of Matilde and Neruda's childhoods throughout the 100
Sonnets. What does the author reveal to the reader about the childhood of each
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individual? What role does each individual's childhood have on them? What role does
childhood play in their relationship with each other? Use quotes from the sonnets to
back up all arguments.
Essay Topic 18
Assess Neruda's use of the sonnet as a form of poetry. How are Neruda's poems similar
to traditional sonnets? How are they different? How does Neruda view his sonnets when
he compares them to those of other poets? Be specific.
Essay Topic 19
Analyze the various properties of love described in Neruda's sonnets. How does Neruda
view love? What properties does he ascribe to that emotion? Use specific examples
from the book.
Essay Topic 20
Many of Neruda's poems focus extensively on different animals or insects. Choose
three poems that contain examples of animals or insects, and examine the importance
of those beings in the poem. Use specific examples from the book.
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1. In his dedication, how does Neruda compare his poems to those of other poets?
2. In Sonnet I, how does Neruda describe Matilde's name?
3. How is Neruda affected by the "bitter love" he experiences in Sonnet III?
4. in Sonnet V, what does Neruda realize after he wanders through the streets "like a
man wounded?"
5. In Sonnet VII, what causes Neruda's emotions to burst forth like "geysers flooding
from deep in its vault?"
6. What imagery does Neruda use to describe Matilde as he watches her walk by the
sea in Sonnet X?
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7. In Sonnet XI, Neruda is starving and is prowling for sustenance. What "food" is he
looking for?
8. What imagery does Neruda use to compare Matilde to bread in Sonnet XIII?
9. What does Neruda say about Matilde's hair in Sonnet XIV?
10. List some examples of how Neruda compares Matilde's body to the universe in
Sonnet XVI.
11. In what manner does Neruda say he loves Matilde in Sonnet XVII?
12. What are some aspects of Matilde's ugliness and beauty does Neruda list in Sonnet
XX?
13. Explain how Matilde acts as a healer and protector in Sonnet XXIII.
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14. What is Neruda looking at in Sonnet XXIV that inspires his phrase, "...so many blues
-- heavenly blues, sunken blues --/ our eyes are a little confused?"
15. What is Neruda's state of being before he meets Matilde in Sonnet XXV?
16. In Sonnet XXIX, why does Neruda say he chose Matilde? How does her
background influence his decision?
17. What obstacles does Neruda and Matilde's love face in Sonnet XXVIII? Does their
love survive?
18. List some examples of earth imagery Neruda uses to describe Matilde in Sonnet
XXX.
19. Why does Neruda give Matilde the title "The One Who Puts Things in Order" in
Sonnet XXXI?
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20. In Sonnet XXXIII, where are Matilde and Neruda before they return "across the
crackling sea?" Why do they return home?
21. What brings night and day to Neruda in Sonnet XXXV?
22. What is Matilde's role in the "miniature empire" Neruda describes in Sonnet XXXVI?
23. What are some ways Neruda describes Matilde and her house using images related
to sound in Sonnet XXXVIII?
24. How does Neruda describe Matilde's hands in Sonnet XL?
25. What is Neruda looking for when he studies other women in Sonnet XLIII?
26. Neruda says that "everything alive has its two sides," including love. In Sonnet XLIV,
what are the two sides of Neruda's love for Matilde? Why are both sides important?
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27. In Sonnet XLV, what does Neruda say will happen to him if Matilde leaves?
28. What images does Neruda use in Sonnet XLVI to explain how he chose Matilde out
of any other alternatives?
29. What gives Neruda and Matilde the "eternal life of the Natural" in Sonnet XLVIII?
30. Why does Neruda's description of Matilde's laugh contrast so strongly with her
physical appearance in Sonnet L?
31. How does Neruda describe Matilde's laugh in Sonnet LI?
32. In Sonnet LV, what attacks the "honied contentment" Matilde and Neruda share?
33. What defeats envy and rancor in Sonnet LVI?
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34. How does Neruda respond to his critics and those who gossip about him in Sonnet
LVII?
35. How does Neruda feel about himself and his poetry in Sonnet LVIII?
36. Why does Neruda feel sorry for the "poor unlucky poets" in Sonnet LIX?
37. In Sonnet LX, what effect do Neruda's trials and sorrows have on Matilde?
38. Why does Neruda write, "Woe is me, woe is me" at the beginning of Sonnet LXII?
39. How does Neruda describe his homeland in Sonnet LXIII?
40. What effect does Matilde's absence have on Neruda in Sonnet LXV?
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41. What does the figurehead in Sonnet LxVIII appear to do that prompts Neruda to
write about her?
42. in Sonnet LXIX, what does Neruda say is the possible definition of "nothingness?"
43. What are Neruda and Matilde looking for in Sonnet LXXI?
44. In Sonnet LXXII, what causes Neruda to exclaim, "Let's go -- get up -- pin back your
hair -- take off and land?"
45. Who are the man and woman in Sonnet LXXIII, and what do they arm themselves
against? Are they successful in fending off their enemy?
46. What is unusual about the images of winter and cold in Sonnet LXXIV?
47. Why has the house in Sonnet LXXV forgotten how to bloom?
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48. Why does Neruda urge Matilde to sleep in Sonnet LXXXIX?
49. In Sonnet LXXXIII, where is Matilde as she sleeps -- both in body and in spirit?
50. How does Matilde's body comfort Neruda in Sonnet LXXXV?
51. What does Neruda ask of the "four-sided constellation" in Sonnet LXXXVI?
52. What emotion is symbolized by the "calm slow flower, constantly held out" in Sonnet
LXXXVII? What does Neruda see that makes him contemplate that emotion?
53. How does Neruda contrast cold and warmth in Sonnet LXXXVIII?
54. In Sonnet LXXXIX, what does Neruda want Matilde to do when he dies? Why does
he want her to do this?
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55. In Sonnet XCI, what overshadows the life that he gives to Matilde "like a swelling
cluster of fruit?"
56. In Sonnet XCII, what does Neruda choose to contemplate instead of the inevitable
death of either himself or Matilde?
57. In Sonnet XCIII, why does Neruda ask Matilde to leave her mouth half-open if she
should die before him?
58. What are Neruda and Matilde looking for in Sonnet XCV, and what do they plan to
do once they find it?
59. What does Neruda write are the effects of modern society's infatuation with flying in
Sonnet XCVII?
60. Where are Neruda and Matilde when they share a kiss in Sonnet C?
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Short Essay Questions Key
1. In his dedication, how does Neruda compare his poems to those of other
poets?
Neruda emphasizes the elegance of other poets' sonnets, saying that they "sound like
crystal, or silver, or cannonfire." His poems, on the other hand, are made of wood, and
Neruda says that it is only Matilde that gives them life.
In Sonnet I, Neruda describes Matilde's name as a sea or ocean that he desires to sail
through and rest within. He compares her name to common, earthly objects, saying that
Matilde's name is "the name of a plant, or a rock, or a wine of things that begin in the
earth, and last."
Neruda describes the "bitter love" in Sonnet III as a sharp, thorny emotion. The
"ferocious love" in Sonnet III winds itself around his heart, "slashing a seared road"
through his heart.
4. in Sonnet V, what does Neruda realize after he wanders through the streets
"like a man wounded?"
In Sonnet V, Neruda realizes that, though he wanders the street looking for love that he
had already found the love he had sought. Neruda wanders until he understand that he
had found "a land of kisses and volcanoes" that he had been seeking.
5. In Sonnet VII, what causes Neruda's emotions to burst forth like "geysers
flooding from deep in its vault?"
In Sonnet VII, Neruda wrestles with the pain of unrequited love. When Neruda's love is
finally returned by Matilde, when she finally answers his call to "come with me," the joy
of having his love returned causes Neruda's repressed grief and love to burst forth with
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"the fury of a cork-trapped wine."
6. What imagery does Neruda use to describe Matilde as he watches her walk by
the sea in Sonnet X?
When Neruda describes Matilde in Sonnet X, he asserts that her beauty is a "soft"
beauty, the beauty of "music and wood, agate, cloth, wheat, peaches." To Neruda,
Matilde is a "beautiful woman, echo of the endless foam," and a "statuesque" figure that
moves along the shore.
7. In Sonnet XI, Neruda is starving and is prowling for sustenance. What "food" is
he looking for?
When Neruda prowls the streets in Sonnet XI, he is not seeking literal food, but is
looking for the satisfaction he takes from Matilde's body. Neruda writes that bread does
not nourish him, and that he craves Matilde's laugh, her hands, her nose and her heart.
In Sonnet XIII, Neruda compares Matilde to bread, saying that his love is the coal that
loves her as an oven loves bread. Matilde's physical aspects are also compared to
bread; in one example, Neruda compares Matilde's breasts to rising dough. He says
that Matilde's body is like bread that he devours, and that Matilde learned her holiness,
her language and her aroma from bread.
In Sonnet XIV, Neruda implies that Matilde's hair is so wonderful that he does not have
enough time to celebrate it the way he wants. Matilde's hair is almost mythical, as is
evidenced when Neruda writes, "In Italy they called you Medusa, because of the high
bristling light of your hair." Neruda loves Matilde's hair so much that he begs Matilde,
"Don't let me wander lost -- without your hair."
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10. List some examples of how Neruda compares Matilde's body to the universe
in Sonnet XVI.
Neruda compares Matilde's body to the universe in this Sonnet, using metaphors
relating different parts of her body to different elements of the universe. For example,
Neruda writes that her skin "throbs like the streak of a meteor through rain," and that
Matilde is a "replica of the multiplying universe." Her hips are like the moon, her mouth
is like the sun and her heart is like light.
11. In what manner does Neruda say he loves Matilde in Sonnet XVII?
In Sonnet XVII, Neruda says he does not love Matilde as he loves material things like
"salt-rose, or topaz, or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off." Instead, Neruda
describes his love as a mysterious love that cannot fully be described, like "the plant
that never blooms/ but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers." Neruda says that he
does not understand how he loves Matilde or where his love originates, but that the love
between himself and Matilde makes them one entity.
12. What are some aspects of Matilde's ugliness and beauty does Neruda list in
Sonnet XX?
In Sonnet XX, Neruda compares and contrasts different aspects of Matilde's body that
he considers ugly or beautiful. For example, Neruda says that Matilde's mouth is "big
enough for two mouths," but then says that her kisses are "fresh as new melons." He
says that Matilde's breasts are small, and that "not even the sea" contains anything like
her toenails. Matilde, though, has a "waist of gold," and Neruda concludes by implying
that he loves Matilde even more for her imperfections.
In Sonnet XXIII, Neruda writes that Matilde saves him from a "terrifying love" with her
hands, which she uses to bring peace to Neruda. Matilde "built a sweet firmness where
the wounds had been," and "fought off the talons and claws" that plagued Neruda
before he met Matilde.
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14. What is Neruda looking at in Sonnet XXIV that inspires his phrase, "...so many
blues -- heavenly blues, sunken blues --/ our eyes are a little confused?"
In Sonnet XXIV, Neruda considers the "tower of the sky," with its columns of clouds like
"triumphant washerwomen." At the same time, Neruda is also looking at the sea and its
"cherries of water." Neruda invites the reader to "come touch the fire of this momentary
blue," to experience the beauty of sky and sea "before its petals wither." Neruda says
that his eyes are confused by the abundance of blues in the scene, and says that his
eyes can "hardly divine the powers of the air, the keys to the secrets in the sea."
Neruda says in Sonnet XXV that before he met Matilde, he lived an empty life wherein
he "wavered through streets, among objects." During that period of his life, "nothing
mattered or had a name," and Neruda says that "everything was empty, dead, mute,
fallen, abandoned, and decayed." Once Matilde entered his life, though, her beauty and
humility "filled the autumn plentiful with gifts," and awakened the dead, empty world that
had preceded her.
16. In Sonnet XXIX, why does Neruda say he chose Matilde? How does her
background influence his decision?
In Sonnet XXIX, Neruda explains Matilde was raised in the South, an area which is
marked by poverty and "rugged landscapes." Matilde's personality retains the qualities
of her homeland; she is a "clay poppy," and a reminder of the "piggy bank of tears" that
marked her childhood. Neruda says that he chose Matilde for his lover because she had
"kept the heart of poverty," and because she is from the same poor area that is his
homeland.
17. What obstacles does Neruda and Matilde's love face in Sonnet XXVIII? Does
their love survive?
In Sonnet XXVIII, Neruda explains that he and Matilde face many obstacles, including
"war with its bloody shoes," the "violins of fleeting autumns, bullet-laced," and the
"arrogant pavilions" of the wind. Despite all the obstacles the lovers face, Neruda says
that "no withering autumn" ever touched the couple. Instead, their love flourishes in "a
stable place" and grows.
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18. List some examples of earth imagery Neruda uses to describe Matilde in
Sonnet XXX.
In Sonnet XXX, Neruda describes Matilde using natural imagery. He says her hair is the
"thick hair of a larch from the archipelago," and that her skin and body are as beautiful
as the nature that developed over "centuries of time." Matilde seems to be an
embodiment of nature itself and of the homeland that she and Neruda share; Neruda
says that she "rose from the South like an island crowded and crowned with feathers
and timber," and that in her body he found the "dark honey" of his rural homeland.
Sonnet XXXI?
At the beginning of Sonnet XXXI, Neruda and Matilde's house is "scrambled" after the
couple has been asleep all night. The house seems reluctant to wake up; Neruda writes
that the house "drifts like a poor little boat between its horizons of order and of sleep,"
and says,"objects want only to drag themselves along." At that point in the sonnet,
Matilde takes charge, becomes "The One Who Puts Things in Order," and begins
readying the house for the new day.
20. In Sonnet XXXIII, where are Matilde and Neruda before they return "across the
crackling sea?" Why do they return home?
Before Neruda and Matilde return "across the crackling sea," they had traveled the
world together. Neruda describes trips to Armenia, which he calls a "dollop of disinterred
honey," Ceylon and Yang-Tse. The couple returns home because, Neruda says, "love
cannot always fly without resting." The pair needs to return to Isla Negra to recover from
their extensive travels.
21. What brings night and day to Neruda in Sonnet XXXV?
In Sonnet XXXV, night and day are brought by Matilde's hand. When morning comes,
Neruda writes, "Your hand flew from my eyes into the day. The light arrived and opened
like a rose garden." At the end of the day, Neruda writes, "...then your hand fluttered, it
flew back again... over my eyes the darkness had swallowed."
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22. What is Matilde's role in the "miniature empire" Neruda describes in Sonnet
XXXVI?
In Sonnet XXXVI, Matilde assumes the role of empress in her "miniature empire." Her
empire emphasizes her domesticity; she rules with "weapons of wax and wine and oil,"
and she is the "queen of the beehive and the barnyard." She also rules her garden; the
soil "opens" for her hands, and she uses a sickle that "lifts the perfumes" from her
flowers. Matilde dominates even Neruda, who says that she influences even his
handwriting and the grains of sand in his notebook.
23. What are some ways Neruda describes Matilde and her house using images
related to sound in Sonnet XXXVIII?
In Sonnet XXXVIII, Matilde and her house brim with life and sound. The house "sounds
like a train at noon," and is filled with singing and humming. Matilde herself has a laugh
that "spins out its trill like a palm tree," and lives in a noisy but peaceful space filled with
"a quiet collection of waterfalls and lions."
In Sonnet XL, Neruda fixates for a moment on the image of Matilde's hands as she
gathers flowers along the beach. She carries a "cargo of iron flowers," and her hands
are white and whole, though they are "cracked by corrosive salt." Despite the cracks on
her hands from the sea's salt, Neruda is struck by their beauty as she gathers flowers.
He writes that her skin is "like whole stones," and that her fingernails are "offerings" in
the "suns" of her fingers.
25. What is Neruda looking for when he studies other women in Sonnet XLIII?
In Sonnet XLIII, Neruda examines other women, looking for signs of Matilde in their
bodies. He believes he can see glimpses of his love in the other women; he thinks he
sees her fingernails on one woman, her hair on another and even a woman that rather
looks like Matilde. He cannot find, though, someone who has Matilde's "rhythms," and
he realizes that Matilde is everything he loves.
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26. Neruda says that "everything alive has its two sides," including love. In
Sonnet XLIV, what are the two sides of Neruda's love for Matilde? Why are both
sides important?
In Sonnet XLIV, Neruda writes that he both loves and does not love Matilde. He says
that he must not love Matilde in order to be able to love her more in the future. He says
that his love has two lives; one that loves her now, and one that is waiting to lover her in
the future.
27. In Sonnet XLV, what does Neruda say will happen to him if Matilde leaves?
In Sonnet XLV, Neruda pleads with Matilde not to leave, saying that, if she does, "the
little drops of anguish will all run together," and that he will be lost without her. At the end
of the sonnet, he says that, if Matilde ever leaves, he will "wander . . .all over the earth,
asking, will you come back? Will you leave me here, dying?"
28. What images does Neruda use in Sonnet XLVI to explain how he chose Matilde
out of any other alternatives?
In Sonnet XLVI, Neruda explains that he chose Matilde out of any other alternatives. He
says that he chose one star, which symbolizes Matilde, out of all the stars in the world.
In the same way he chose one star, Neruda also chose only one wave out all "all the
waves, one wave and another wave," that washed up on the beach. Of all the beautiful
things in the world, all the "waterdrops, all the roots, all the threads of light," he only
wanted Matilde.
29. What gives Neruda and Matilde the "eternal life of the Natural" in Sonnet
XLVIII?
In Sonnet XLVIII, Neruda describes the lovers as living in harmony with the world,
saying that they "chose the day; they held it, not with ropes but with an aroma," and that
"the night delights them with its joyous petals." The couple's love enables them to live
"without ending, with no death," and Neruda says the lovers "are born, they die, many
times while they live." That cycle of life and death within love's boundaries gives them
the eternal, cyclical life of nature.
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30. Why does Neruda's description of Matilde's laugh contrast so strongly with
her physical appearance in Sonnet L?
In Sonnet L, Matilde's laugh is described as a powerful force of nature. It "drops like a

