poetry (english lit- 'Songs of ourselves')

Question 1

What are the three language devices to include for ‘A different history’

Answer 1

1. The writer uses allusion and symbolism
2. The writer uses vivd imagery
3. The writer uses a volta
4. semantic field of oppression, violence

Question 2

What are the 3 main language devices for ‘where I come from’

Answer 2

sensory description

Figurative language

symbolism

Question 3

What are the 3 main language devices for ‘The cockroach’

Answer 3

figurative language

vivid, complex imagery of erratic cockroach

profound symbolism and allusion

commonality of experience- last stanza

Question 4

What are the three main language devices for ‘hunting snake’

Answer 4

figurative language

characterisation through action

powerful imagery- under this comes all the language devices and everything

Question 5

What are the three main language devices for ‘The chimney sweeper’

Answer 5

figurative language

juxtaposition and contrast

allusion and symbolism

Question 6

What are the three main language devices for ‘Before the sun’

Answer 6

figurative language

powerful, focused imagery

Different uses of tone.

Question 7

Structural devices in ‘A different history’

Answer 7

Free verse

two contrasting stanzas

indentation to mimic the actions in the poem

Question 8

Structural devices in ‘Hunting snake’

Answer 8

enjambment- First stanza
Caesura-Last lines and “half through a pace.”

regular rhyme scheme

Question 9

structural devices in ‘Where I come from’

Answer 9

Free verse
contrasting sections
enjambment and caesura between lines and slow pace- mimics the stream of consciousness

Question 10

Structural devices in ‘The cockroach’

Answer 10

caesura- the stopping of the cockroach

iambic pentameter- mimics the cockroach’s pace in the first stanza

Question 11

Structural devices in ‘The chimney sweeper’

Answer 11

playful rhyme scheme- enhances concept of superficiality and delusion

simple quatrains

Question 12

Structural devices in ‘Before the sun’

Answer 12

Free verse

fragmented structure, resembling an arc that mirrors the arc that’s formed when wood chips fly

in the 5th stanza the long sentences mimic the smoke going up in the air

Question 13

What are quotes you should include in your essay for ‘A different history’

Answer 13

Great Pan is not dead;
he simply emigrated “

                     to India."- 

“Here, the gods roam freely,
disguised as snakes or monkeys; “ -

“It is a sin to shove a book aside

              with your foot, 

a sin to slam books down

hard on a table”-
“learn how to turn the pages gently without disturbing Sarasvati,”-

“oppressor’s tongue”-
“after the soul has been cropped” “with a long scythe”-
How is it that “the unborn grandchildren” “grow to love that strange language. “-

Question 14

What are some quotes you should include in your essay from “Hunting snake”

Answer 14

“Head down, tongue flickering”
“He quested through the parting grass”

“Sun glazed his curves of diamond scale”
“Cold, dark, and splendid”

“our eyes went with him as he went”
“We took a deeper breath of day,
“Looked at each other, and went on “

Question 15

What are some quotes you should include in your essay from ‘The cockroach’

Answer 15

“At first, he seemed quite satisfied to trace”
“A path between the wainscot and the door,”
“jog in crooked rings,”
“rusty table leg”

“As if the victim of a mild attack”
“Of restlessness”
“he climbed an open shelf “
“He looked uncertain where to go. “

“Was this due payment for some vicious crime
A former life had led to? “
“Except I thought I recognised myself. “

Question 16

What are some quotes you should include in your essay from ‘The chimney sweeper’

Answer 16

“A little black thing among the snow”
“They are both gone up to the church to pray.”

And because I am happy and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,”
“taught me to sing the notes of woe. “
“clothes of death”

“And are gone to praise God and his Priest and King, “
“Who make up a heaven of our misery.”

