In the Round Tower at Jhansi

Question 1

“A hundred, a thousand to one: even so;
Not a hope in the world remained:”

Answer 1

In the Round Tower at Jhansi:
- Poem opens abruptly in the midst of action (medias res)
- Hyperbolic, intensifies the situation the speaker is in
- Dramatic tone reflects the situations of the speaker looking down from the tower
- Statement of hopelessness and futility
- Language is sparse, not a word wasted, simply asserting that the fate of the speakers is already determined
- Glorifies British and evokes sympathy

Question 2

“‘Is the time come?’ - ‘The time is come.’”

Answer 2

In the Round Tower at Jhansi:
- Ceasura, separating the two speakers, suggests reluctance, fear of grief
- Implication that Skene is an experienced soldier and his wife is new to India
- Both presented as courageous despite the loss of their future as a couple
- Strength presented through absolute “is”, acceptance of their fate
- Questioning reveals the couples joint will to live, contrasted with the severity of the situation that confirms they are destined to be killed

Question 3

“Close the pistol to her brow -
God forgive them this!”

Answer 3

In the Round Tower at Jhansi:
- Repetition of “close” reflects the couples’ deep love for one another, reinforcing their strength in the midst of death
- Anglican faith would have deemed suicide a sin, the couple would however endure much greater suffering if they had chosen to face the Indians
- Exclamatory, evokes sympathy and a sense of urgency for God to grant forgiveness before they commit a sin

Question 4

“‘Will it hurt much?’ ‘No, mine own.’
I wish I could bare the pang for both.’”

Answer 4

In the Round Tower at Jhansi:
- “Will it hurt much?”, depicts a child looking to a parent for consolation
- Sense of generosity as the man wishes to bare the burden of emotional torment by taking his wife’s life first - this would rid her of the sin of suicide as she is not taking her own life and would therefore ascend to Heaven
- Personal pronouns “I” shift the focus to the burden upon the man to bare the sin of both murder and suicide

Question 5

“Kiss and Kiss:’It is not pain
Thus to kiss and die.’”

Answer 5

In the Round Tower at Jhansi:
- Kissing reflects their closeness in death, longing to extend the time they have together, reluctant to let go
- Explicit romanticism in their death