hawk from a stony tower," it is like a bolt of lightening, and when Matilde laughs, "little
bombs of light explode." This powerful laugh is starkly contrasted to Matilde's physical
appearance; the power of her laugh comes from a small body.
In Sonnet LI, Matilde's laugh is the same powerful force of nature described in Sonnet L.
Neruda repeats the image of her laugh as a lightening bolt; in Sonnet LI, he says that
her laugh reminds him of a "tree fissured by a lightening streak, by a silver bolt that
drops from the sky." Matilde's laugh can "slash... through the shadows," and Neruda
urges her to embrace her laughter, which is like an "extravagant burst of light."
32. In Sonnet LV, what attacks the "honied contentment" Matilde and Neruda
share?
In Sonnet LV, Neruda and Matilde's peaceful world is plagued by the worries of
everyday life; the "thorns, shattered glass, sickness, crying," and other troubles that
accompany their day-to-day life. Neruda says that even eyes that are "squeezed shut in
love" cannot keep trouble away. The lovers, despite their passion, are still human, and
must share in the troubles that are experienced by all mankind.
The envy and rancor that Neruda describes in Sonnet LVI are defeated by the love
shared between Neruda and Matilde. Matilde's hands emerge from the rancor of life
clean, "as if they were made in the morning of the river." Neruda exhausts envy with his
songs, draining envy's power "until its sad captains agonize and die." When Neruda
says the word "love," the word fills with dove and brings spring to the lovers' world.
34. How does Neruda respond to his critics and those who gossip about him in
Sonnet LVII?
In Sonnet LVII, Neruda says that he deals with his critics by blinding them with the love
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he has for Matilde. He describes his critics' attacks, and then mounts an attack of his
own; he writes, "I tossed -- ha! into their eyes! -- the dazzling lances of our love, piercing
their heart and mine." After retaliating against his critics, Neruda is free to "gather the
jasmine" Matilde's footsteps leave behind.
In Sonnet LVIII, Neruda seems to be insecure about himself and his work when he
compares it to the work of other authors. He describes the "broadswords of literary iron"
that he wanders through, lost like a "foreign sailor." He is antagonized by the "sharp little
teeth of literature" which snap at his heels as he travels towards the "rainy dockyards" of
his childhood.
36. Why does Neruda feel sorry for the "poor unlucky poets" in Sonnet LIX?
In Sonnet LIX, Neruda says he pities dead poets because, once they are dead, their
readers are free to pick apart and analyze their poetry while the poet remains unable to
defend his work. Neruda says that the poets are "dragged behind the arrogant horses,
to sleep without silence, overcome in the end by the invaders." The poets are not
granted a peaceful death; those who read and criticize their work, Neruda says,
"defame" the death of the poets, who can not protest against the injustice wrought upon
their work.
37. In Sonnet LX, what effect do Neruda's trials and sorrows have on Matilde?
In Sonnet LX, Neruda acknowledges that those of his enemies who desired to wound
him wounded Matilde. He laments that Matilde's involvement with him leaves her open
to heartache, and he tells her that he does not want "some stupid random rancor" to
affect her the way it has affected him. At the end of the poem, though, he admits that his
persecution is a trial that life has given him, and that he is fated to have it follow him like
a "scarecrow with a bloody grin."
38. Why does Neruda write, "Woe is me, woe is me" at the beginning of Sonnet
LXII?
In Sonnet LXII, Neruda laments that his and Matilde's love is overshadowed by people
who do not understand their love. Neruda writes that he and Matilde "wanted only to
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love, to love one another," but that their simple love was marred when "hate came in
through the window."
In Sonnet LXIII, Neruda's homeland is a beautiful, hostile environment that the poet
himself is a part of. The "salted rock" in his savage homeland is "like the only rose, a
flower buried in the sea," but Neruda says that his homeland is "metallic;" he describes
the "poisonous skin of the copper," and says that "the nitrate salt spread out like a
statue." He contrasts those images with more beautiful images, and cites the
"vineyards, the cherries the spring rewards."
In Sonnet LXV, Matilde's absence has had a profound effect on Neruda. He opens the
poem by asking, "Matilde, where are you?" He states that her absence has left "a
certain pang of grief" in his ribs, and he describes his need for her light and energy. He
ends the poem by saying that he will wait alone in the empty house for her to return,
and that until she does, his "windows ache."
41. What does the figurehead in Sonnet LxVIII appear to do that prompts Neruda
to write about her?
In Sonnet LXVIII, Neruda contemplates the wooden figurehead of a ship that sits on the
shore. The figurehead appears to be watching over Neruda and Matilde's life. The poem
reflects on the fact that although the figurehead has eyes and seems to be watching her
surroundings, she cannot actually see.
42. in Sonnet LXIX, what does Neruda say is the possible definition of
"nothingness?"
In Sonnet LXIX, Neruda says, "Maybe nothingness is to be without you." For Neruda,
Matilde represents everything that matters. Without her "moving, slicing the noon like a
blue flower," without her presence, the couple will cease to be. Neruda says to Matilde,
"I am because you are, since then you are, I am, we are." Neruda exists because
Matilde exists, and if she does not exist, neither of them can exist.
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In Sonnet LXXI, Matilde and Neruda are looking for a sanctuary where they will be
protected from the sorrows of the outside world, a place where they can be alone
together to live in peace and love. They are searching for a "wide valley, for another
planet," a place "without hurt or harm or speech," where they can escape the "lunatic
city" and its complications.
44. In Sonnet LXXII, what causes Neruda to exclaim, "Let's go -- get up -- pin back
your hair -- take off and land?"
In Sonnet LXXII, Neruda tries to convince Matilde to flee with him from the oncoming
winter. He wants to take a train "to Arabia, or Tocopilla," or to other warmer climates.
45. Who are the man and woman in Sonnet LXXIII, and what do they arm
themselves against? Are they successful in fending off their enemy?
In Sonnet LXXIII, Neruda describes himself and Matilde. They two are barricading
themselves against love; they are "armed to the teeth against love." Even after they arm
themselves and build their artillery, they find that they have fallen in love with each other
after all.
46. What is unusual about the images of winter and cold in Sonnet LXXIV?
In Sonnet LXXIV, Neruda uses extensive images of winter and cold. He says that
"everything is concentrated like a metal, leaves hide, winter conceals its lineage," and
uses other images of fog, fish and tears. The images are unusual because, at the
beginning of the sonnet, Neruda states that the time is in August, which is in late
summer. However, remember that in South America, the seasons are opposite so
August is indeed winter.
47. Why has the house in Sonnet LXXV forgotten how to bloom?
In Sonnet LXXV, the house Neruda writes about has been empty for a long time. The
house "wept, day and night" while Neruda and Matilde were gone, and is filled with
"abandoned stuff, dead rats, empty farewells. When Neruda and Matilde finally return to
the house, the house does not recognize them, and must re-learn how to "bloom."
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48. Why does Neruda urge Matilde to sleep in Sonnet LXXXIX?
In Sonnet LXXXIX, Neruda urges Matilde to sleep so the two can be together in their
dreams. He says that their two hearts will "defeat the darkness like a double drum in the
forest, pounding against the thick wall of wet leaves." Once the two are together in their
sleep, they can answer "all the sky's starry questions with a single key."
In Sonnet LXXXIII, Matilde is sleeping next to Neruda. Neruda is comforted by her

presence, but admits that her "heart sails through dreams," and that while her body is
close to him, her heart and spirit are far away in her dreams.
50. How does Matilde's body comfort Neruda in Sonnet LXXXV?
In Sonnet LXXXV, Neruda is surrounded by a "vague fog" that "flows from the sea
toward the streets." The rest of the poem is replete with images of winter, water and
cold. Neruda, though, is comforted by Matilde's body, which warms him as would a fire.
This is evidence in the phrase, "I bend toward the fire of your nocturnal body."
In Sonnet LXXXVI, Neruda addresses the constellation of the Southern Cross. He asks
it to descend to earth and rest with him; to "sleep with the human night" for just a
moment. He ends the poem by asking the constellation, "light your four-sided
constellation in me."
52. What emotion is symbolized by the "calm slow flower, constantly held out" in
Sonnet LXXXVII? What does Neruda see that makes him contemplate that
emotion?
The "calm, slow flower, constantly held out" in Sonnet LXXXVII is loneliness. Neruda's
contemplation of that emotion is sparked when he sees three birds flying across the sky.
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53. How does Neruda contrast cold and warmth in Sonnet LXXXVIII?
In Sonnet LXXXVIII, Neruda uses many images that imply cold, like the "immense fish"
that glide across the sky, the "vague terrestrial vapors" that move along in silence, and
the "crisis of wandering weather." In the poem, though, Matilde joins "the sea's lives to
the fire's lives," binding the images of cold associated with the sea to the warmth of fire.
54. In Sonnet LXXXIX, what does Neruda want Matilde to do when he dies? Why
does he want her to do this?
In Sonnet LXXXIX, Neruda tells Matilde that, when he dies, he wants her to go on living.
He wants her to live fully so that she "can reach everything my love directs [her] to," and
so he can, in a sense, live through her.
55. In Sonnet XCI, what overshadows the life that he gives to Matilde "like a
swelling cluster of fruit?"
Neruda's life, which he says is as full of years as a swelling cluster of fruit, is

overshadowed by time and his own mortality. Neruda opens the poem by observing that
age effects both him and Matilde without discrimination. He writes that, even as he lives
his life, "time continues, waiting, raining, on the dust, eager even to erase absence."
56. In Sonnet XCII, what does Neruda choose to contemplate instead of the
inevitable death of either himself or Matilde?
Although Neruda is terrified when he thinks about the death of either himself or Matilde,
he spends Sonnet XCII focusing on his present existence with his love. He says, "No
expanse is greater than where we live." Neruda also focuses on the longevity of love
itself, saying that, since love has never been born, it can never die.
57. In Sonnet XCIII, why does Neruda ask Matilde to leave her mouth half-open if
she should die before him?
In Sonnet XCIII, Neruda asks Matilde to leave her mouth half-open if she dies before he
does. He asks this of her so that, when she does die, he can kiss her. He says, "I will
die kissing your crazy cold mouth, caressing the lost fruit buds of your body," and says
that they can go into death together, "forever living the eternity of a kiss."
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58. What are Neruda and Matilde looking for in Sonnet XCV, and what do they plan
to do once they find it?
In Sonnet XCV, Matilde and Neruda are looking for the origin of their love, the "ancient
cinders of a heart that burned." Once they do find the object of their search, they want to
resurrect that love with their own love. They want to make their "kisses fall one by one,
till that empty flower rises again."
59. What does Neruda write are the effects of modern society's infatuation with
flying in Sonnet XCVII?
Neruda laments the popularity of flight, saying that "At every instant, one must fly -- like
eagles, like houseflies, like days." He says that because of the popularity of flying as
opposed to walking or driving, "Shoes and pathways are no longer enough, the earth is
no use anymore to the wanderer." He implies that the people who are so infatuated with
flying are "stubbornly transient."
In Sonnet C, Neruda and Matilde are in a Garden of Eden type paradise in the center of
the earth. The couple is, at long last, in a private paradise where they can be alone
together, free from the troubles of the outside world.
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Multiple Choice
Dedication - X
1. In his dedication, Neruda says that poets before him have written sonnets
whose rhymes are like crystal or cannon fire. What does Neruda say his poems
are made of?
(a) Flowers.
(b) Sand.
(c) Silver.
(d) Wood.
2. In Sonnet I, what image does Neruda NOT use to describe Matilde's name?
(a) A rock.
(b) A plant.
(c) A wine.
(d) A castle.
3. In Sonnet II, Neruda laments that his path to Matilde has been long and lonely.
What two obstacles does Neruda say divide him and Matilde?
(a) Anger and loneliness.
(b) Rivers and mountains.
(c) Trains and nations.
(d) Oceans and ships.
4. In Sonnet II, what ultimately brings Neruda and Matilde together?

