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  1. Athar
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    Athar

    A Grammarian's Funeral written by Robert Browning is a dramatic monologue i.e. a kind of poem in which only a single person speaks while all others remain passive listeners and do not say any word. The story always begins at a critical stage. In the poem, the story begins with the death of the GrammRead more

    A Grammarian’s Funeral written by Robert Browning is a dramatic monologue i.e. a kind of poem in which only a single person speaks while all others remain passive listeners and do not say any word. The story always begins at a critical stage. In the poem, the story begins with the death of the Grammarian whose corpse is being taken to the mountain for burial.

    In the poem, the speaker is a disciple of the grammarian and while moving to the mountains keep telling about his life and how he dedicated himself to studying. He gave up all the joys of life and did not go after short-term money. He believed that he should learn and then enjoy life after death.

    The narrator (disciple) keeps telling how he was a man of high thinking and had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. The disciple then compares his master with people having low thinking.

    Though the disciple keeps telling the good things about his master, he reveals how the grammarian ruined his life because of excessive reading. He lost his youth quickly and was attacked by all types of diseases. However, he still did not give up reading and kept acquiring knowledge till his last breath.

    On the way, the disciple keeps giving instructions to his fellows which keeps us in touch with what is happening physically. The funeral finally reached the top of the mountain where they want to bury the grammarian. He utters final words in the praise of grammarian and along with others go back.

    Note that, this poem as a dramatic monologue throws light on the character and thinking of the grammarian as well as that of the disciple himself.

    This poem is quite ironic because though the grammarian is a hero for disciples, the poet seems to be criticizing him for wasting his life. Through the words of the disciple, the poet reveals how the grammarian ruined his life and missed the joys of youth. He could not enjoy the taste of life and the art of God. He did not do anything for society. He learned for himself and died with it.

    It did not yield any fruit. In the end, he was taken by his disciples for burial (again an ironic situation).

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  1. Poonam Sharma
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    Poonam Sharma literarian
    This answer was edited.

    Following poetic devices have been used in the poem "The Laburnum Top" written by Ted Hughes - Alliteration :- “(S)eptember s()unlight”, "a (s)uddeness, a (s)tartlement", "the whole (t)ree (t)rembles", "(w)histle-chirrup (w)hispering. Simile: "then sleek as a lizard" Metaphor: “a machine starts up oRead more

    Following poetic devices have been used in the poem “The Laburnum Top” written by Ted Hughes –

    1. Alliteration :- “(S)eptember s()unlight”, “a (s)uddeness, a (s)tartlement”, “the whole (t)ree (t)rembles”, “(w)histle-chirrup (w)hispering.
    2. Simile: “then sleek as a lizard”
    3. Metaphor: “a machine starts up of chitterings”, “the engine of her family”, “Her barred face identity mask”.
    4. Personification: “the whole tree trembles and thrills”.
    5. Transferred epithet: “Her barred face identity mask”.

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  1. Poonam Sharma
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    Poonam Sharma literarian

    In this poem, we find three important things which the poet is trying to depict. 1. First, the people change and so their sentiments. The people praised the patriot a lot on his victory and loyalty for the country. However after a year, the same people were either cursing him or throwing stones at hRead more

    In this poem, we find three important things which the poet is trying to depict.

    1. First, the people change and so their sentiments. The people praised the patriot a lot on his victory and loyalty for the country. However after a year, the same people were either cursing him or throwing stones at him till he died.
    The reason for such a hate among the people was some sort of misunderstanding. Once a big fan of the patriot are now haters of him. However the patriot has no complains against them as he believes that his love and loyalty for the country will finally be rewarded in the afterlife.

    2. Second important thing worth noticing in the poem is poet’s and patriot’s optimism. In spite of being betrayed by his country and the people because of misunderstanding, the patriot remains optimistic. While he is taken to be executed, he says that he will be rewarded for his bravery in the afterlife. It shows patriot and thus the poet’s belief in God. It is this belief which makes people optimistic and hopeful even in the worst and fatal situations like the one in the poem.

