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  1. The poem “A Man of Life's Upright” is composed using the rhyme scheme ABCB. Thus, the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhymes with each other. For example The man of life upright,  Whose chearfull minde is free From waight of impious deedes,  And yoake of vanitee, The Man of Life Upright SummaRead more

    The poem “A Man of Life’s Upright” is composed using the rhyme scheme ABCB. Thus, the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhymes with each other. For example

    The man of life upright,

     Whose chearfull minde is free

    From waight of impious deedes,

     And yoake of vanitee,

    The Man of Life Upright Summary

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  1. Anaphora: Anaphora is a literary device that uses the repetition of short phrases or single words at the beginning of clauses or sentences to enhance rhythm. The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines. Nor armour for defence: Nor vaults his guilt to shrowd His Booke the Heav'ns heeRead more

    Anaphora:

    Anaphora is a literary device that uses the repetition of short phrases or single words at the beginning of clauses or sentences to enhance rhythm. The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines.

    Nor armour for defence:

    Nor vaults his guilt to shrowd

    His Booke the Heav’ns hee makes,

     His wisedome heav’nly things.

    Metaphor:

    Metaphor is a literary device where two unrelated objects are compared to each other. The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines.

    Good thoughts his surest friends,

     His wealth a well-spent age,

    The earth his sober Inne,

     And quiet pilgrimage.

    In this stanza, the poet compares good thoughts to true friends. In the same way, he compares experience to wealth. In the last two lines he compares earth to an inn amd life journey to a pilgrimage.

    Personification:

    Personification is a poetic device where animals, plants or even inanimate objects are given human qualities. The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines.

    Whom hopes cannot delude,

     Nor sorrowes discontent

    Here, hope and sorrow are personified.

    Repetition:

    Repetition is a literary device where a certain word or phrase is repeated multiple times to emphasise the word or to create a rhythm. The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines.

    The man of life upright,

    The phrase “the man” is repeated at the poem.

    In the fifth stanza the word “his” repeated.

    Good thoughts his surest friends,

     His wealth a well-spent age,

    The earth his sober Inne,

     And quiet pilgrimage.

    The Man of Life Upright Summary

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  1. The central idea of this poem is to make people realize it is better to move on from one-sided love as soon as possible because it is futile to suffer. You can choose to suffer as much as you like, but that will not make your beloved return your love. Why So Pale and Wan, Fond Lover? Summary

    The central idea of this poem is to make people realize it is better to move on from one-sided love as soon as possible because it is futile to suffer. You can choose to suffer as much as you like, but that will not make your beloved return your love.

    Why So Pale and Wan, Fond Lover? Summary

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  1. The theme of the poem is the pain of unrequited love. Though the poem is about love, it is not romantic. In fact, the poet's friend has a beloved who does not love him back. In the poem, we come across the repercussions that the poet's friend is going through because he is heartbroken. He even appeaRead more

    The theme of the poem is the pain of unrequited love. Though the poem is about love, it is not romantic. In fact, the poet’s friend has a beloved who does not love him back. In the poem, we come across the repercussions that the poet’s friend is going through because he is heartbroken. He even appears to be ‘pale and wan.’ The poet is unable to see his friend in such a condition and asks him to move on because being in love with somebody who does not love him back will only cause him pain.

    Why So Pale and Wan, Fond Lover? Summary

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  1. Rhetorical Question: A rhetorical question poses a question to make a point rather than eliciting a response. Even though the answer to a rhetorical question is usually evident, the questioner uses it to emphasize a point. This poem's opening two stanzas are composed entirely of rhetorical inquiriesRead more

    1. Rhetorical Question: A rhetorical question poses a question to make a point rather than eliciting a response. Even though the answer to a rhetorical question is usually evident, the questioner uses it to emphasize a point. This poem’s opening two stanzas are composed entirely of rhetorical inquiries, a decision that serves to make the speaker come out as pleasant, direct, and reasonable.

    “Why so pale and wan, fond lover?”

    The term “fond,” which in this context doesn’t mean “affectionate” but rather “foolish,” indicates the poet’s tone in the question being asked. He is making fun of his friend’s one-sided love and, at the same time, shows concern for his friend, who appears to be sick because of unappreciated feelings.

    2. Alliteration: The term “alliteration” refers to the practice of starting words in a sentence with the same letter or sound.