(a) The country.
(b) Their love.
(c) Their loneliness.
(d) Fate.
5. In Sonnet III, Neruda compares "Bitter love" to what two objects?

(a) A hole and a trap.
(b) A drink and a broken glass.
(c) Knives and a lion.
(d) Thorns and a spear.
6. In Sonnet III, what words does Neruda use to describe love?

(a) Bitter/ferocious.
(b) Peaceful/persistant.
(c) Lonely/desperate.
(d) Bitter/enticing.
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7. In Sonnet IV, what are some "Gifts from the earth" Neruda asks Matilde to
remember?
(a) Mists, rain, the sun, sand, waves.
(b) Smells, clay, weeds and roots, thorns.
(c) Jaguars, lakes, trees.
(d) Butterflies, trees, trails, animals.
8. In Sonnet V, Neruda relates Matilde's hips to what object?

(a) Lilies in a valley.
(b) Wheat in its fields.
(c) Trees in a forest.
(d) Barley in its fields.
9. In Sonnet V, what does Neruda say he forgot about Matilde before he was in
love with her?
(a) Matilde's hair.
(b) Matilde's kisses.
(c) Matilde's laugh.
(d) Matilde's hips.
10. In Sonnet VI, Neruda is lost in a forest and breaks off a twig, hoping for some
moisture to ease his thirst. What effect does the twig's scent have on him?
(a) The scent of the twig makes him angry.
(b) The scent of the twig wounds him.
(c) The scent of the twig makes him more thirsty.
(d) The scent of the twig makes him homesick.
11. In Sonnet VII, Neruda's lover finally returns his love. What image does Neruda
use to describe his feelings after his love is returned?
(a) A volcano.
(b) A dove.
(c) A sunbeam.
(d) A geyser.
12. In Sonnet VII, what does Neruda say reminds him of Matilde's eyes?
(a) Carnations, clay and trees.
(b) The ocean, mist and clouds.
(c) The moon, clay and fire.
(d) The stars, the ocean and birds.
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13. In Sonnet VII, what does Neruda say he can see in Matilde's life?
(a) The past.
(b) Everything that lives.
(c) The future.
(d) Everything that is good.
14. In Sonnet IX, Neruda contrasts the love between himself and Matilde with what
natural formation?
(a) A landslide.
(b) A cloud.
(c) A cliff by the sea.
(d) An erupting volcano.
15. In Sonnet X, what is Matilde doing as Neruda admires her beauty?

(a) Sleeping in the grass.
(b) Walking near the ocean.
(c) Reading beneath a tree.
(d) Bathing in the sun.
16. In Sonnet X ,what word does Neruda use to describe Matilde's beauty?
(a) Soft.
(b) Quiet.
(c) Warm.
(d) Smooth.
17. In Sonnet X, what object does Neruda NOT use as a metaphor for Matilde's
beauty?
(a) Wheat.
(b) Wind.
(c) Wood.
(d) Peaches.
18. In Sonnets I through X, what flower does Neruda include in his poems'
images?
(a) A rose.
(b) An iris.
(c) A carnation.
(d) A sunflower.
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XI - XX
19. In Sonnet XI, what predator does Neruda use to describe himself?
(a) A hyena.
(b) A puma.
(c) A lion.
(d) A leopard.
20. What does Neruda look for in Sonnet XI?

(a) Matilde's body.
(b) A love letter.
(c) Isla Negra.
(d) Matilde's home.
21. In Sonnet XII, what does Neruda describe by relating it to a journey?

(a) Neruda and Matilde's conversations.
(b) Neruda and Matilde's slowly growing family.
(c) Neruda and Matilde's lovemaking.
(d) Neruda and Matilde's developing relationship.
22. In Sonnet XIII, what food does Neruda use to describe Matilde?
(a) Olives.
(b) Rice.
(c) Peaches.
(d) Bread.
23. In Sonnet XIII, what phrase does Neruda insist does NOT describe Matilde?
(a) "Purple shadow."
(b) "Chilly silver."
(c) "Pale fire."
(d) "Burning gold."
24. In Sonnet XIV, which of Matilde's features does Neruda say he does not have
time to celebrate?
(a) Her neck.
(b) Her hair.
(c) Her eyes.
(d) Her hips.
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25. In Sonnet XIV, what does Neruda say Italians call Matilde?
(a) Venus.
(b) Nike.
(c) Medusa.
(d) Athena.
26. In Sonnet XV, what does Neruda say Matilde is made out of?
(a) Light.
(b) Clay.
(c) Bronze.
(d) Water.
27. In Sonnet XV, Neruda says that Matilde is as firm as what two items?
(a) Bread and wood.
(b) Mountain and boulder.
(c) Flesh and bone.
(d) Rock and tree.
28. In Sonnet XVI, Neruda relates Matilde's body to which object?

(a) A forest.
(b) The entire universe.
(c) A mountain range.
(d) The whole countryside.
29. In Sonnet XVII, what does Neruda say about the way he loves Matilde?
(a) He loves her without knowing how or why he does so.
(b) He loves her because they were made for each other.
(c) He loves her because of her intense beauty.
(d) He loves her because he was born to do so.
30. In Sonnet XVII, what does Neruda imply about the relationship between
himself and Matilde?
(a) Their love is so complex that he must study it.
(b) Their love is fleeting.
(c) Their love is so deep that they are almost the same person.
(d) Their love is so simple that he does not think about it.
31. In Sonnet XVIII, Neruda says that Matilde moves through the mountains as
swiftly as what two objects?
(a) A puma and a bird.
(b) A breeze and a stream.
(c) A whisper and a prayer.
(d) A river and an arrow.
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32. In Sonnet XIX, what insect does Neruda watch and contemplate?
(a) A bee.
(b) A wasp.
(c) A dragonfly.
(d) A butterfly.
33. In Sonnet XIX, what is Matilde doing before she returns to "the world full of
salt and sun?"
(a) Walking along the beach.
(b) Walking down a mountainside.
(c) Swimming in the ocean.
(d) Hiking in the woods.
34. In Sonnet XIX, what image does Neruda NOT use to describe the insect he
watches?
(a) A thief.
(b) A needle.
(c) An airplane.
(d) A spike.
35. In Sonnet XX, what two opposing concepts does Neruda use to describe
Matilde?
(a) Love and hate.
(b) Peace and chaos.
(c) Anger and happiness.
(d) Beauty and ugliness.
36. In Sonnet XX, what phrase does Neruda use to describe Matilde?
(a) A "simple contradiction."
(b) A "messy chestnut."
(c) A "lovely beast."
(d) A "harried beauty."
XXI - XXX
37. In Sonnet XXI, what season does Neruda say he does not want to go "one
moment more without?"
(a) Fall.
(b) Summer.
(c) Winter.
(d) Spring.
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38. In Sonnet XXI, what does Neruda tell Matilde is the reason he cries in his
sleep?
(a) He has terrible nightmares.
(b) He is like a lost child in his dreams.
(c) He dreams about her leaving him.
(d) He dreams about her dying.
39. In Sonnet XXII, what image does Neruda NOT use to describe Matilde?
(a) A queen.
(b) A star.
(c) A wildfire.
(d) A guitar.
40. In Sonnet XXIII, what does Neruda say will endure even after the end of the
world?
(a) Neruda's dreams.
(b) The love between himself and Matilde.
(c) Matilde's beauty.
(d) Isla Negra and the sea.
41. In Sonnet XXIII, what flower does Neruda say is "smearing around its bruised
secrets?"
(a) Jasmine.
(b) Rose.
(c) Wisteria.
(d) Gardenia.
42. In Sonnet XXIV, describes the clouds and what "triumphant" group of people?
(a) Martyrs.
(b) Servants.
(c) Washerwomen.
(d) Soldiers.
43. What color is a prominent motif in Sonnet XXIV?

(a) Red.
(b) White.
(c) Gold.
(d) Blue.
44. In Sonnet XXV, what phrase do "rough warehouses" growl at Neruda?

(a) "Give up."
(b) "You are nothing."
(c) "Get lost."
(d) "Go away."
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45. In Sonnet XXV, which of Matilde's qualities does Neruda say "filled the autumn
plentiful with gifts?"
(a) Her humility and her serenity.
(b) Her beauty and her poverty.
(c) Her pride and her beauty.
(d) Her patience and her goodness.
46. In Sonnet XXVI, which of Matilde's qualities does Neruda say the earth has
imitated?
(a) Her humility.
(b) Her pride.
(c) Her beauty.
(d) Her power.
47. Which country is NOT mentioned in Sonnet XXVI?

(a) Germany.
(b) Guatemala.
(c) Tibet.
(d) Poland.
48. In Sonnet XXVII, Neruda says that Matilde is "as blue as the night" of what
country?
(a) Cuba.
(b) Guatemala.
(c) Colombia.
(d) Peru.
49. In Sonnet XXVII, Neruda describes Matilde as being as simple as what object?
(a) A bowl.
(b) A tree.
(c) A pebble.
(d) A hand.
50. In Sonnet XXVIII, what sprouts in Neruda and Matilde's "stable place?"
(a) Peace.
(b) Chaos.
(c) Love.
(d) Secrets.
51. In Sonnet XXIX, where is Matilde born?

(a) The "dark North."
(b) The "poor South."
(c) The "rich South."
(d) The "quiet East."
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52. Which image does Neruda NOT use to describe Matilde in Sonnet XXIX?
(a) A clay poppy.
(b) A clay horse.
(c) Dark mud.
(d) A queen.
53. In Sonnet XXX, what is the lost object that Neruda says no one will retrieve?
(a) His voice.
(b) His heart.
(c) His spirit.
(d) His passion.
54. In Sonnet XXX, Neruda says that Matilde has hair as thick as what kind of
tree?
(a) A pine.
(b) An oak.
(c) A banyan.
(d) A larch.
XXXI - XL
55. In Sonnet XXXI, what two plants does Neruda use to crown Matilde?
(a) Orange blossoms and lilies.
(b) Laurel and oregano.
(c) Vines and lilies.
(d) Laurel and roses.
56. In Sonnet XXXI, where do Neruda and Matilde wander "like other country
people?"
(a) The wilderness.
(b) The mountains.
(c) The city.
(d) The plains.
57. In Sonnet XXXII, what starts the morning with "its truths scrambled" and that
"drifts like a poor little boat?"
(a) The sun.
(b) The sea.
(c) The city.
(d) The house.
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58. In Sonnet XXXII, what title does Neruda give to Matilde?
(a) The One Who Awakens The Morning.
(b) The One Who Owns The World.
(c) The One Who Masters The House.
(d) The One Who Puts Things In Order.
59. In Sonnet XXXIII, where are Neruda and Matilde going when they traverse "the
crackling sea?"
(a) To Chile.
(b) To Italy.
(c) To Germany.
(d) To their home.
60. In Sonnet XXXIV, Neruda says that Matilde is the daughter of what natural
body?
(a) The sun.
(b) The stars.
(c) The sea.
(d) The mountains.
61. In Sonnet XXXIV, what does Neruda say can "push back the shadows" and
enable Matilde to sleep?
(a) The silence of the wilderness.
(b) Neruda's arms.
(c) Neruda's voice.
(d) The sound of the sea.
62. In Sonnet XXXV, what brings morning and night to Neruda's eyes?
(a) Matilde's moods.
(b) Neruda's insecurities.
(c) Neruda's love.
(d) Matilde's hands.
63. In Sonnet XXXV, what flower does Neruda describe as having a "sad savage
odor?"
(a) Jasmine.
(b) Gardenia.
(c) Lavender.
(d) Honeysuckle.
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64. In Sonnet XXXVI, what does Neruda like watching Matilde do in her "miniature
empire?"
(a) Reading.
(b) Sleeping.
(c) Chores.
(d) Swimming.
65. In Sonnet XXXVI, what item does Neruda NOT name as one of Matilde's
"weapons?"
(a) Oil.
(b) Cloth.
(c) Wax.
(d) Wine.
66. In Sonnet XXXVII, what does Matilde conquer with her love?
(a) Neruda's "proud spirit."
(b) Neruda's "darkened thoughts."
(c) Neruda's "closed heart."
(d) Neruda's "fearful mind."
67. What does Neruda mention in Sonnet XXXVII as being the "only" thing that
Matilde could use to conquer him?
(a) Matilde's strength.
(b) Matilde's persistence.
(c) Matilde's delicacy.
(d) Matilde's simplicity.
68. In Sonnet XXXVIII, what historic poet appears wearing his "quiet sandals?"
(a) Virgil.
(b) Homer.
(c) Aristotle.
(d) Euripides.
69. In Sonnet XXXVIII, Neruda says that Matilde's house sounds like what object?
(a) A storm.
(b) A hymn.
(c) A train.
(d) A symphony.
70. In Sonnet XXXIX, which of Matilde's skills does Neruda admire?

