From a Journal of a Disappointed Man

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

The poem describes this man’s observations of an ill-fated construction job

Question 2

How are themes of Disappointment, Uncertainty, and Failure shown?

Answer 2

• The speaker realizes that the workmen have encountered a mysterious problem they cannot solve. They finally walk away, and the poem remains as unresolved and it provides no satisfying answers or explanations. In this way, the poem illustrates what deep disappointment looks and feels like. Life can be just like that, it can leave people completely at a loss and frustrated.

Question 3

How are themes of labour and social class shown?

Answer 3

• The speaker appears to be a writer or intellectual
• He feels distant from and perhaps superior to the construction crew.
• His language reflects an apparent class divide, as he describes them mainly in terms of raw physicality.
• However it becomes apparent that both are kinds of work that involve thoughtful problem-solving