    ‘Will, when speaking well can’t win her’

    In this line, the words start from ‘w’ in succession.

    3. Repetition: It is a method in which a word or phrase is used repeatedly in a speech or piece of writing. The word ‘quit’ has been repeated twice in the first line of the third stanza to emphasize the point made by the poet.

    Why So Pale and Wan, Fond Lover? Summary

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  1. The main theme behind the poem “Root Cellar” is hope. The poet advises the readers to live their life with hope and determination.By describing the plants hope in the cellar, he is motivating the readers to pass their days with such determination. Nothing would give up life: Even the dirt kept breatRead more

    The main theme behind the poem “Root Cellar” is hope. The poet advises the readers to live their life with hope and determination.By describing the plants hope in the cellar, he is motivating the readers to pass their days with such determination.

    Nothing would give up life:

    Even the dirt kept breathing a small breath.

    He says, that even the dirt is breathing with a determination. He says, even the plants inside the cellar are living their life without giving up. The speaker says there may be dark phases in one’s life, but one should not give up instead they should try to get light from all the ways possibile.

    Root Cellar Summary

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  1. The poem doesn't follow a regular rhyme scheme. But, the poet has used the perfect end rhymes at the lines four and five. Lolling obscenely from mildewed crates, Hung down long yellow evil necks, like tropical snakes. The half rhymes can be found at the lines nine and ten. Leaf-mold, manure, lime, Read more

    The poem doesn’t follow a regular rhyme scheme. But, the poet has used the perfect end rhymes at the lines four and five.

    Lolling obscenely from mildewed crates,

    Hung down long yellow evil necks, like tropical snakes.

    The half rhymes can be found at the lines nine and ten.

    Leaf-mold, manure, lime

    piled against slippery planks.

    Nothing would give up life:

    Root Cellar Summary

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  1. Alliteration: Alliteration is a literary device in which certain sounds are repeated at the beginning of words in a sentence or phrase. The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines. sleep in that cellar, dank as a ditch, Bulbs broke, dangled and drooped,  Roots ripe, etc. Assonance: ARead more

    Alliteration:

    Alliteration is a literary device in which certain sounds are repeated at the beginning of words in a sentence or phrase.

    The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines.

    sleep in that cellar,

    dank as a ditch,

    Bulbs broke,

    dangled and drooped,

     Roots ripe, etc.

    Assonance:

    Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together in a sentence or verse. The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines.

    sleep in,

    lime, piled

    Consonance:

    Consonance is the repetition of identical or similar consonants in neighbouring words whose vowel sounds are different.

    The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines.

    evil necks, like tropical snakes, Hung down long yellow,

    Metaphor:

    Metaphor is a literary device where two unrelated objects are compared to each other. The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines.

    Bulbs broke out of boxes hunting for chinks in the dark,

    Here, the poet compares “bulb” to a creature that hunts.

     

    Personification:

    Personification is a poetic device where animals, plants or even inanimate objects are given human qualities.

    The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines.

    Nothing would give up life:

    Even the dirt kept breathing a small breath.”

    Here, the dirt is personified.

    Simile:

    A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words “like” or “as.”

    The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines.

    Hung down long yellow evil necks, like tropical snakes.”

    Here, the green stems of the plant are compared to tropical snakes.

    “Roots ripe as old bait,”

    Here, the roots are compared to old bait.

    Hyperbole:

    Hyperbole is a literary device used to draw emphasis through extreme exaggeration. The poet has used this poetic device in the following lines

    Nothing would give up life:

    Even the dirt kept breathing a small breath.

    Root Cellar Summary

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  1. The poet has written this poem using a free verse style. It consists  of 27 lines. Though the rhyme scheme is not regular throughout the poem, the poet has used different patterns of rhyme schemes. The rhyme scheme of the first six lines is ABBBAC. It is called cinquain. The next six lines follow thRead more

    The poet has written this poem using a free verse style. It consists  of 27 lines. Though the rhyme scheme is not regular throughout the poem, the poet has used different patterns of rhyme schemes. The rhyme scheme of the first six lines is ABBBAC. It is called cinquain. The next six lines follow the rhyme pattern of DEFCDE. The  following four lines follow the pattern of a quatrain, that is, ABAB or ABBC. And, the last four lines of the poem follow the pattern of ABCB.

    Night Journey Summary

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