(a) Her cooking.
(b) Her gardening.
(c) Her sewing.
(d) Her cleaning.
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71. In Sonnet XL, what month does Neruda say "trembled like a butterfly?"
(a) June.
(b) December.
(c) October.
(d) January.
72. In Sonnet XL, what is Matilde doing while Neruda watches her from his
house?
(a) Gardening.
(b) Picking flowers.
(d) Walking on the beach.
XLI - L
73. In Sonnet XLI, what month does Neruda associate with "rough times?"
(a) August.
(b) September.
(c) January.
(d) April.
74. In Sonnet XLI, what does Neruda hint will bring an end to the "rough times" he
describes?
(a) Love.
(b) Spring.
(c) Wind.
(d) Sleep.
75. In Sonnet XLII, what does Neruda NOT use to describe daylight?
(a) A yellow rock.
(b) Bees.
(c) Fire.
(d) Glass.
76. In Sonnet XLII, what does Neruda say shields the earth from daylight?
(a) Storms.
(b) Trees.
(c) The sky.
(d) Clouds.
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77. In Sonnet XLIII, where does Neruda look for similarities to Matilde and her
appearance?
(a) In himself.
(b) In other women.
(c) In nature.
(d) In the sea.
78. Why does Neruda state that he does not love Matilde in Sonnet XLIV?
(a) Because he can not grasp her beauty.
(b) So he can love her more in the future.
(c) Because she is too complex to love fully.
(d) So she can remain an individual.
79. What does Neruda plead with Matilde not to do in Sonnet XLV?
(a) Leave him.
(b) Be angry with him.
(c) Cry.
(d) Criticize herself.
80. In Sonnet XLV, what will Neruda do if Matilde ever leaves his side?
(a) Die from loneliness.
(b) Become insane with grief.
(c) Wander the earth looking for her.
(d) Stop writing poetry.
81. In Sonnet XLVI, what is the "one wave" Neruda chooses?

(a) Isla Negra.
(b) Matilde.
(c) His poetry.
(d) His heart.
82. In Sonnet XLVI, what part of Matilde does Neruda specifically say he wants all
for himself?
(a) Her skin.
(b) Her eyes.
(c) Her hips.
(d) Her hair.
83. What object does Neruda use in Sonnet XLVII to describe Matilde?
(a) A fruit tree.
(b) A simple rose.
(c) A lioness.
(d) A locked door.
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84. In Sonnet XLVIII, what does Neruda say two happy lovers make?
(a) Bread.
(b) Wine.
(c) Perfume.
(d) A song.
85. In Sonnet XLIX, what does Neruda NOT say that he sings to?
(a) The planets.
(b) The birds.
(c) The sea.
(d) The moon.
86. What concept of time does Neruda decide to focus on in Sonnet XLIX?
(a) The future.
(b) "Tomorrow."
(c) "Today."
(d) "Yesterday."
87. What does the river in Sonnet XLIX signify?

(a) Sleep.
(b) Time.
(c) Love.
(d) Fate.
88. In Sonnet L, what does Neruda encourage Matilde to do?

(a) Sleep.
(b) Sing.
(c) Laugh.
(d) Cry.
89. What is the name of the friend Neruda mentions in Sonnet L?

(a) Cotapos.
(b) Jiminez.
(c) Antonio.
(d) Miguel.
90. In Sonnet L, what aspect of Matilde does Neruda say "drops like a hawk from
a stony tower?"
(a) Her eyes.
(b) Her laughter.
(c) Her dancing.
(d) Her singing.
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LI - LX
91. In Sonnet LI, Matilde's laugh reminds Neruda of what kind of tree?
(a) A tree growing along on a cliff.
(b) A tree that grows deep in the forest.
(c) A tree the offers shade to travelers.
(d) A tree that is struck by lightening.
92. In Sonnet LI, Neruda describes Matilde as what landmark?

(a) A river.
(b) A volcano.
(c) A tree.
(d) A mountain.
93. In Sonnet LII, what does Matilde do that causes the whole earth to sing?
(a) She walks.
(b) She breathes.
(c) She sings.
(d) She dances.
94. In Sonnet LIII, what does Neruda NOT cite as "a man's needs, and a
woman's?"
(a) Bread.
(b) Table.
(c) Wine.
(d) Water.
95. In Sonnet LIII, what does Neruda say "fly and make their white creations?"
(a) Matilde's feet.
(b) Neruda's poems.
(c) Matilde's hands.
(d) Neruda's thoughts.
96. In Sonnet LIV, what two things does Neruda describe as being "like two
wings?"
(a) Matilde's feet.
(b) Lovers' passion and love.
(c) The mind and love.
(d) Matilde's hands.
94
97. In Sonnet LV, what does Neruda say that even love cannot shelter himself and
Matilde from?
(a) Everyday troubles.
(b) Petty disagreements.
(c) Boredom.
(d) Distrust in the other partner.
98. What is the "huge and sorrowful family" described in Sonnet LV?
(a) City people.
(b) Poets.
(c) Husbands.
(d) Humanity as a whole.
99. In Sonnet LV, what does Neruda NOT say attacks "the honied contentment" of
love?
(a) Shattered glass.
(b) Sickness.
(c) Thorns.
(d) Fights.
100. In Sonnet LVI, what does Neruda say gives Matilde its "crystalline
proportions?"
(a) Salt.
(b) Glass.
(c) Light.
(d) Quartz.
101. In Sonnet LVI, what word does Neruda say fills the world with doves?
(a) "Matilde."
(b) "Cariño."
(c) "Love."
(d) "Amor."
102. In Sonnet LVI, what does Neruda say is exhausted by his songs?
(a) Mistrust.
(b) Envy.
(c) Loneliness.
(d) Anger.
95
103. In Sonnet LVII, who is defeated by the love between Matilde and Neruda's
love?
(a) Neruda's literary critics.
(b) Neruda's romantic rivals.
(c) Neruda's political opponents.
(d) People who gossip about and slander Neruda.
104. What does Neruda say in Sonnet LVIII "snapped at his honest heels" with
"sharp little teeth?"
(a) Poetry.
(b) Academia.
(c) Literature.
(d) Self-doubt.
105. In Sonnet LVIII, where does Neruda go while he is "singing with the wind?"
(a) To the sea.
(b) To be with Matilde.
(c) Back to his homeland.
(d) Back to his library.
106. According to Sonnet LIX, what harasses "Poor unlucky poets?"

(a) Happiness and sadness.
(b) Order and chaos.
(c) LIfe and death.
(d) Nature and mankind.
107. In Sonnet LIX, what does Neruda say is the only reason that people defame
poets?
(a) Poetry is not respected as an art form.
(b) Their work belongs to the people, not themselves.
(c) The nature of poetry leaves it open to interpretation.
(d) They are dead and cannot defend themselves.
108. According to Sonnet LX, what is Neruda afraid has wounded Matilde?
(a) His own critics.
(b) Her insecurities.
(c) His selfishness.
(d) His imperfections.
96
LXI - LXX
109. In Sonnet LXI, what does Neruda describe as having a "tail of pain" and a
"train of static thorns?"
(a) His critics.
(b) Death.
(c) Love.
(d) Sleep.
110. In Sonnet LXII, what overshadows the love between Neruda and Matilde?
(a) People who hate love.
(b) The pain of every day life.
(c) Sickness and death.
(d) Neruda's jealousy.
111. According to Sonnet LXII, what is the only thing that Neruda and Matilde want
and which is overshadowed by others?
(a) They want their families' approval.
(b) They only want to love each other.
(c) They want to live alone on Isla Negra.
(d) They want their life to be simple.
112. In Sonnet LXIII, what land does Neruda call "savage" and "deadly?"
(a) Cuba.
(b) His own homeland.
(c) Peru.
(d) The desert.
113. In Sonnet LXIV, love tints Neruda's life what color?

(a) Orange.
(b) Gold.
(c) Blue.
(d) Purple.
114. In Sonnet LXIV, what malady of Neruda's does Matilde cure?

(a) A cynical mind.
(b) A broken heart.
(c) A heart of stone.
(d) A crushing loneliness.
97
115. In Sonnet LXIV, what does Neruda realize about what he owes Matilde for
curing him?
(a) He has repaid Matilde with his love.
(b) He will repay Matilde for the rest of his life.
(c) He can not fathom how much he owes Matilde.
(d) He knows exactly how much he owes Matilde.
116. What is Neruda looking for in Sonnet LXV?

(a) Matilde.
(b) His homeland.
(c) His heart.
(d) His inspiration.
117. Where is the pain Neruda experiences in Sonnet LXV?

(a) Between his ribs.
(b) In his brain.
(c) In his leg.
(d) In his spirit.
118. What opposites does Neruda NOT consider in Sonnet LXVI?

(a) Love and not love.
(b) Cold and fire.
(c) Hate and not hate.
(d) Light and darkness.
119. In Sonnet LXVI, what is the reason Neruda says he will die?
(a) Because he loves Matilde.
(b) Because he can not love Matilde.
(c) Because his heart has broken.
(d) Because he is so selfish.
120. In Sonnet LXVII, to what does Neruda compare Matilde's kisses?

(a) Rain.
(b) Wind.
(c) Wine.
(d) Sunshine.
121. In Sonnet LXVII, where is the origin of the rain that falls on Isla Negra?
(a) Guatemala.
(b) The ocean.
(c) Maccu Piccu.
(d) The South.
98
122. What is the girl whose story Neruda is telling in Sonnet LXVIII made of?
(a) Seaweed.
(b) Stone.
(c) Sand.
(d) Wood.
123. In Sonnet LXVIII, where did the girl whose story Neruda is telling come from?
(a) She came from the South.
(b) She came from a ship.
(c) She came from the heavens.
(d) She came from Isla Negra.
124. In Sonnet LXIX, what does Neruda say "nothingness" is?

(a) Matilde's silence.
(b) The sound of waves on the shore.
(c) Matilde's absence.
(d) The sound of wind in the trees.
125. In Sonnet LXX, what wounds Neruda?

(a) The silence of the jungle.
(b) His unrequited love.
(c) His loneliness.
(d) Matilde's eyes.
126. In Sonnet LXX, which of Neruda's emotions is revealed after he is wounded?

(a) His grief.
(b) His selfishness.
(c) His anger.
(d) His pride.
LXXI - LXXX
(a) A way to renew their fading love.
(b) A place to live in peace.
(c) Refreshment after their long travels.
(d) A lost child.
128. In Sonnet LXXI, Neruda says that love is like what kind of city?
(a) A crowded city.
(b) An abandoned city.
(c) A destroyed city.
(d) A lunatic city.
99
129. In Sonnet LXXI, what season does Neruda desire to escape from?
(a) Winter.
(b) Fall.
(c) Summer.
(d) Spring.
130. In Sonnet LXXI, what human feature does Neruda describe the earth as
having?
(a) Breath.
(b) Thoughts.
(c) Hair.
(d) Eyes.
131. In Sonnet LXXIII, what are the man and woman in Neruda's poem protecting
themselves from?
(a) Hate.
(b) Love.
(c) War.
(d) Sadness.
132. In Sonnet LXXIII, what word does Neruda use to describe the woman who
"rose like a fish from the abyss?"
(a) Bony.
(b) Thin.
(c) Pallid.
(d) Vague.
133. In Sonnet LXXIV, Neruda describes a road that is "wet with the waters" of
what month?
(a) July.
(b) August.
(c) February.
(d) April.
134. What is the house in Sonnet LXXV doing when Neruda and Matilde return to
it?
(a) Thinking.
(b) Laughing.
(c) Yawning.
(d) Weeping.
100
135. In Sonnet LXXV, what does Neruda say the house has forgotten how to do?
(a) Sleep.
(b) Laugh.
(c) Bloom.
(d) Function.
136. What is the name of the painter that Neruda describes in Sonnet LXXVI?
(a) Francisco Goya.
(b) Diego Rivera.
(c) Benito Rojo.
(d) Frieda Kahlo.
137. What is the painter in Sonnet LXXVI painting?

(a) The ocean.
(b) The jungle.
(c) Matilde.
(d) Isla Negra.
138. In Sonnet LXXVII, what does time sprinkle in Matilde's heart?

(a) Seeds.
(b) Petals.
(c) Water.
(d) Flour.
139. In Sonnet LXXVIII, what does Neruda say he has fought against?
(a) Apathy.
(b) Mockery.
(c) Indifference.
(d) Jealousy.
140. What does Neruda propose he and Matilde do at the end of Sonnet LXXVIII?
(a) Drift down time's river.
(b) Swing freely through the trees.
(c) Light a fire on a mountain.
(d) Plant a garden in the hills.
141. In Sonnet LXXIX, what does Neruda describe as "a double drum in the forest,
pounding against the thick wall of wet leaves?"
(a) His hatred for his critics.
(b) His mortality.
(c) Time.
(d) His heart and Matilde's heart.
101
142. What time of day is described in Sonnet LXXIX?
(a) Evening.
(b) Night.
(c) Afternoon.
(d) Morning.
143. What is Matilde doing in Sonnet LXXX?

