Attention Grabber: What Does It Really Means

Attention Grabber: What does it really mean to be successful, and what is the true definition of failure?

Introduce literature used: Stanley Kunitz's poem "The Layers"

Thesis: Life is definitely not cut and dry; it's extremely complicated. Kunitz confirms this statement by calling his poem "The Layers." Life is full of layers that we need to experience and learn to understand.

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Main Idea: Our experiences define us.

Topic Sentence: Through Kunitz we experience a small portion of what he has gone through and begin to understand his view of life and all of it's layers.

"When I look behind,as I am compelled to lookbefore I can gather strengthto proceed on my journey,"

Here the speaker reflects on his past before he can

move forward. 
The idea of "looking behind" in order to "gather strength" to move forward.
Shows how we all mature and develop on a personal level through life experiences.
Teaches us to acknowledge where we come from and everything that leads us to where we are today. Before we are able to grow from past events we need to acknowledge them, so that we may move on.
This allows us to be successful in our lives

"How shall the heart be reconciledto its feast of losses?"

In order to move on we need to come to terms with the past and and what we may have lost.
We need to decide whether we want to dwell on the trials and tribulations that have already taken place, or move forward and grow from those experiences. 

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Main idea: It's a struggle to move on.

Topic Sentence: Moving on means success and staying behind means failure.

"In a rising windthe manic dust of my friends,those who fell along the way,bitterly stings my face."

It's okay to remember our old friends who were swept up by the hardships that life entails, unable to continue their journeys along beside us.
The mood is sad here and somewhat disheartening.
Should we fall back with our old friends or move on, even if the memories are hard to bear.

"Yet I turn, I turn,exulting somewhat,with my will intact to gowherever I need to go,"

The biggest transition of the poem takes place in these lines
In order to be successful we need to turn away from the painful memories.
We need to move forward with a new view on the future

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Main Idea: Life is an ongoing journey.

Topic Sentence: even when we are faced with death or old age, we should only see infinite possibilities for growth ahead of us.

"I am not done with my changes."

Life is about continuation and renewal, not endings or death. 
The human existence has no limitations.

Conclusion

Re-wording of thesis: Kunitz reminds us that that life has various challenges and it's up to us whether or not we want to conquer them. It's not always going to be easy, but in the end it will all be worth it.

Summary of Main Ideas: Many of his ideas and experiences are shared throughout the poem. Experiences that we as readers are able to learn from. This in turn allows us to grow, and expect what kind of challenges life is going to throw our way.

Generalization: Whether or not we find the strength to move on from our pasts determines whether or not we have succeeded or failed in our lives.