English Notes Latest Questions

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  1. Poonam Sharma
    Poonam Sharma literarian

    They are called "rootless weeds" because their condition is like that of weeds which become lifeless and yellowish after being pulled out of soil. These children live far away from gusty waves i.e. rich societies in a slum which is full of dirt, scarcity and unhygienic conditions. Read summary of AnRead more

    They are called “rootless weeds” because their condition is like that of weeds which become lifeless and yellowish after being pulled out of soil. These children live far away from gusty waves i.e. rich societies in a slum which is full of dirt, scarcity and unhygienic conditions.

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  1. Poonam Sharma
    Poonam Sharma literarian

    The only hope for the slum children is that the rich people start treating them as humans and not like "Others". They should be provided with basic necessities of life. They should be given chance to escape the slums. They should be provided food, healthcare, shelter and then education. Read summaryRead more

    The only hope for the slum children is that the rich people start treating them as humans and not like “Others”. They should be provided with basic necessities of life. They should be given chance to escape the slums. They should be provided food, healthcare, shelter and then education.

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  1. Poonam Sharma
    Best Answer
    Poonam Sharma literarian

    The theme of the poem An Elementary School in a Slum revolves around social injustice and inequality. In the poem, the poet describes the pathetic condition of the children living in the slum area. He calls them "rootless weed" which means they are useless like weeds and often taken away from the prRead more

    The theme of the poem An Elementary School in a Slum revolves around social injustice and inequality. In the poem, the poet describes the pathetic condition of the children living in the slum area. He calls them “rootless weed” which means they are useless like weeds and often taken away from the privileged class. And rootless also symbolises their unhealthy condition.

    He cites the example of various students who are sitting in an elementary school. On of them is a tall girl whose head seems to be too heavy to be lifted by her body. Another boy has bone disorder which he inherited from his father. There is another student whose mind is in squirrel’s game which he happened to see before.

    The poet then describes the pictures hanging on the foul smelled wall. These pictures (Shakespeare, Beautiful Valley and World Map) depict the privileged society which is unachievable by these children of slum. Even if they think of escaping from the slums, they cannot do so because the privileged class does not allow them to grow and become equal to their status.

    This is why, in the end, the poet pleads the privileged class to help these poor children grow or else one day they will ruin their (privileged class) towns and cities.

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  1. Poonam Sharma
    Poonam Sharma literarian

    Throughout the poem, the poet talks about the pathetic condition of the children and there is certainly a reason behind it. He calls them "rootless weeds", "slag heap", their "slums as big as doom" and like "catacombs". These words are harsh and depict the way society treats these children. The poetRead more

    Throughout the poem, the poet talks about the pathetic condition of the children and there is certainly a reason behind it. He calls them “rootless weeds”, “slag heap”, their “slums as big as doom” and like “catacombs”. These words are harsh and depict the way society treats these children.

    The poet describes that these children need something else before education and it is food, health, hygiene, shelter and opportunity to escape from the slum which is like cemetery. Without these basic necessities, the students cannot study and thus cannot achieve what books and the pictures on walls show.

    In the end, he pleads the privileged class to help these poor children grow or else one day they will ruin their (privileged class) towns and cities.

    So, the poet gives the message of social equality, justice and fraternity. He does not want the children to spend their lives in slums. He does not want them to adopt stealing and robbery for the sake of comfort. He desires that they may also get same opportunities which privileged class gets.

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