(a) Writing.
(b) Playing guitar.
(c) Reading.
(d) Taking photos.
144. When Neruda returns to Matilde in Sonnet LXXX, where had he been?
(a) He had been traveling.
(b) He had been sending a letter.
(c) He had been at the tavern.
(d) He had been at the beach.
LXXXI - XC
145. In Sonnet LXXXI, what does Neruda urge Matilde to do?
(a) Cry.
(b) Talk to him.
(c) Sing.
(d) Sleep.
146. What does Neruda NOT say "should all sleep" in Sonnet LXXXI?
(a) Pain.
(b) Love.
(c) Anger.
(d) Work.
147. In Sonnet LXXXII, what is the "shadow" that Neruda calls an "intermittent
friend?"
(a) Sleep.
(b) Death.
(c) Sadness.
(d) Fear.
102
148. In Sonnet LXXXII, what does Neruda say happens to him and Matilde when
they dream?
(a) They travel the world together.
(b) They are allowed to be individuals.
(c) They can read the other's mind.
(d) They are united in their dreams.
149. In Sonnet LXXXIII, where is Matilde as she sleeps?

(a) In another country.
(b) Next to Neruda.
(c) In another bedroom.
(d) In a hammock.
150. In Sonnet LXXXIV, what does Neruda say "supports the columns of the
heaven's harbor?"
(a) The moon.
(b) Saturn.
(c) The lovers' dreams.
(d) The stars.
151. What image does Neruda NOT use to describe the sleeping lovers in Sonnet
LXXXIV?
(a) A drop in a river.
(b) Marble statues.
(c) A chalice.
(d) A dark space.
152. What is the season that Neruda describes in Sonnet LXXXV?

(a) Winter.
(b) Autumn.
(c) Spring.
(d) Fall.
153. What is the constellation Neruda addresses in Sonnet LXXXVI?

(a) Ursa Major.
(b) Orion.
(c) Cassiopeia.
(d) The Southern Cross.
103
154. Which image does Neruda NOT use to describe the constellation in Sonnet
LXXXVI?
(a) Parsley.
(b) A fish.
(c) Frost.
(d) A box.
155. In Sonnet LXXXVII, Neruda contemplates the "ceaseless origins" of which

human emotion?
(a) Love.
(b) Loneliness.
(c) Sadness.
(d) Anger.
156. In Sonnet LXXXVII, what does Neruda see in the sky that causes him to write
the poem and contemplate its content?
(a) Three birds.
(b) An airplane.
(c) The moon.
(d) A single star.
157. In Sonnet LXXXVIII, what month does Neruda say "returns with its secret
light?"
(a) December.
(b) October.
(c) May.
(d) March.
158. In Sonnet LXXXIII, what does Neruda say he wants to be over his eyes when
he dies?
(a) The warmth of peace.
(b) Matilde's hands.
(c) The darkness of sleep.
(d) Matilde's hair.
159. In Sonnet LXXXIX, why does Neruda want Matilde to live on after he has
died?
(a) So his poetry will seem more real.
(b) So his memory will live on.
(c) So he can see the world through her eyes.
(d) So the world can understand what he loved so much.
104
160. What happens to Neruda in Sonnet XC that he says makes him feel "the cold
up close?"
(a) He thought he was dying.
(b) He thought Matilde was dying.
(c) He fell into the ocean.
(d) He thought Matilde had left him.
161. In Sonnet XC, what does Neruda say is the only thing that matters "when
death comes knocking?"
(a) Love.
(b) Wealth.
(c) Loyalty.
(d) Happiness.
162. In Sonnet XC, what is one thing Neruda does NOT say is meaningless after
death?
(a) Treasures.
(b) Love.
(c) Friendship.
(d) His books.
XCI - C
163. In Sonnet XCI, what does Neruda say covers himself and Matilde "like
drizzle?"
(a) Death.
(b) Fear.
(c) Age.
(d) Patience.
164. In Sonnet XCI, what does Neruda give Matilde that "fills with years like a
(a) Her identity.
(b) Their plans for the future.
(c) His life.
(d) His poems.
165. In Sonnet XCII, what does Neruda force himself not to contemplate?
(a) The lovers having to part.
(b) Losing his memories of Matilde as he ages.
(c) The crippling effects of age.
(d) One lover dying and leaving the other behind.
105
166. In Sonnet XCII, what does Neruda say has no birth and no death, and will
therefore last forever?
(a) Love.
(b) Matilde's memory.
(c) His poetry.
(d) Passion.
167. In Sonnet XCIII, what does Neruda ask Matilde to do if she dies before him?
(a) To hold his hand when she dies.
(b) To leave her mouth half-open.
(c) To look at him as she passes.
(d) To die smiling.
168. In Sonnet XCIII, how does Neruda say he will die if Matilde dies before him?
(a) He will die in his sleep.
(b) He will die from grief.
(c) He will die kissing her.
(d) He will die holding her hand.
169. In Sonnet XCIV, what does Neruda ask Matilde to do if he dies before her?
(a) He asks her to remarry.
(b) He asks her to start writing poetry.
(c) He asks her to pray for his soul.
(d) He asks her to carry on and live fully.
170. What does Neruda say in Sonnet XCIV will make him "die a second time?"
(a) Seeing Matilde die too quickly.
(b) Seeing Matilde suffer after he has died.
(c) Seeing Matilde remarry after he has died.
(d) Seeing Matilde forget him after he has died.
171. In Sonnet XCV, what does Neruda describe as "the light that endures," and
as a "irrevocable delicate thorn?"
(a) The beauty of life.
(b) He and Matilde, and the love they share.
(c) The power of death.
(d) Mortality.
172. In Sonnet XCVI, what does Neruda say the "cruel gods" wear?
(a) Watches.
(b) Wigs.
(c) Jackets.
(d) Spectacles.
106
173. What type of person does Neruda NOT describe as trying to "tie time down?"
(a) Bureaucrats.
(b) Businessmen.
(c) Transients.
(d) Teachers.
174. In Sonnet XCVII, what mode of transportation does Neruda note has made
"shoes and pathways... no longer enough?"
(a) Cycling.
(b) Swimming.
(c) Flying.
(d) Driving.
175. In Sonnet XCVII, what flower does Neruda say the subject of the poem will be
transformed into on another planet?
(a) Poppies.
(b) Daisies.
(c) Roses.
(d) Lilies.
176. In Sonnet XCVIII, what does Neruda say silences the word in the poem?
(a) His brooding love.
(b) His pride.
(c) His jealous love.
(d) Matilde's shyness.
177. In Sonnet XCIX, what time period does Neruda contemplate?

(a) The end of time.
(b) The past.
(c) The future.
(d) The time before the beginning of the world.
178. In Sonnet XCIX, in what form does Neruda say his heart will exist after he is
long dead?
(a) It will exist as water.
(b) It will exist as dust.
(c) It will exist as rich soil.
(d) It will exist as steam.
179. Where are Neruda and Matilde in Sonnet C?

(a) The clouds.
(b) The center of the earth.
(c) Heaven.
(d) Purgatory.
107
180. In Sonnet C, what do Neruda and Matilde share that Neruda calls
"victorious?"
(a) A smile.
(b) A dream.
(c) An embrace.
(d) A kiss.
108
Multiple Choice Key
1. D 11. D 21. C 31. B 41. A 51. B
2. D 12. C 22. D 32. A 42. C 52. D
3. C 13. B 23. B 33. C 43. D 53. B
4. B 14. C 24. B 34. A 44. C 54. D
5. D 15. B 25. C 35. D 45. B 55. B
6. A 16. A 26. B 36. B 46. C 56. C
7. B 17. B 27. A 37. D 47. A 57. D
8. B 18. C 28. B 38. B 48. A 58. D
9. B 19. B 29. A 39. B 49. D 59. D
10. B 20. A 30. C 40. B 50. C 60. C
61. B 71. A 81. B 91. D 101. C 111. B

62. D 72. B 82. D 92. B 102. B 112. B
63. D 73. C 83. A 93. C 103. D 113. D
64. C 74. B 84. A 94. D 104. C 114. B
65. B 75. D 85. B 95. C 105. C 115. C
66. C 76. B 86. C 96. C 106. C 116. A
67. C 77. B 87. B 97. A 107. D 117. A
68. B 78. B 88. C 98. D 108. A 118. D
69. C 79. A 89. A 99. D 109. C 119. A
70. B 80. C 90. B 100. A 110. A 120. A
121. D 131. B 141. D 151. B 161. A 171. B

122. D 132. C 142. B 152. B 162. B 172. D
123. B 133. B 143. B 153. D 163. C 173. D
124. C 134. D 144. A 154. D 164. C 174. C
125. D 135. C 145. D 155. B 165. D 175. A
126. A 136. B 146. C 156. A 166. A 176. A
127. B 137. C 147. A 157. D 167. B 177. C
128. D 138. D 148. D 158. B 168. C 178. B
129. A 139. B 149. B 159. D 169. D 179. B
130. C 140. C 150. A 160. A 170. B 180. D
109
Short Answer Questions
1. In his dedication, Neruda says that poets before him have written sonnets whose
rhymes are like crystal or cannon fire. What does Neruda say his poems are made of?
3. In Sonnet II, Neruda laments that his path to Matilde has been long and lonely. What
two obstacles does Neruda say divide him and Matilde?
110
remember?
9. In Sonnet V, what does Neruda say he forgot about Matilde before he was in love
with her?
11. In Sonnet VII, Neruda's lover finally returns his love. What image does Neruda use
to describe his feelings after his love is returned?
111
natural formation?
17. In Sonnet X, what object does Neruda NOT use as a metaphor for Matilde's beauty?
18. In Sonnets I through X, what flower does Neruda include in his poems' images?
112
24. In Sonnet XIV, which of Matilde's features does Neruda say he does not have time
to celebrate?
113
30. In Sonnet XVII, what does Neruda imply about the relationship between himself and
Matilde?
31. In Sonnet XVIII, Neruda says that Matilde moves through the mountains as swiftly
as what two objects?
33. In Sonnet XIX, what is Matilde doing before she returns to "the world full of salt and
sun?"
watches?
114
35. In Sonnet XX, what two opposing concepts does Neruda use to describe Matilde?
37. In Sonnet XXI, what season does Neruda say he does not want to go "one moment
more without?"
38. In Sonnet XXI, what does Neruda tell Matilde is the reason he cries in his sleep?
40. In Sonnet XXIII, what does Neruda say will endure even after the end of the world?
secrets?"
115
imitated?
48. In Sonnet XXVII, Neruda says that Matilde is "as blue as the night" of what country?
116
54. In Sonnet XXX, Neruda says that Matilde has hair as thick as what kind of tree?
117
56. In Sonnet XXXI, where do Neruda and Matilde wander "like other country people?"
57. In Sonnet XXXII, what starts the morning with "its truths scrambled" and that "drifts
like a poor little boat?"
crackling sea?"
60. In Sonnet XXXIV, Neruda says that Matilde is the daughter of what natural body?
61. In Sonnet XXXIV, what does Neruda say can "push back the shadows" and enable
Matilde to sleep?
118
63. In Sonnet XXXV, what flower does Neruda describe as having a "sad savage odor?"
empire?"
"weapons?"
67. What does Neruda mention in Sonnet XXXVII as being the "only" thing that Matilde
could use to conquer him?
119
72. In Sonnet XL, what is Matilde doing while Neruda watches her from his house?
describes?
120
appearance?
82. In Sonnet XLVI, what part of Matilde does Neruda specifically say he wants all for
himself?
121
90. In Sonnet L, what aspect of Matilde does Neruda say "drops like a hawk from a
stony tower?"
122
94. In Sonnet LIII, what does Neruda NOT cite as "a man's needs, and a woman's?"
96. In Sonnet LIV, what two things does Neruda describe as being "like two wings?"
Matilde from?
123
99. In Sonnet LV, what does Neruda NOT say attacks "the honied contentment" of love?
100. In Sonnet LVI, what does Neruda say gives Matilde its "crystalline proportions?"
103. In Sonnet LVII, who is defeated by the love between Matilde and Neruda's love?
104. What does Neruda say in Sonnet LVIII "snapped at his honest heels" with "sharp
little teeth?"
124
poets?
109. In Sonnet LXI, what does Neruda describe as having a "tail of pain" and a "train of
static thorns?"
111. According to Sonnet LXII, what is the only thing that Neruda and Matilde want and
which is overshadowed by others?
125
115. In Sonnet LXIV, what does Neruda realize about what he owes Matilde for curing
him?
126
127
130. In Sonnet LXXI, what human feature does Neruda describe the earth as having?
themselves from?
132. In Sonnet LXXIII, what word does Neruda use to describe the woman who "rose
like a fish from the abyss?"
128
133. In Sonnet LXXIV, Neruda describes a road that is "wet with the waters" of what
month?
134. What is the house in Sonnet LXXV doing when Neruda and Matilde return to it?
129
130
147. In Sonnet LXXXII, what is the "shadow" that Neruda calls an "intermittent friend?"
148. In Sonnet LXXXII, what does Neruda say happens to him and Matilde when they
dream?
150. In Sonnet LXXXIV, what does Neruda say "supports the columns of the heaven's
harbor?"
LXXXIV?
131
LXXXVI?
155. In Sonnet LXXXVII, Neruda contemplates the "ceaseless origins" of which human
emotion?
156. In Sonnet LXXXVII, what does Neruda see in the sky that causes him to write the
poem and contemplate its content?
157. In Sonnet LXXXVIII, what month does Neruda say "returns with its secret light?"
158. In Sonnet LXXXIII, what does Neruda say he wants to be over his eyes when he
dies?
159. In Sonnet LXXXIX, why does Neruda want Matilde to live on after he has died?
160. What happens to Neruda in Sonnet XC that he says makes him feel "the cold up
close?"
132
161. In Sonnet XC, what does Neruda say is the only thing that matters "when death
comes knocking?"
162. In Sonnet XC, what is one thing Neruda does NOT say is meaningless after death?
163. In Sonnet XCI, what does Neruda say covers himself and Matilde "like drizzle?"
164. In Sonnet XCI, what does Neruda give Matilde that "fills with years like a swelling
cluster of fruit?"
133
171. In Sonnet XCV, what does Neruda describe as "the light that endures," and as a
"irrevocable delicate thorn?"
174. In Sonnet XCVII, what mode of transportation does Neruda note has made "shoes
and pathways... no longer enough?"
134
178. In Sonnet XCIX, in what form does Neruda say his heart will exist after he is long
dead?
180. In Sonnet C, what do Neruda and Matilde share that Neruda calls "victorious?"
135
Short Answer Questions Key
are made of?
Wood.
A castle.
Trains and nations.
Their love.
Thorns and a spear.
Bitter/ferocious.
136
remember?
Smells, clay, weeds and roots, thorns.
Wheat in its fields.
love with her?
Matilde's kisses.
The scent of the twig wounds him.
11. In Sonnet VII, Neruda's lover finally returns his love. What image does Neruda
use to describe his feelings after his love is returned?
A geyser.
The moon, clay and fire.
Everything that lives.
137
natural formation?
A cliff by the sea.
Walking near the ocean.
Soft.
17. In Sonnet X, what object does Neruda NOT use as a metaphor for Matilde's
beauty?
Wind.
18. In Sonnets I through X, what flower does Neruda include in his poems'
images?
A carnation.
A puma.
Matilde's body.
138
Neruda and Matilde's lovemaking.
Bread.
"Chilly silver."
time to celebrate?
Her hair.
Medusa.
Clay.
Bread and wood.
139
The entire universe.
He loves her without knowing how or why he does so.
30. In Sonnet XVII, what does Neruda imply about the relationship between
himself and Matilde?
Their love is so deep that they are almost the same person.
A breeze and a stream.
A bee.
33. In Sonnet XIX, what is Matilde doing before she returns to "the world full of
salt and sun?"
Swimming in the ocean.
watches?
A thief.
140
Matilde?
Beauty and ugliness.
A "messy chestnut."
Spring.
sleep?
He is like a lost child in his dreams.
A star.
world?
The love between himself and Matilde.
secrets?"
Jasmine.
141
Washerwomen.
Blue.
"Get lost."
Her beauty and her poverty.
imitated?
Her beauty.
Germany.
country?
Cuba.
142
A hand.
Love.
The "poor South."
A queen.
His heart.
54. In Sonnet XXX, Neruda says that Matilde has hair as thick as what kind of
tree?
A larch.
Laurel and oregano.
143
people?"
The city.
The house.
The One Who Puts Things In Order.
crackling sea?"
To their home.
body?
The sea.
Neruda's arms.
Matilde's hands.
144
63. In Sonnet XXXV, what flower does Neruda describe as having a "sad savage
odor?"
Honeysuckle.
empire?"
Chores.
"weapons?"
Cloth.
Neruda's "closed heart."
67. What does Neruda mention in Sonnet XXXVII as being the "only" thing that
Matilde could use to conquer him?
Matilde's delicacy.
Homer.
A train.
145
Her gardening.
June.
72. In Sonnet XL, what is Matilde doing while Neruda watches her from his
house?
Picking flowers.
January.
describes?
Spring.
Glass.
Trees.
146
appearance?
In other women.
So he can love her more in the future.
Leave him.
Wander the earth looking for her.
Matilde.
for himself?
Her hair.
A fruit tree.
147
Bread.
The birds.
"Today."
Time.
Laugh.
Cotapos.
90. In Sonnet L, what aspect of Matilde does Neruda say "drops like a hawk from
a stony tower?"
Her laughter.
148
A tree that is struck by lightening.
A volcano.
She sings.
woman's?"
Water.
Matilde's hands.
96. In Sonnet LIV, what two things does Neruda describe as being "like two
wings?"
The mind and love.
Matilde from?
Everyday troubles.
149
Humanity as a whole.
love?
Fights.
proportions?"
Salt.
"Love."
Envy.
103. In Sonnet LVII, who is defeated by the love between Matilde and Neruda's
love?
People who gossip about and slander Neruda.
Literature.
150
Back to his homeland.
LIfe and death.
poets?
They are dead and cannot defend themselves.
His own critics.
109. In Sonnet LXI, what does Neruda describe as having a "tail of pain" and a
"train of static thorns?"
Love.
People who hate love.
111. According to Sonnet LXII, what is the only thing that Neruda and Matilde want
and which is overshadowed by others?
They only want to love each other.
151
His own homeland.
Purple.
A broken heart.
curing him?
He can not fathom how much he owes Matilde.
Matilde.
Between his ribs.
Light and darkness.
152
Because he loves Matilde.
Rain.
The South.
Wood.
She came from a ship.
Matilde's absence.
Matilde's eyes.
153
His grief.
A place to live in peace.
A lunatic city.
Winter.
130. In Sonnet LXXI, what human feature does Neruda describe the earth as
having?
Hair.
themselves from?
Love.
132. In Sonnet LXXIII, what word does Neruda use to describe the woman who
"rose like a fish from the abyss?"
Pallid.
154
133. In Sonnet LXXIV, Neruda describes a road that is "wet with the waters" of
what month?
August.
134. What is the house in Sonnet LXXV doing when Neruda and Matilde return to
it?
Weeping.
Bloom.
Diego Rivera.
Matilde.
Flour.
Mockery.
155
Light a fire on a mountain.
His heart and Matilde's heart.
Night.
Playing guitar.
He had been traveling.
Sleep.
Anger.
156
147. In Sonnet LXXXII, what is the "shadow" that Neruda calls an "intermittent
friend?"
Sleep.
148. In Sonnet LXXXII, what does Neruda say happens to him and Matilde when
they dream?
They are united in their dreams.
Next to Neruda.
150. In Sonnet LXXXIV, what does Neruda say "supports the columns of the
heaven's harbor?"
The moon.
LXXXIV?
Marble statues.
Autumn.
The Southern Cross.
157
LXXXVI?
A box.
155. In Sonnet LXXXVII, Neruda contemplates the "ceaseless origins" of which