Question 17

What are some quotes you can include in your essay for ‘Where I come from’

Answer 17

“Nature tidily plotted in little squares”
“or the smell of work, glue factories maybe,
chromium-plated offices; smell of subways” (separate in to three)

“carry woods in their minds, acres of pine woods”
“burned-out bush”
“battered schoolhouses”

“They carry with them
hints of jungles”
“carry”
“A door in the mind blows open, and there blows
a frosty wind from fields of snow. “

Question 18

What are some quotes you can include in your essay for ‘Before the sun’

Answer 18

“Intense blue morning”
“Heavy rain”
“settle down in showers on the the dewy grass” semantic field

“eternities later”
“a signal of some sort”
“sacrificial prayer”
“wood hisses, the sparks fly”

“Like some latecomer to a feast”
“one for the sun,one for me”
“till the cobs are just two little skeletons”

Question 19

What is the main message behind ‘A different history’

Answer 19

Cultural Identity and Heritage: Bhatt emphasizes the importance of language as a cornerstone of cultural identity, conveying the painful mutilation of india’s cultural heritage and language.

Impact of Colonization: The poem critiques colonialism’s impacts, illustrating how it marginalizes languages and cultures and oppresses nd changes a country’s culture and ethos inherent in its identity.

Question 20

What is the main message behind Hunting snake

Answer 20

Human Interaction with Nature: Wright examines the complex relationship between humans and nature, portraying both fear and admiration in the face of the snake’s power.

Admiration of nature: The poem depicts a short but profound moment of appreciation and admiration for nature and the environment in which we reside.

Question 21

What is the main message behind ‘Where I come from’

Answer 21

Connection to Place: Brewster explores the deep relationship between personal identity and origins, emphasising how places shape individual experiences and

Contrast Between Urban and Rural Life: The poem contrasts urban modernity with rural simplicity, evoking nostalgia for authentic experiences often lost in progress.

Question 22

What is the main message behind ‘The cockroach’

Answer 22

Human Condition and existential reflection: The cockroach serves as a mirror for human experiences, prompting introspection about the nature of existence and the complexity of life.

Life’s Cycles: The poem conveys a sense of cyclical existence, suggesting that life often involves repetitive patterns and the search for meaning in mundane actions.

Question 23

What is the main message behind ‘The chimney sweeper’

Answer 23

Hypocrisy of Religion: The poem exposes the contradiction between religious teachings of compassion and the indifference shown towards the plight of the oppressed. It conveys how the Church encroaches on the freedoms and joys of childhood and robs children of their youth.

Loss of Innocence: It reflects on the devastating impact of societal demands on childhood, portraying the erosion of innocence through forced labor.

Question 24

What is the main message behind ‘Before the sun’

Answer 24

Man’s relationship with nature- This poem reflects the life of a child who lives in harmony and balance with nature. His environment and the beauty of it deeply resonates with him and he treats nature (portrayed by the sun) as a companion in life

The passage of time- Mungoshi reflects on the passage of time and its impact on life, emphasizing the importance of embracing change and the promise of a new day.

Question 25

Analyse the quote:

‘Great Pan is not dead;
he simply emigrated “

                 to India."

Answer 25

This allusion suggests that while Western culture may perceive the Greek god Pan, a symbol of nature and paganism, as “dead,” his essence has been preserved and transformed in India, a land rich in spiritual traditions

Question 26

analyse the quote ““after the soul has been cropped” “with a long scythe”-

Answer 26

the imagery of a soul being “cropped” evokes a violent, forceful act of cutting away or diminishing one’s inner essence or cultural identity.

The scythe, typically associated with harvest, here symbolizes colonial oppression, suggesting that colonization strips people of their spiritual and cultural roots in a destructive manner.

The scythe is also associated with the Grim reaper and death which reinforces its earlier connotations of torture and pain.

Question 27

Analyse the quote “our eyes went with him as he went”

Answer 27

This quote is a synecdoche as it describes the big picture of how the persona is intently observing the snake to the point where their eyes follow the movements of it

Question 28

Analyse the quote “We took a deeper breath of day,

Looked at each other, and went on”

Answer 28

Here, caesura is utilised which mimics the process of the persona stopping to admire the snake’s beauty and taking a deep breath to absorb the awe and tension of the moment.

Question 29

Analyse the quote “Sun glazed his curves of diamond scale “

Answer 29

Here, the writer not only uses powerful imagery and metaphor to portray the snake as beautiful & majestic but expresses its qualities of being rare, valuable and powerful.