    3. Third important thing I find in the poem is the idea of war. It is rightly said “everything is fair in love and war”. Throughout the history, war has always harmed humanity. The patriot being a loyal soldier of his country kills other people who are also brave soldiers of their countries. However, as he is victorious, he is praised, but after a year, he too suffers the same fate. Hence war a curse on humanity.

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  1. Lucifer
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    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    In the Dramatic Monologue "The Patriot", Robert Browning uses imagery to show his glory in the beginning and tragic end of his life in the end. In the beginning, the patriot says that when he came back from a war after winning, there were "roses, rose...with myrtle". In addition, there were so manyRead more

    In the Dramatic Monologue “The Patriot”, Robert Browning uses imagery to show his glory in the beginning and tragic end of his life in the end.

    In the beginning, the patriot says that when he came back from a war after winning, there were “roses, rose…with myrtle”. In addition, there were so many people on the roofs of houses (to welcome him) that “house-roofs seemed to heave and sway” and the flags were waving on the top of Churches. It looked like “church-spires flamed”. All these images show how Patriot was treated by the people when he came victoriously.

    However, after 1 year, he is going to be executed because he tried to do too much for them. Now, nobody praises or supports him. There are “just a palsied few at the window set”. The word “palsied” depicts their cold behaviour towards the Patriot. However most of them have gathered to see him hanging. It is raining and he is bleeding as people are throwing stones at him.

    He describes his execution scene as follows, “Thus I entered, and thus I go!” meaning that he was not giving a moment and stoned to death.

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  1. Lucifer
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    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven
    This answer was edited.

    In the poem Laburnum Top, the poet talks about the mutual relationship of a Laburnum Tree and goldfinch which has built a nest in the it. The main theme of the poem is "mutual benefit". The tree which is still in its position comes to life by the chirping and swift movement of bird and its chicks. ORead more

    In the poem Laburnum Top, the poet talks about the mutual relationship of a Laburnum Tree and goldfinch which has built a nest in the it. The main theme of the poem is “mutual benefit”. The tree which is still in its position comes to life by the chirping and swift movement of bird and its chicks. On the other hand, the bird and her young ones get space to live in.

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  1. Lucifer
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    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven
    This answer was edited.

    The poem On His Blindness by John Milton is a sonnet having 14 lines (3 quatrains and 1 couplet). The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABBA ABBA CDE CDE

    The poem On His Blindness by John Milton is a sonnet having 14 lines (3 quatrains and 1 couplet). The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABBA ABBA CDE CDE

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  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven
    This answer was edited.

    Following figures of speech have been used in the poem "On His Blindness" by John Milton. Pun: Pun is a literary device which depicts two or more meanings of a single word or phrase. In the poem, there is a play on the word Light. Light here refers to his eyesight as well as his life before gettingRead more

    Following figures of speech have been used in the poem “On His Blindness” by John Milton.

    1. Pun: Pun is a literary device which depicts two or more meanings of a single word or phrase. In the poem, there is a play on the word Light. Light here refers to his eyesight as well as his life before getting blind.
    2. Personification: Patience is here personified as having human characteristics.
    3. Alliteration: A number of times alliteration is used in the poem. e.g.days in this dark, World and Wide, that one talent, my soul more, my Maker, labor, light, patience to prevent, best bear, serve who only stand.
    4. Hyperbole: It is an exaggerated statement. e.g. thousands at his bidding speed.

    Read detailed summary of this poem.

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  1. Poonam Sharma
    Poonam Sharma literarian

    The conclusion or the end of the poem Daffodils is that the beauty of hills, valley and particularly the daffodils holds a significant position in the heart of the poet. According to him, whenever when he is alone and sad, the memory of watching those daffodils flash in his mind. He imagines that heRead more

    The conclusion or the end of the poem Daffodils is that the beauty of hills, valley and particularly the daffodils holds a significant position in the heart of the poet. According to him, whenever when he is alone and sad, the memory of watching those daffodils flash in his mind.

    He imagines that he is among those daffodils and dancing with them in joy and ecstasy. Hence for the poet nature is the most important thing. Worldly things do not give real pleasure or peace. Only nature can make us happy and joyful.

    Read the summary of this poem.

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