human emotion?
Loneliness.
Three birds.
light?"
March.
158. In Sonnet LXXXIII, what does Neruda say he wants to be over his eyes when
he dies?
Matilde's hands.
159. In Sonnet LXXXIX, why does Neruda want Matilde to live on after he has
died?
So the world can understand what he loved so much.
158
160. What happens to Neruda in Sonnet XC that he says makes him feel "the cold
up close?"
He thought he was dying.
161. In Sonnet XC, what does Neruda say is the only thing that matters "when
death comes knocking?"
Love.
death?
Love.
163. In Sonnet XCI, what does Neruda say covers himself and Matilde "like
drizzle?"
Age.
164. In Sonnet XCI, what does Neruda give Matilde that "fills with years like a
His life.
One lover dying and leaving the other behind.
159
Love.
To leave her mouth half-open.
He will die kissing her.
He asks her to carry on and live fully.
Seeing Matilde suffer after he has died.
171. In Sonnet XCV, what does Neruda describe as "the light that endures," and
as a "irrevocable delicate thorn?"
He and Matilde, and the love they share.
Spectacles.
160
Teachers.
174. In Sonnet XCVII, what mode of transportation does Neruda note has made
"shoes and pathways... no longer enough?"
Flying.
Poppies.
His brooding love.
The future.
178. In Sonnet XCIX, in what form does Neruda say his heart will exist after he is
long dead?
It will exist as dust.
The center of the earth.
161
180. In Sonnet C, what do Neruda and Matilde share that Neruda calls
"victorious?"
A kiss.
162
Oral Reading Evaluation Sheet
Name: _________________________ Period: _______________________
5 = Above Average 3 = Average 1 = Below Average
Audibility - Projecting your voice so your audience can hear and understand you.
5 4 3 2 1
Pronunciation - Ability to recognize words before you say them and pronounce all the
sounds correctly.
5 4 3 2 1
Articulation - Using your tongue, mouth and lips to pronounce all the sounds correctly.
5 4 3 2 1
Vocal Variety/Expression - Using appropriate pitch, volume and flow.
5 4 3 2 1
Rate - Reading a speed, or pace that is easy to follow.
5 4 3 2 1
Comments:
163
Reading Assignment Sheet
Name: _________________________ Period: _______________________
Reading Date Assigned Date Due Date Completed

Assignment
To Page: _____ __________ __________ __________
To Page: _____ __________ __________ __________
To Page: _____ __________ __________ __________
To Page: _____ __________ __________ __________
To Page: _____ __________ __________ __________
To Page: _____ __________ __________ __________
To Page: _____ __________ __________ __________
To Page: _____ __________ __________ __________
To Page: _____ __________ __________ __________
164
Writing Evaluation Form
Name: _________________________ Period: _______________________
5 = Above Average 3 = Average 1 = Below Average
Clear thesis or position Strong conclusion
5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2 1
Relevant supporting arguments Grammar
5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2 1
Transitions between paragraphs Spelling
5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2 1
Clarity of expression Punctuation
5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2 1
Comments:
165
One Week Quiz A
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through LXXI -
LXXX.

(a) Cry.
(b) Be angry with him.
(c) Leave him.
(d) Criticize herself.
2. What is the house in Sonnet LXXV doing when Neruda and Matilde return to it?
(a) Weeping.
(b) Yawning.
(c) Thinking.
(d) Laughing.
(a) His voice.
(b) His heart.
(c) His spirit.
(d) His passion.
(a) Die from loneliness.
(b) Stop writing poetry.
(c) Wander the earth looking for her.
(d) Become insane with grief.
(a) Bony.
(b) Thin.
(c) Pallid.
(d) Vague.
166
2. In Sonnet XXI, what season does Neruda say he does not want to go "one moment
more without?"
describes?
himself?
167
Multiple Choice Questions Key
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. C

Mockery.
Spring.
describes?
Spring.
"Get lost."
for himself?
Her hair.
168
Two Week Quiz A
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through LI - LX.

people?"
(a) The city.
(b) The plains.
(c) The mountains.
(d) The wilderness.

(a) A river.
(b) A volcano.
(c) A mountain.
(d) A tree.

(a) Order and chaos.
(b) Nature and mankind.
(c) Happiness and sadness.
(d) LIfe and death.
(a) Become insane with grief.
(b) Wander the earth looking for her.
(c) Stop writing poetry.
(d) Die from loneliness.
(a) The birds.
(b) The planets.
(c) The sea.
(d) The moon.
169
1. In Sonnet XVIII, Neruda says that Matilde moves through the mountains as swiftly as
what two objects?
170
1. A
2. B
3. D
4. B
5. A

A breeze and a stream.
His own critics.
His heart.
Clay.
Her beauty and her poverty.
171
Four Week Quiz A
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through XXI - XXX.

(a) "Chilly silver."
(b) "Pale fire."
(c) "Purple shadow."
(d) "Burning gold."
(a) Everything that lives.
(b) Everything that is good.
(c) The past.
(d) The future.

(a) The entire universe.
(b) A mountain range.
(c) The whole countryside.
(d) A forest.
natural formation?
(a) A landslide.
(b) A cloud.
(d) An erupting volcano.
(a) A plant.
(b) A castle.
(c) A wine.
(d) A rock.
172
2. In Sonnet XXVI, which of Matilde's qualities does Neruda say the earth has imitated?
3. In Sonnet XIV, which of Matilde's features does Neruda say he does not have time to
celebrate?
5. In Sonnet XIX, what is Matilde doing before she returns to "the world full of salt and
sun?"
173
1. A
2. A
3. A
4. C
5. B

A puma.
imitated?
Her beauty.
time to celebrate?
Her hair.
Bitter/ferocious.
5. In Sonnet XIX, what is Matilde doing before she returns to "the world full of salt
and sun?"
Swimming in the ocean.
174
Four Week Quiz B
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through LXXXI -
XC.

(a) "Give up."
(b) "You are nothing."
(c) "Get lost."
(d) "Go away."
(a) The moon.
(b) A single star.
(c) An airplane.
(d) Three birds.
(a) Self-doubt.
(b) Academia.
(c) Poetry.
(d) Literature.
4. In Sonnet XIX, what is Matilde doing before she returns to "the world full of salt
and sun?"
(a) Hiking in the woods.
(b) Walking along the beach.
(d) Walking down a mountainside.
crackling sea?"
(a) To their home.
(b) To Italy.
(c) To Chile.
(d) To Germany.
175
LXXXIV?
Matilde from?
4. In Sonnet XIV, which of Matilde's features does Neruda say he does not have time to
celebrate?
176
1. C
2. D
3. D
4. C
5. A

LXXXIV?
Marble statues.
Neruda's "closed heart."
Matilde from?
Everyday troubles.
time to celebrate?
Her hair.
Night.
177
Eight Week Quiz A
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through XI - XX.

(a) Lonely/desperate.
(b) Peaceful/persistant.
(c) Bitter/ferocious.
(d) Bitter/enticing.
watches?
(a) A needle.
(b) A spike.
(c) A thief.
(d) An airplane.
(a) Water.
(b) Clay.
(c) Light.
(d) Bronze.
(a) A rock.
(b) A wine.
(c) A plant.
(d) A castle.
time to celebrate?
(a) Her neck.
(b) Her hair.
(c) Her eyes.
(d) Her hips.
178
1. In Sonnet II, Neruda laments that his path to Matilde has been long and lonely. What
two obstacles does Neruda say divide him and Matilde?
4. In Sonnet V, what does Neruda say he forgot about Matilde before he was in love
with her?
179
1. C
2. C
3. B
4. D
5. B

Trains and nations.
Their love.
Bread and wood.
love with her?
Matilde's kisses.
A carnation.
180
Eight Week Quiz B
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through XXI - XXX.

country?
(a) Guatemala.
(b) Colombia.
(c) Cuba.
(d) Peru.
natural formation?
(a) A cloud.
(b) A landslide.
(c) An erupting volcano.
(d) A cliff by the sea.

(a) The "rich South."
(b) The "dark North."
(c) The "poor South."
(d) The "quiet East."

(a) Trees in a forest.
(b) Barley in its fields.
(c) Wheat in its fields.
(d) Lilies in a valley.
(a) A queen.
(b) Dark mud.
(c) A clay poppy.
(d) A clay horse.
181
3. In Sonnet XXIII, what does Neruda say will endure even after the end of the world?
remember?
182
1. C
2. D
3. C
4. C
5. A

A hand.
His heart.
world?
The love between himself and Matilde.
remember?
Thorns and a spear.
183
Eight Week Quiz C
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through XXXI - XL.

