The Tuft Of Flowers

Worksheet Description

This worksheet invites students to engage with the poem “The Tuft of Flowers” by Robert Frost, focusing on the exploration of a paradox contained within the text. The poem reflects on themes of connection and isolation through the speaker’s encounter with a butterfly and a tuft of flowers while mowing a field. Students are prompted to analyze the concluding lines where the speaker, initially feeling alone, discovers a sense of kinship with an absent mower through the beauty left behind.

The paradox “Men work together, I told him from the heart, / Whether they work together or apart” underscores the poem’s contemplation on human connection transcending physical presence. Students must explain this paradox, likely delving into ideas of shared purpose, unseen collaborations, and the interconnectedness of human experiences. The activity encourages critical thinking and interpretation, urging students to consider how people can be united in spirit and intention even when they are not physically together, thus enriching their understanding of literary devices and thematic expression in poetry.