Silbilance- mimics the hissing of the snake

Question 30

Analyse the quote “quested through the parting grass”

Answer 30

The word “quested” signifies the determination and cold, fierce power with which it approaches its prey

Question 31

Analyse the quote “Nature tidily plotted in little squares”

Answer 31

contrasts the wildness of nature with the rigid, artificial order imposed by humans. By describing nature as “plotted in little squares,” the poet critiques how urban environments compartmentalize and control nature

Question 32

Analyse the quote “or the smell of work, glue factories maybe,
chromium-plated offices; smell of subways”

Answer 32

The smell of “work” evokes connotations of physical labour, sweat and the grit of city life while “glue factories” evokes connotations of the destruction of nature (in the manufacturing process) and the putrid smell these factories emanate. The mention of “chromium plated offices” adds a stark contrast to the earlier images of labor, evoking the dull, sterile nature of corporate environments.

Question 33

Analyse the quote “carry woods in their minds, acres of pine woods”

Answer 33

The word ‘carry’ not only evokes connotations of memories and identity but could also imply the physical burden of carrying something around, suggesting the significance of places as well as both the positive and negative effects they can have on people.

Question 34

Analyse the quote “burned-out bush”
“battered schoolhouses”

Answer 34

the contrasting negative connotations of decrepit, worn out objects portrays the realities of there being positive and negative aspects of nature and life.

Question 35

Analyse the quote “A door in the mind blows open, and there blows a frosty wind”

Answer 35

wind blowing could portray a renewal or the blowing away of negativity.

It could also describe the recollection of a distant memory.

It could also portray the impermanence of memory and how it fades.

Sensory experiences that may once have seemed trivial (e.g., shivering in cold weather) turn out to be vividly embedded in the speaker’s psyche.

Question 36

Analyse the quote “At first, he seemed quite satisfied to trace”
“A path between the wainscot and the door,”

Answer 36

‘satisfied to pace’ is an example of personification and evokes a tone of stability and calmness. Specifically, the writer refers to a period of early adulthood where a sense of confidence and contentment is established.

The path that this cockroach follows symbolises the secure paths people take and that the persona took in life, regarding careers or certain life choices.

Question 37

Analyse the quote “jog in crooked rings,”
“rusty table leg”

Answer 37

‘crooked rings’ evokes connotations of spiraling and confusion and portrays the cockroach’s erratic movements. This resembles a time in the persona’s life where they faced hardships and challenges from which emerged uncertainty and purposelessness.

‘rusty table leg’ enhances this underlying narrative as it not only suggests instability in life but also has the effect of characterizing the persona and the life they are currently living

Question 38

Analyse the quote “Was this due payment for some vicious crime
A former life had led to? “

Answer 38

Here the writer alludes to the religious notion of reincarnation and the persona suggests that the cockroach feels guilt for his ‘vicious crimes’ as well as a sense of resentment for the life that he’s led. This insecurity and ambiguity symbolises a common experience of existential uncertainty.

Question 39

Analyse the quote “he climbed an open shelf “
“He looked uncertain where to go. “

Answer 39

The cockroach’s movement up to the shelf can be interpreted as the moments up to death where the shelf resembles death and the cockroach’s ‘uncertainty’ symbolising a fear of death. A more optimistic analysis of this could be that the cockroach’s movement up to the shelf resembles the period in life where the persona progressed and overcame the hardships and obstacles they faced.

Question 40

Analyse the quote “A little black thing among the snow”

Answer 40

black thing against the white snow-Suggestion that the child has lost his innocence, purity.

Subtle repetition of ‘l’ (consonance) and soft sounds (phonological)1 suggests that the child is still vulnerable and naive as the softness mimics the way children are treated or nursery rhymes perhaps.

Thing-This vague description has a kind of distancing and dehumanizing effect, showing the way that the boy has been made literally and metaphorically unidentifiable

Question 41

Analyse the quote “They are both gone up to the church to pray.”

Answer 41

William Blake uses metonymy by having “the church” represent not just a physical place, but the broader institution of religion. In this context, there is a sense of irony and hypocrisy of the child’s parents neglecting the child in pain as they go to church where they preach compassion, love etc.