(a) A hymn.
(b) A symphony.
(c) A train.
(d) A storm.
(a) Mountain and boulder.
(b) Rock and tree.
(c) Bread and wood.
(d) Flesh and bone.
(a) The house.
(b) The sea.
(c) The sun.
(d) The city.
(b) Neruda's arms.
(c) Neruda's voice.
(d) The sound of the sea.

(a) A puma.
(b) A leopard.
(c) A hyena.
(d) A lion.
184
4. In Sonnet XXXIV, Neruda says that Matilde is the daughter of what natural body?
185
1. C
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. A

Wheat in its fields.
Bitter/ferocious.
Walking near the ocean.
body?
The sea.
His heart.
186
Eight Week Quiz D
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through XLI - L.

1. In Sonnet L, what aspect of Matilde does Neruda say "drops like a hawk from a
stony tower?"
(a) Her dancing.
(b) Her singing.
(c) Her eyes.
(d) Her laughter.

(a) Gold.
(b) Red.
(c) White.
(d) Blue.

(a) Laugh.
(b) Sing.
(c) Cry.
(d) Sleep.

(a) Matilde.
(b) His heart.
(c) His poetry.
(d) Isla Negra.
imitated?
(a) Her humility.
(b) Her beauty.
(c) Her power.
(d) Her pride.
187
natural formation?
remember?
188
1. D
2. D
3. A
4. A
5. B

natural formation?
A cliff by the sea.
A larch.
A bee.
A hand.
remember?
189
Eight Week Quiz E
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through LXI - LXX.

time to celebrate?
(a) Her hips.
(b) Her hair.
(c) Her eyes.
(d) Her neck.

(a) Trees in a forest.
(b) Barley in its fields.
(c) Wheat in its fields.
(d) Lilies in a valley.

(a) The "rich South."
(b) The "quiet East."
(c) The "dark North."
(d) The "poor South."

(a) Rice.
(b) Bread.
(c) Peaches.
(d) Olives.
(a) To be with Matilde.
(b) Back to his library.
(c) Back to his homeland.
(d) To the sea.
190
191
1. B
2. C
3. D
4. B
5. C

June.
Between his ribs.
Love.
imitated?
Her beauty.
A hand.
192
Eight Week Quiz F
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through LXXI -
LXXX.

(a) October.
(b) January.
(c) June.
(d) December.
(a) Thin.
(b) Pallid.
(c) Bony.
(d) Vague.
remember?
(a) Jaguars, lakes, trees.
(b) Mists, rain, the sun, sand, waves.
(c) Smells, clay, weeds and roots, thorns.
(d) Butterflies, trees, trails, animals.
love?
(a) Shattered glass.
(b) Thorns.
(c) Fights.
(d) Sickness.

(a) The whole countryside.
(b) A mountain range.
(c) A forest.
(d) The entire universe.
193
3. In Sonnet XXXVI, what item does Neruda NOT name as one of Matilde's "weapons?"
5. In Sonnet XXXI, where do Neruda and Matilde wander "like other country people?"
194
1. C
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. D

A place to live in peace.
A puma.
"weapons?"
Cloth.
Night.
people?"
The city.
195
Eight Week Quiz G
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through XCI - C.

natural formation?
(a) An erupting volcano.
(b) A cloud.
(d) A landslide.
LXXXVI?
(a) A fish.
(b) Frost.
(c) Parsley.
(d) A box.

(a) In another country.
(b) In another bedroom.
(c) In a hammock.
(d) Next to Neruda.

(a) A crushing loneliness.
(b) A heart of stone.
(c) A cynical mind.
(d) A broken heart.

(a) Neruda's love.
(b) Matilde's hands.
(c) Neruda's insecurities.
(d) Matilde's moods.
196
197
1. C
2. D
3. D
4. D
5. B

The One Who Puts Things In Order.
Everything that lives.
Anger.
January.
198
Mid-Book Test - Easy
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

(a) Blue.
(b) Gold.
(c) Red.
(d) White.
(a) A breeze and a stream.
(b) A river and an arrow.
(c) A puma and a bird.
(d) A whisper and a prayer.
(a) A pine.
(b) A larch.
(c) A banyan.
(d) An oak.

(a) The "dark North."
(b) The "poor South."
(c) The "quiet East."
(d) The "rich South."
(a) The birds.
(b) The moon.
(c) The planets.
(d) The sea.
199
(a) Neruda's love.
(b) Neruda's insecurities.
(c) Matilde's hands.
(d) Matilde's moods.
appearance?
(a) In nature.
(b) In himself.
(c) In other women.
(d) In the sea.

(a) A mountain range.
(b) A forest.
(c) The entire universe.
(d) The whole countryside.
(a) Water.
(b) Light.
(c) Bronze.
(d) Clay.
(a) September.
(b) January.
(c) August.
(d) April.

(a) Sleep.
(b) Fate.
(c) Time.
(d) Love.
Matilde?
(a) Anger and happiness.
(b) Peace and chaos.
(c) Beauty and ugliness.
(d) Love and hate.
200
remember?
(a) Mists, rain, the sun, sand, waves.
(b) Butterflies, trees, trails, animals.
(c) Smells, clay, weeds and roots, thorns.
(d) Jaguars, lakes, trees.
are made of?
(a) Flowers.
(b) Sand.
(c) Silver.
(d) Wood.
(b) Neruda's arms.
(c) The sound of the sea.
(d) Neruda's voice.
201
1. In Sonnet XXI, what does Neruda tell Matilde is the reason he cries in his sleep?
himself?
202
Multiple Choice Answer Key
1. A 11. C
2. A 12. C
3. B 13. C
4. B 14. D
5. A 15. B
6. C
7. C
8. C
9. D
10. B
Short Answer Key

sleep?
He is like a lost child in his dreams.
imitated?
Her beauty.
Trees.
for himself?
Her hair.
203
204
Final Test - Easy
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

light?"
(a) March.
(b) December.
(c) May.
(d) October.
2. In Sonnet LXXIV, Neruda describes a road that is "wet with the waters" of what
month?
(a) February.
(b) August.
(c) July.
(d) April.

(a) Orange.
(b) Purple.
(c) Gold.
(d) Blue.
(a) Academia.
(b) Literature.
(c) Self-doubt.
(d) Poetry.
(a) Swing freely through the trees.
(b) Drift down time's river.
(c) Plant a garden in the hills.
(d) Light a fire on a mountain.
205
6. In Sonnet XCI, what does Neruda say covers himself and Matilde "like drizzle?"
(a) Death.
(b) Fear.
(c) Age.
(d) Patience.

(a) A volcano.
(b) A tree.
(c) A mountain.
(d) A river.
(a) He will die from grief.
(b) He will die kissing her.
(c) He will die holding her hand.
(d) He will die in his sleep.

(a) His selfishness.
(b) His anger.
(c) His grief.
(d) His pride.
(a) Three birds.
(b) An airplane.
(c) A single star.
(d) The moon.

(a) The time before the beginning of the world.
(b) The future.
(c) The past.
(d) The end of time.
(a) Benito Rojo.
(b) Frieda Kahlo.
(c) Diego Rivera.
(d) Francisco Goya.
206
(a) Light and darkness.
(b) Love and not love.
(c) Cold and fire.
(d) Hate and not hate.
curing him?
(b) He knows exactly how much he owes Matilde.
(c) He will repay Matilde for the rest of his life.
(d) He can not fathom how much he owes Matilde.
woman's?"
(a) Wine.
(b) Table.
(c) Bread.
(d) Water.
207
2. In Sonnet XC, what is one thing Neruda does NOT say is meaningless after death?
5. Which image does Neruda NOT use to describe the constellation in Sonnet LXXXVI?
208
1. A 11. B
2. B 12. C
3. B 13. A
4. B 14. D
5. D 15. D
6. C
7. A
8. B
9. C
10. A
Short Answer Key

People who gossip about and slander Neruda.
death?
Love.
Rain.
She sings.
209
LXXXVI?
A box.
210
Mid-Book Test - Medium
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short
essay questions.

(a) His poetry.
(b) Matilde.
(c) Isla Negra.
(d) His heart.
(a) Trains and nations.
(b) Oceans and ships.
(c) Rivers and mountains.
(d) Anger and loneliness.
(a) The sea.
(b) The birds.
(c) The moon.
(d) The planets.
(a) A castle.
(b) A plant.
(c) A rock.
(d) A wine.

(a) A lioness.
(b) A simple rose.
(c) A locked door.
(d) A fruit tree.
211
natural formation?
212
2. List some examples of earth imagery Neruda uses to describe Matilde in Sonnet
XXX.
4. In Sonnet VII, what causes Neruda's emotions to burst forth like "geysers flooding
from deep in its vault?"
5. What are some ways Neruda describes Matilde and her house using images related
to sound in Sonnet XXXVIII?
213
7. In his dedication, how does Neruda compare his poems to those of other poets?
9. What is Matilde's role in the "miniature empire" Neruda describes in Sonnet XXXVI?
214
1. B
2. A
3. B
4. A
5. D
Short Answer Key

Laugh.
June.
natural formation?
A cliff by the sea.
Wander the earth looking for her.
215
Short Essay Answer Key
In Sonnet XXIII, Neruda writes that Matilde saves him from a "terrifying love" with her
hands, which she uses to bring peace to Neruda. Matilde "built a sweet firmness where
the wounds had been," and "fought off the talons and claws" that plagued Neruda
before he met Matilde.
2. List some examples of earth imagery Neruda uses to describe Matilde in

Sonnet XXX.
In Sonnet XXX, Neruda describes Matilde using natural imagery. He says her hair is the
"thick hair of a larch from the archipelago," and that her skin and body are as beautiful
as the nature that developed over "centuries of time." Matilde seems to be an
embodiment of nature itself and of the homeland that she and Neruda share; Neruda
says that she "rose from the South like an island crowded and crowned with feathers
and timber," and that in her body he found the "dark honey" of his rural homeland.
3. Neruda says that "everything alive has its two sides," including love. In Sonnet
XLIV, what are the two sides of Neruda's love for Matilde? Why are both sides
important?
the future.
4. In Sonnet VII, what causes Neruda's emotions to burst forth like "geysers
flooding from deep in its vault?"
In Sonnet VII, Neruda wrestles with the pain of unrequited love. When Neruda's love is
finally returned by Matilde, when she finally answers his call to "come with me," the joy
of having his love returned causes Neruda's repressed grief and love to burst forth with
"the fury of a cork-trapped wine."
216
5. What are some ways Neruda describes Matilde and her house using images
related to sound in Sonnet XXXVIII?
In Sonnet XXXVIII, Matilde and her house brim with life and sound. The house "sounds
like a train at noon," and is filled with singing and humming. Matilde herself has a laugh
that "spins out its trill like a palm tree," and lives in a noisy but peaceful space filled with
"a quiet collection of waterfalls and lions."
7. In his dedication, how does Neruda compare his poems to those of other
poets?
Neruda emphasizes the elegance of other poets' sonnets, saying that they "sound like
crystal, or silver, or cannonfire." His poems, on the other hand, are made of wood, and
Neruda says that it is only Matilde that gives them life.
Neruda describes the "bitter love" in Sonnet III as a sharp, thorny emotion. The
"ferocious love" in Sonnet III winds itself around his heart, "slashing a seared road"
through his heart.
9. What is Matilde's role in the "miniature empire" Neruda describes in Sonnet

XXXVI?
In Sonnet XXXVI, Matilde assumes the role of empress in her "miniature empire." Her
empire emphasizes her domesticity; she rules with "weapons of wax and wine and oil,"
and she is the "queen of the beehive and the barnyard." She also rules her garden; the
217
soil "opens" for her hands, and she uses a sickle that "lifts the perfumes" from her
flowers. Matilde dominates even Neruda, who says that she influences even his
handwriting and the grains of sand in his notebook.
In Sonnet XIII, Neruda compares Matilde to bread, saying that his love is the coal that
loves her as an oven loves bread. Matilde's physical aspects are also compared to
bread; in one example, Neruda compares Matilde's breasts to rising dough. He says
that Matilde's body is like bread that he devours, and that Matilde learned her holiness,
her language and her aroma from bread.
218
Final Test - Medium
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short
essay questions.

proportions?"
(a) Salt.
(b) Glass.
(c) Light.
(d) Quartz.
2. In Sonnet LIII, what does Neruda NOT cite as "a man's needs, and a woman's?"
(a) Table.
(b) Bread.
(c) Wine.
(d) Water.
(a) Back to his library.
(b) Back to his homeland.
(c) To be with Matilde.
(d) To the sea.
curing him?
(b) He can not fathom how much he owes Matilde.
(c) He will repay Matilde for the rest of his life.
(d) He knows exactly how much he owes Matilde.
(a) Matilde's hands.
(b) Neruda's thoughts.
(c) Neruda's poems.
(d) Matilde's feet.
219
1. In Sonnet XCII, what does Neruda say has no birth and no death, and will therefore
last forever?
220
3. What does the figurehead in Sonnet LxVIII appear to do that prompts Neruda to write
about her?
6. In Sonnet XCI, what overshadows the life that he gives to Matilde "like a swelling
cluster of fruit?"
221
7. What emotion is symbolized by the "calm slow flower, constantly held out" in Sonnet
LXXXVII? What does Neruda see that makes him contemplate that emotion?
9. In Sonnet LXXXIX, what does Neruda want Matilde to do when he dies? Why does
he want her to do this?
222
1. A
2. D
3. B
4. B
5. A
Short Answer Key

