English Notes Latest Questions

  1. The poem revolves around the themes of family, tradition, and death. Initially, the poem emphasizes the joy of togetherness through family traditions, especially around meals. The sense of happiness is woven into these lines. However, in the latter part, the focus shifts to the theme of death, partiRead more

    The poem revolves around the themes of family, tradition, and death. Initially, the poem emphasizes the joy of togetherness through family traditions, especially around meals. The sense of happiness is woven into these lines. However, in the latter part, the focus shifts to the theme of death, particularly the speaker’s father. Metaphors depict death as a desolate “snow-covered road” devoid of life. The poet uses this poem to convey a deep sense of loss by referencing his father’s recent passing with the words, “the way my father did/ weeks ago.”

    Eating Together Summary

    See less
  1. The poem weaves together the ideas of familial connection, tradition, and the contemplation of death. The act of preparing food becomes a bridge between past and present, and the portrayal of death as a solitary journey adds a layer of reflection on the inevitable solitude that accompanies the end oRead more

    The poem weaves together the ideas of familial connection, tradition, and the contemplation of death. The act of preparing food becomes a bridge between past and present, and the portrayal of death as a solitary journey adds a layer of reflection on the inevitable solitude that accompanies the end of life. The preparation of food emerges as a powerful symbol, acting as a bridge that spans across generations, linking the past with the present.

    Eating Together Summary

    See less
  1. Asyndeton- asyndeton is the deliberate omission of conjunction from a sentence. In the lines “brother, sister, my mother” the poet omits the use of a conjunction in order to maintain the rhythm and flow of the poem. Insinuation- insinuation is the use of a hint or a suggestion given in order to indiRead more

    1. Asyndeton– asyndeton is the deliberate omission of conjunction from a sentence. In the lines “brother, sister, my mother” the poet omits the use of a conjunction in order to maintain the rhythm and flow of the poem.
    2. Insinuation- insinuation is the use of a hint or a suggestion given in order to indicate an unpleasant idea. In the poem, the poet uses the line “Then he lay down/ to sleep like a snow-covered road” to insinuate the idea of the passing away of his father.
    3. Alliteration – Alliteration is repetition of the same letter or sound in a line. In the poem the poet uses alliteration in the lines “seasoned with silver”, “my mother” and “head,/ holding.”
    4. Simile- simile is used when the poet directly compares one thing to another by using the words “as” or “like”. In this poem, the poet uses simile in the lines “to sleep like a snow-covered road” and “winding through pines older than him.”
    5. Enjambment – enjambment is when the line is continued onto the next line without any pause. In the poem, the poet uses enjambment to create an internal connection within the poem. The use of enjambment helps the poet to maintain the connection of the themes within the lines.

    Eating Together Summary

    See less