Question 42

Analyse the quote “Who make up a heaven of our misery.”

Answer 42

juxtaposition of the blissful and divine notion of heaven and the realities of misery. Oxymoron

Two interpretations:

Whole of the high-ranking structures exploit workers and manipulate them for their own benefit, creating a ‘heaven’ for themselves out of the ‘misery’ of lower classes

Religion is used to manipulate people into believing in delusions of happiness, created out of the realities of misery and hardship.

Question 43

Analyse the quote “intense blue morning” “heavy rain”

Answer 43

Juxtaposition: slow pace and intense weather is juxtaposed to imply that the persona is adaptable to the conditions and relaxed in times of turbulence.

Question 44

Analyse the quote “eternities later”“settle down in showers on the dewy grass

Answer 44

‘eternities’- turns the scene into slow motion. Represents immense observation and appreciation.

‘Showers, dewy, wood’ -all part of nature (semantic field)

Question 45

Analyse the quote “a signal of some sort”
“sacrificial prayer”

Answer 45

Indicates an intuitive connection between the boy and nature, suggesting that the environment communicates silently, guiding his actions.

Long sentences mimic the smoke going up in the air.

‘Flute’- religious connotation, linked with columns of writing in religious monuments and buildings.

Sibilance: mimics smoke as well.

Question 46

Analyse the quote “Like some latecomer to a feast”

Answer 46

suggests that the persona has a friendly relationship with the sun with a casual, mocking tone. This scene resembles closeness, intimacy and equality between the sun and the persona.

Question 47

Analyse the quote “till the cobs are just two little skeletons”

Answer 47

Whilst being a unique use of imagery and figurative speech, it is also a shift to a bleaker tone which resembles the darker aspects of life such as death (alluded to by the skeletons) inherent in nature and our world.

Question 48

What should your introduction include?

Answer 48

-general statement about the poem
-address the focus of your question
-signpost

Question 49

What should a conclusion include

Answer 49

What have you shown about the focus in the question

what does the writer want us to understand

what have you shown in terms of the themes/ big underlying ideas

Overall impact on reader

Question 50

Analyse the quote “late season’s grace”

Answer 50

The word grace suggests a link to the divine.

opening of poem offers an eden-like scene

sibilance- tranquility

sounds are melodious, emphasising the pleasant scenery. Enjambment further enhances the tranquil tone.

Question 51

Analyse the quote ‘it is a sin’

Answer 51

There is the anaphora; the repetition of the word sin. This evokes a tone of gravity and depth, inducing visions of moral law

Question 52

analyse the quote “without offending the tree from whose wood the pages were made”-

Answer 52

These books are connected to the trees from which they were made just as we are shaped from the history from which we came. (metonymy)

Question 53

analyse the quote ‘truly meant to murder someone’

Answer 53

complex metaphor- the dark, sinister tone of murder and oppression is used to portray the mutilation of identity and the forced assimilation to another language and culture.

Question 54

where is the volta in ‘a different history’

Answer 54

the second stanza-

Question 55

where is the volta in ‘where i come from’

Answer 55

as the point of view from omniscient narrator changes to first person in the second stanza, the tone becomes more personal and endearing

Question 56

analyse the quote ‘the almost not smell of tulips’

Answer 56

This portrays the subtle smell of tulips in the spring which typically grow in more urban areas. However juxtaposed amidst the more pungent, stronger smells of the city in this stanza, the suppression and tight control and restriction of nature is conveyed.

Question 57

whats the device used in the chimney sweeper in the line ‘weep weep’

Answer 57

epizeuxis

Question 58

what period in life does ‘flipping over itrs wings’ in the cockroach represnt

Answer 58

a mid-life crisis

Question 59

what does the cockroach represent in the poem

Answer 59

It’s actions metaphorically and anthropomorphically and reflect on the persona’s life experiences

Question 60

Analyse the quote ‘‘spring and winter are the minds chief seasons : ice and the breaking of ice”

Answer 60

spring and winter: evokes connotations of nature and paying attention to it.

ice: how our perceptions and certain parts of our identity can change and are malleable like how ice can melt and be shaped.