Poems Flashcards
Explain for the poem “if”
Form-
Themes-
Form- advisory and motivational speech to son.
Theme- the world is cruel but one can rise above adversity by demonstrating particular qualities
-self discipline and control
-RESILIENCE
quotes from the poem if
-line 1, head is a synecdoche and speaks virtue of maintaining composure and leadership
-line 11, highlights importance of emotional balance. use of capitalism personifies abstract nouns
Explain for the poem Prayer before birth
Form-
Themes-
Form- a dramatic monologue where an unborn baby asks for protection from the dangers and evil in the world it will soon enter
Themes- vulnerability of innocence
-moral corruption of humanity
-fear and innocence
quotes from poem prayer before birth
“i am not yet born; o hear me”
“i fear that the human race may with talls walls wall me”
line 1- recurring refrain emphasizes the vulnerability of the unborn child, a declarative sentence
line 5- illustrates the fear of dehuminazation and moral corruption
Explain for the poem blessing
Form-
Themes-
form- 4stanzas,free verse, enjabment and flow
themes- poverty and deprivation
-water as a symbol of life
-religious imagery
what is the poem blessing about
is about the joy and relief people feel when they suddenly receive water in a dry, thirsty place.
quotes from blessing
“The skin cracks like a pod.”
“small splash”
“silver crashes to the ground”
line 1- a hard sound personified, simile to show drought imagery, desperation
line 4- auditory imagery, magnifies how little it is, juxtaposition, sound
line 9- metaphor to show the waters shown as expensive, onomatopeia, symbolizes wealth
Explain for the poem search my tongue
Form-
Themes-
form-1st is in english 2nd shifts to Gujarati to emphasize , free verse , no rhyme to show unnaturality
themes- cultural displacement,
-language and identity
-immigration and sense of belonging
The Gujarati section is the speaker’s attempt at getting the reader to experience what speaking in a foreign tongue is like:
what is the poem search for my tongue about
the feeling of losing one’s native language and identity while living in a different culture.
quotes from search for my tongue
“You ask me what I mean by saying I have lost my tongue.” direct address, metaphor,
Explain for the poem half-past two
Form-
Themes-
form- freeverse, short stanzas, enjabment, colloqial tone
theme- youth, time, nostalgia
what is the poem half-past two about
is about a child who gets lost in a timeless, magical moment when they are left alone and don’t know how to tell the time.
quotes from half past two
Explain for the poem piano
Form-
Themes-
form- 3quatrains, iambic pentameter, rhyme AABB
theme- nostalgia and memory
-childhood and innocence
-power of music
-emotional conflict
quotes from piano
what is the poem piano about
about an adult recalling childhood memories of listening to his mother play the piano, feeling nostalgic and emotional about the past.
Explain for the poem hide and seek
Form-
Themes-
form- free verse
-regular rhyme
-2nd person narration
-enjabment
themes
-childhood and innocence
-isolaton and loneliness
-passage of time
quotes from hide and seek
what is the poem hide and seek about
about a child’s excitement and anticipation during a game of hide-and-seek, which turns into a reflection on loneliness and being forgotten.
Explain for the poem sonnet 116
Form-
Themes-
form- 14lines m.;k
-each line written in iambic pentameter
-rhyming
quotes from
Explain for the poem la belle dame sans Merci
Form-
Themes-
form- ballad structure
-meter
-repetition
themes- love and betrayal
-supernatural and mystery
-death and decay
quotes from
what is la belle dame sans merci about
a knight who is enchanted and abandoned by a mysterious, beautiful woman, leaving him heartbroken and alone.
Explain for the poem poem at thirty nine
Form-
Themes-
form- free verse
-irregular
themes- grief (for father)
-powerful emotions
-childhood
-nostalgic
-loss
poem at thirty nine about
about the speaker’s reflection on the loss of her father and the longing to have learned more from him.
quotes from poem at thirty nine
Explain for the poem war photographer
Form-
Themes-
form- 6stanzas
-rhyme scheme
-vivid imagery
-cyclical structure
themes- trauma of war
-isolation and detatchment
-memory and trauma
quotes from war photographer
what is war photographer about
explores the emotional and moral struggles of a photographer who captures the horrors of war while grappling with the disconnection and apathy of those who view his work.
Explain for the poem the tyger
Form-
Themes-
form -6quatrains
-vivid imagery
-regular rhyme scheme
themes- nature of god
-innocence vs experience
-fear
quotes from the tyger
what is the tyger about
explores the awe and fear inspired by the creation of a powerful and terrifying tiger, questioning the nature of its creator.
Explain for the poem my last duchess
Form-
Themes-
form- dramatic monologue
-rhymed couplets
-enjabment
themes
-power and control
-jealousy and pride
-possession of women
quotes from my last duchess
what is my last duchess about
about a Duke who talks about his dead wife and hints that he had her killed because she was too friendly with others.
Explain for the poem half-caste
Form-
Themes-
form- free verse
-repetition
-direct address
-no puncutation, so enjabments used throughout
theme- racial identity and stereotypes
-cultural diversity
-challenging prejudice
quotes from half-caste
what is the poem half-caste about
challenges the idea of being called “half-caste” by celebrating mixed heritage and criticizing narrow-minded judgments.
Explain for the poem do not go gentle into that good night
Form-
Themes-
form- a villanelle, written in iambic pentameter
-2rhymes that repeat throughout whole poem
themes- death and mortality
-love and grief
-defiance and resistance
what is the poem do not go gentle into that good night about
about urging people, especially his father, to resist death fi ercely and live with passion until the very end.
quotes from do not go gentle into that good night
explain for the poem remember
form
themes
form- sonnet structured
1stanza
themes- memory and remembrance
-love and loss
-acceptance of death
quotes for remember
what is remember about
is about accepting loss and finding peace, as the speaker asks to be remembered after death but not with sorrow.
my last duchess
form- dramatic monologue
-iambic pentameter
-rhyming couplets
themes- objectification of women
-control and manipulation
-jealousy
-pride and arrogance
