English Notes Latest Questions

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    Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry" and "And I will sing a lullaby" emphasizes the comforting and consoling nature of sleep, reinforcing the central theme. Metaphor: The comparison of care to a heavy burden in the line "Care is heavy, therefore sleep you" useRead more

    1. Repetition: The repetition of the phrase “Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry” and “And I will sing a lullaby” emphasizes the comforting and consoling nature of sleep, reinforcing the central theme.
    2. Metaphor: The comparison of care to a heavy burden in the line “Care is heavy, therefore sleep you” uses metaphor to convey the idea that sleep can lighten the weight of worries.
    3. Alliteration: The rhythmic and melodic quality in the phrase “Rock them, rock them, lullaby” is achieved through the repetition of the “r” sound. This use of alliteration enhances the poem’s lullaby-like atmosphere, adding to its musical and soothing tone.
    4. Imagery: The poem vividly describes the image of gentle slumbers embracing the eyes and smiles greeting the sleeper upon waking. This imagery engages the senses and adds a dreamlike quality to the verse.

          Golden Slumbers Summary

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        1. The theme of "Golden Slumbers" is about the peace and tranquillity of sleep. The poem depicts sleep as a calming and protective force that provides relief from the stresses and strains of daily living. The poet promotes the idea that sleep, described as "golden slumbers," has the potential to kiss aRead more

          The theme of “Golden Slumbers” is about the peace and tranquillity of sleep. The poem depicts sleep as a calming and protective force that provides relief from the stresses and strains of daily living. The poet promotes the idea that sleep, described as “golden slumbers,” has the potential to kiss away sorrows and restore peacefulness. The emphasis on a lullaby maintains the concept of establishing a relaxing and comfortable setting for sleep.

          Golden Slumbers Summary

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        1. The poem is an introspective journey of the speaker as they delve into their flaws, faults and inadequacies. The speaker addresses both tangible forms and entities and intangible concepts and notions and asks for forgiveness for being ignorant or knowingly committing a mistake and doing wrong to othRead more

          The poem is an introspective journey of the speaker as they delve into their flaws, faults and inadequacies. The speaker addresses both tangible forms and entities and intangible concepts and notions and asks for forgiveness for being ignorant or knowingly committing a mistake and doing wrong to others. The speaker reflects on their existence as a human and the poem shows how it is very normal to make errors or hurt people unintentionally.

          Under a Certain Little Star Summary

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        1. The main theme of Anne Stevenson's "The Spirit is Too Blunt an Instrument" is finding a way to reconcile the intricate and beautiful aspects of human existence with the biological processes that seem to be an impersonal mechanism of creation. The speaker expresses amazement at the baby's sophisticatRead more

          The main theme of Anne Stevenson’s “The Spirit is Too Blunt an Instrument” is finding a way to reconcile the intricate and beautiful aspects of human existence with the biological processes that seem to be an impersonal mechanism of creation. The speaker expresses amazement at the baby’s sophisticated bodily systems, implying that the “blunt” and emotional “spirit” could not have created them since they are too exact and sophisticated. This main theme asks us to consider the wonders of the material and spiritual worlds, as well as to recognize the complexity of existence beyond easy answers.

          The Spirit Is Too Blunt an Instrument Summary

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        1. This haiku's theme is immediately apparent since it opens with a calm picture of an ancient pond, implying tranquilly. A frog suddenly splashes in, breaking the stillness and making a ripple effect of movement and sound. The transience of tranquilly, the incursion of change, or the rising of conscioRead more

          This haiku’s theme is immediately apparent since it opens with a calm picture of an ancient pond, implying tranquilly. A frog suddenly splashes in, breaking the stillness and making a ripple effect of movement and sound. The transience of tranquilly, the incursion of change, or the rising of consciousness can all be symbolised by this juxtaposition.

          The Old Pond Summary

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        1. The central idea is the helplessness of a mother who knows that her son is on the wrong path in life. But she knows she can not save him or make him turn back anymore. She can only watch him get more and more corrupted by the gunman but she can not do anything to stop the events from unfolding. TheRead more

          The central idea is the helplessness of a mother who knows that her son is on the wrong path in life. But she knows she can not save him or make him turn back anymore. She can only watch him get more and more corrupted by the gunman but she can not do anything to stop the events from unfolding.

          The Woman Speaks to the Man who has Employed her Son 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. “hearts of heroes” “skipper saw” “head with whip-stocks” “breast-bone broken” “Distant and dead” “criesRead 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.

          “hearts of heroes”

          “skipper saw”

          “head with whip-stocks”

          “breast-bone broken”

          “Distant and dead”

          “cries, curses”

          “rent roof”

          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.

          How the skipper saw the…..

          How he knuckled tight and…

          How he follow’d with them…

          How he saved the drifting…

          How the lank loose-gown’d women….

          How the silent old-faced infants….

          The disdain and calmness of martyrs….

          The mother of old, condemn’d for a witch…

          The hounded slave that flags in the race….

          The twinges that sting like needles….

          Similarly

          Lines 19-20 (begins with “I”)

          Lines 37-38 beginns with “I”)

          Lines 39-41 (begins with “Again”)

          Lines 43-44 (begins with “The”)

          Lines 46-47 begins with “The”)

          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.

          All this I swallow, it tastes good, I like it well”.

          Here the poet compares the human experiences to something that is edible.

          Agonies are one of my changes of garments,” 

          Here, the poet compares agony, (a human emotion) to a garment that he wears and puts on another often.

          I am the clock myself.”

          Here, the speaker is comparing himself to a clock.

          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.

          Death chasing it up and down the storm.

          Here, “Death” is personified. So, the poet has capitalised the letter “D” to show this to the readers. Death is personified by saying that it is chasing the ship like a wild creature.

          Onomatopoeia:

          Onomatopoeia is a literary device that uses the letter sounds of a word to imitate the natural sound emitted from an object or action.

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

          “The whizz of limbs, heads, stone, wood, iron, high in the air”

          I Understand the Large Hearts of Herors Summary

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