Research what anthropologists have been able to determine about humanity's earliest housing. In particular, show the differences between the first free-standing structures made by human beings and the earliest "rooms," the caves in which people lived.

This poem suggests that people have memories of what life was like before the human species started living indoors. Read about psychologist C. G. Jung's theory of the "collective unconscious," which assumes that some of mankind's earliest experiences are still carried in the memories of all people. Show how Jung would agree and disagree with Merwin.

With a pencil, pen, or computer program, design a room you would like to have in your house that you think W. S. Merwin would approve of. Use examples from this poem to show why your design would be acceptable.

This poem mentions the idea of sounds echoing off ice...