Love.
His heart and Matilde's heart.
Autumn.
The future.
Light a fire on a mountain.
223
In Sonnet LVIII, Neruda seems to be insecure about himself and his work when he
compares it to the work of other authors. He describes the "broadswords of literary iron"
that he wanders through, lost like a "foreign sailor." He is antagonized by the "sharp little
teeth of literature" which snap at his heels as he travels towards the "rainy dockyards" of
his childhood.
In Sonnet LXV, Matilde's absence has had a profound effect on Neruda. He opens the
poem by asking, "Matilde, where are you?" He states that her absence has left "a
certain pang of grief" in his ribs, and he describes his need for her light and energy. He
ends the poem by saying that he will wait alone in the empty house for her to return,
and that until she does, his "windows ache."
3. What does the figurehead in Sonnet LxVIII appear to do that prompts Neruda to
write about her?
In Sonnet LXVIII, Neruda contemplates the wooden figurehead of a ship that sits on the
shore. The figurehead appears to be watching over Neruda and Matilde's life. The poem
reflects on the fact that although the figurehead has eyes and seems to be watching her
surroundings, she cannot actually see.
In Sonnet LXXI, Matilde and Neruda are looking for a sanctuary where they will be
224
protected from the sorrows of the outside world, a place where they can be alone
together to live in peace and love. They are searching for a "wide valley, for another
planet," a place "without hurt or harm or speech," where they can escape the "lunatic
city" and its complications.
6. In Sonnet XCI, what overshadows the life that he gives to Matilde "like a
Neruda's life, which he says is as full of years as a swelling cluster of fruit, is

overshadowed by time and his own mortality. Neruda opens the poem by observing that
age effects both him and Matilde without discrimination. He writes that, even as he lives
his life, "time continues, waiting, raining, on the dust, eager even to erase absence."
7. What emotion is symbolized by the "calm slow flower, constantly held out" in
Sonnet LXXXVII? What does Neruda see that makes him contemplate that
emotion?
The "calm, slow flower, constantly held out" in Sonnet LXXXVII is loneliness. Neruda's
contemplation of that emotion is sparked when he sees three birds flying across the sky.
after all.
9. In Sonnet LXXXIX, what does Neruda want Matilde to do when he dies? Why
does he want her to do this?
In Sonnet LXXXIX, Neruda tells Matilde that, when he dies, he wants her to go on living.
He wants her to live fully so that she "can reach everything my love directs [her] to," and
so he can, in a sense, live through her.
225
In Sonnet LXIII, Neruda's homeland is a beautiful, hostile environment that the poet
himself is a part of. The "salted rock" in his savage homeland is "like the only rose, a
flower buried in the sea," but Neruda says that his homeland is "metallic;" he describes
the "poisonous skin of the copper," and says that "the nitrate salt spread out like a
statue." He contrasts those images with more beautiful images, and cites the
"vineyards, the cherries the spring rewards."
226
Mid-Book Test - Hard
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3)
essay topics.

227
2. What imagery does Neruda use to describe Matilde as he watches her walk by the
sea in Sonnet X?
3. What gives Neruda and Matilde the "eternal life of the Natural" in Sonnet XLVIII?
Sonnet XXXI?
228
9. What are some aspects of Matilde's ugliness and beauty does Neruda list in Sonnet
XX?
229
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Analyze Neruda's use of food imagery. What objects or concepts does Neruda relate to
food? What properties do the described objects and the food they are compared to have
in common? What do the food images in Neruda's poems indicate about the poet
himself and how he views the object being described? Support any assertions with
examples from the text.
Essay Topic 2
The specific imagery in each of Neruda's sonnets creates a definite mood and tone for
each poem. Using at least four different poems, provide an in-depth analysis of mood
and tone in Neruda's work. For each poem, provide specific examples of words or
phrases that contribute to the poem's overarching mood, and explain how each poem's
syntax perpetuates the mood established in each sonnet.
Essay Topic 3
Many of Neruda's poems focus extensively on different animals or insects. Choose

three poems that contain examples of animals or insects, and examine the importance
of those beings in the poem. Use specific examples from the book.
230
Short Answer Key
Trees.
His heart.
A larch.
A "messy chestnut."
Homer.

1. Neruda says that "everything alive has its two sides," including love. In Sonnet
XLIV, what are the two sides of Neruda's love for Matilde? Why are both sides
important?
the future.
231
2. What imagery does Neruda use to describe Matilde as he watches her walk by
the sea in Sonnet X?
When Neruda describes Matilde in Sonnet X, he asserts that her beauty is a "soft"
beauty, the beauty of "music and wood, agate, cloth, wheat, peaches." To Neruda,
Matilde is a "beautiful woman, echo of the endless foam," and a "statuesque" figure that
moves along the shore.
3. What gives Neruda and Matilde the "eternal life of the Natural" in Sonnet
XLVIII?
In Sonnet XLVIII, Neruda describes the lovers as living in harmony with the world,
saying that they "chose the day; they held it, not with ropes but with an aroma," and that
"the night delights them with its joyous petals." The couple's love enables them to live
"without ending, with no death," and Neruda says the lovers "are born, they die, many
times while they live." That cycle of life and death within love's boundaries gives them
the eternal, cyclical life of nature.
Sonnet XXXI?
At the beginning of Sonnet XXXI, Neruda and Matilde's house is "scrambled" after the
couple has been asleep all night. The house seems reluctant to wake up; Neruda writes
that the house "drifts like a poor little boat between its horizons of order and of sleep,"
and says,"objects want only to drag themselves along." At that point in the sonnet,
Matilde takes charge, becomes "The One Who Puts Things in Order," and begins
readying the house for the new day.
Neruda says in Sonnet XXV that before he met Matilde, he lived an empty life wherein
he "wavered through streets, among objects." During that period of his life, "nothing
mattered or had a name," and Neruda says that "everything was empty, dead, mute,
fallen, abandoned, and decayed." Once Matilde entered his life, though, her beauty and
humility "filled the autumn plentiful with gifts," and awakened the dead, empty world that
had preceded her.
232
In Sonnet XL, Neruda fixates for a moment on the image of Matilde's hands as she
gathers flowers along the beach. She carries a "cargo of iron flowers," and her hands
are white and whole, though they are "cracked by corrosive salt." Despite the cracks on
her hands from the sea's salt, Neruda is struck by their beauty as she gathers flowers.
He writes that her skin is "like whole stones," and that her fingernails are "offerings" in
the "suns" of her fingers.
In Sonnet I, Neruda describes Matilde's name as a sea or ocean that he desires to sail
through and rest within. He compares her name to common, earthly objects, saying that
Matilde's name is "the name of a plant, or a rock, or a wine of things that begin in the
earth, and last."
In Sonnet XIV, Neruda implies that Matilde's hair is so wonderful that he does not have
enough time to celebrate it the way he wants. Matilde's hair is almost mythical, as is
evidenced when Neruda writes, "In Italy they called you Medusa, because of the high
bristling light of your hair." Neruda loves Matilde's hair so much that he begs Matilde,
"Don't let me wander lost -- without your hair."
9. What are some aspects of Matilde's ugliness and beauty does Neruda list in
Sonnet XX?
In Sonnet XX, Neruda compares and contrasts different aspects of Matilde's body that
he considers ugly or beautiful. For example, Neruda says that Matilde's mouth is "big
enough for two mouths," but then says that her kisses are "fresh as new melons." He
says that Matilde's breasts are small, and that "not even the sea" contains anything like
her toenails. Matilde, though, has a "waist of gold," and Neruda concludes by implying
that he loves Matilde even more for her imperfections.
233
234
Final Test - Hard
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3)
essay topics.

235
1. What does Neruda write are the effects of modern society's infatuation with flying in
Sonnet XCVII?
3. In Sonnet XCIII, why does Neruda ask Matilde to leave her mouth half-open if she
should die before him?
236
8. In Sonnet LXXII, what causes Neruda to exclaim, "Let's go -- get up -- pin back your
hair -- take off and land?"
10. What are Neruda and Matilde looking for in Sonnet XCV, and what do they plan to
do once they find it?
237
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Analyze the importance of Matilde and Neruda's childhoods throughout the 100
Sonnets. What does the author reveal to the reader about the childhood of each
individual? What role does each individual's childhood have on them? What role does
childhood play in their relationship with each other? Use quotes from the sonnets to
back up all arguments.
Essay Topic 2
Discuss the importance of the forest in Neruda's poems. Topics one may want to
consider include the forest's effect on Neruda, its role in developing Neruda and Matilde
as characters, and the concepts or moods the forest symbolizes in various poems. Be
sure to include specific examples from the text.
Essay Topic 3
Describe the significance of sleep to Neruda and Matilde. Why does Neruda urge
Matilde to sleep in Sonnets LXXIX and LXXXI? Why is sleep so attractive to the two
lovers? What roles do sleep and dreams play in the couple's relationship? Include
specific examples from the book.
238
Short Answer Key
Spectacles.
A broken heart.
Rain.
Hair.

1. What does Neruda write are the effects of modern society's infatuation with
flying in Sonnet XCVII?
Neruda laments the popularity of flight, saying that "At every instant, one must fly -- like
eagles, like houseflies, like days." He says that because of the popularity of flying as
opposed to walking or driving, "Shoes and pathways are no longer enough, the earth is
no use anymore to the wanderer." He implies that the people who are so infatuated with
flying are "stubbornly transient."
239
In Sonnet C, Neruda and Matilde are in a Garden of Eden type paradise in the center of
the earth. The couple is, at long last, in a private paradise where they can be alone
together, free from the troubles of the outside world.
3. In Sonnet XCIII, why does Neruda ask Matilde to leave her mouth half-open if
she should die before him?
In Sonnet XCIII, Neruda asks Matilde to leave her mouth half-open if she dies before he
does. He asks this of her so that, when she does die, he can kiss her. He says, "I will
die kissing your crazy cold mouth, caressing the lost fruit buds of your body," and says
that they can go into death together, "forever living the eternity of a kiss."
In Sonnet LI, Matilde's laugh is the same powerful force of nature described in Sonnet L.
Neruda repeats the image of her laugh as a lightening bolt; in Sonnet LI, he says that
her laugh reminds him of a "tree fissured by a lightening streak, by a silver bolt that
drops from the sky." Matilde's laugh can "slash... through the shadows," and Neruda
urges her to embrace her laughter, which is like an "extravagant burst of light."
after all.
240
The envy and rancor that Neruda describes in Sonnet LVI are defeated by the love
shared between Neruda and Matilde. Matilde's hands emerge from the rancor of life
clean, "as if they were made in the morning of the river." Neruda exhausts envy with his
songs, draining envy's power "until its sad captains agonize and die." When Neruda
says the word "love," the word fills with dove and brings spring to the lovers' world.
8. In Sonnet LXXII, what causes Neruda to exclaim, "Let's go -- get up -- pin back
your hair -- take off and land?"
In Sonnet LXXII, Neruda tries to convince Matilde to flee with him from the oncoming
winter. He wants to take a train "to Arabia, or Tocopilla," or to other warmer climates.
In Sonnet LXXXIII, Matilde is sleeping next to Neruda. Neruda is comforted by her

presence, but admits that her "heart sails through dreams," and that while her body is
close to him, her heart and spirit are far away in her dreams.
10. What are Neruda and Matilde looking for in Sonnet XCV, and what do they plan
to do once they find it?
In Sonnet XCV, Matilde and Neruda are looking for the origin of their love, the "ancient
cinders of a heart that burned." Once they do find the object of their search, they want to
resurrect that love with their own love. They want to make their "kisses fall one by one,
till that empty flower rises again."
241

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100 Love Sonnets = Cien Sonetos de

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Short Essay Questions.............................................................................................................. 57

Short Essay Questions Key....................................................................................................... 66

Multiple Choice Key................................................................................................................. 109

Short Answer Questions........................................................................................................... 110

Short Answer Questions Key................................................................................................... 136

Oral Reading Evaluation Sheet................................................................................................ 163

Reading Assignment Sheet...................................................................................................... 164

Writing Evaluation Form........................................................................................................... 165

One Week Quiz A.................................................................................................................... 166

Two Week Quiz A..................................................................................................................... 169

Four Week Quiz A.................................................................................................................... 172

Four Week Quiz B.................................................................................................................... 175

Eight Week Quiz A................................................................................................................... 178

Eight Week Quiz B................................................................................................................... 181

Eight Week Quiz D................................................................................................................... 187

Eight Week Quiz E................................................................................................................... 190

Eight Week Quiz F................................................................................................................... 193

Eight Week Quiz G.................................................................................................................. 196

Mid-Book Test - Easy............................................................................................................... 199

Final Test - Easy...................................................................................................................... 205

Mid-Book Test - Medium........................................................................................................... 211

Final Test - Medium.................................................................................................................. 219

Mid-Book Test - Hard............................................................................................................... 227

Final Test - Hard....................................................................................................................... 235

Target Grade: 7th-12th (Middle School and High School)

 Introduction  Short Essay Questions

Lesson Plan Calendars

Character and Object Descriptions

Character and Object Descriptions provide descriptions of the significant characters as

Fun Classroom Activities

Essay Questions/Writing Assignments

These 20 Essay Questions/Writing Assignments can be used as essay questions on a

Short Essay Questions

The Quizzes/Homework Assignments are worksheets that can be used in a variety of

 Review Chapter Abstracts: Chapter abstracts are synopses of each chapter

One Week Lesson Calendar

Before the unit begins:

 Homework Assignment: Read through XXI - XXX

Review Review Review Review Test

1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from Quiz 1 Lesson from

Two Week Lesson Calendar

Before the unit begins:

 Homework Assignment: Read through XI - XX

Review Review Review Review Review

1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from Quiz

Review Review Review Review Test

1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from 1 Lesson from

1 Fun Activity 1 In-Class 1 In-Class 1 In-Class

Four Week Lesson Calendar

Before the unit begins:

 Homework Assignment: Read through Dedication - X

Review Review Review Review Quiz

Review Review Review Review Review

Review 1 Lesson from Review Review Review

Review Review Review Daily Lesson Test

Eight Week Lesson Calendar

Before the unit begins:

 Homework Assignment: Read through Dedication - X

Review Daily Lesson 1 Review Review Quiz

Daily Lesson 4 Review Review Review Fun Activity 5

Review Quiz Review Review Review

Daily Lesson Review Review Review Test