English Notes Latest Questions

  1. Metaphor - metaphor is used when the poet makes an indirect comparison between two things without using the words “like” and “as”. In this poem, the poet compares God’s greatness to electricity and oil. Simile - simile is used when the poet makes a direct comparison between two things by using the wRead more

    1. Metaphor – metaphor is used when the poet makes an indirect comparison between two things without using the words “like” and “as”. In this poem, the poet compares God’s greatness to electricity and oil.
    2. Simile – simile is used when the poet makes a direct comparison between two things by using the words “like” and “as”. In this poem, the poet compares the effect of God’s grandeur to electricity in the line “It will flame out, like shining from a shook foil” and also in the line “ It gather to greatness, like the ooze of oil”.
    3. Alliteration – alliteration is used when a consonant or a sound is repeated in a line. In the poem, the sound /g/ is repeated in “It gathers to greatness”, the sound /d/ is repeated in “dearest freshness deep down things”.
    4. Anaphylaxis – anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase in a line or a stanza. In the first stanza the phrase “have trod” is repeated three times.

    God’s Grandeur Summary

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  1. The central idea of the poem talks about how mankind is destroying nature and God’s creations. The world is charged with the great essence of God and even though it is being destroyed by Mankind’s greed, nature can never be completely destroyed. Because it is charged with God’s own powers, nature wiRead more

    The central idea of the poem talks about how mankind is destroying nature and God’s creations. The world is charged with the great essence of God and even though it is being destroyed by Mankind’s greed, nature can never be completely destroyed. Because it is charged with God’s own powers, nature will always rejuvenate and come to its glory again. The poem is a message and a warning by the poet to the rest of mankind to not stray away from the path of godliness and to stop destroying nature in the name of profit.

    God’s Grandeur Summary

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  1. The poem follows the rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan sonnet, i.e. ABBAABBA in the octave and CDCDCD in the sestet. God's Grandeur Summary

    The poem follows the rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan sonnet, i.e. ABBAABBA in the octave and CDCDCD in the sestet.

    God’s Grandeur Summary

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  1. The poem has two sets of contradictory themes. In the first stanza the poem revolves around the themes of God, Nature and Mankind. It talks about how God created Nature and Man with abundance and everything is charged with his essence. In the second stanza, the poem shifts its theme to the IndustriaRead more

    The poem has two sets of contradictory themes. In the first stanza the poem revolves around the themes of God, Nature and Mankind. It talks about how God created Nature and Man with abundance and everything is charged with his essence. In the second stanza, the poem shifts its theme to the Industrialization and destruction carried on by mankind in the name of evolution.

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  1. The main themes of the poem are poverty and class hierarchy in San Juan. The poem also deals with the American imperialising and the effects it has on the social structure and the economic landscape of the country. The poet deals with the stark reality of the country which should be flourishing undeRead more

    The main themes of the poem are poverty and class hierarchy in San Juan. The poem also deals with the American imperialising and the effects it has on the social structure and the economic landscape of the country. The poet deals with the stark reality of the country which should be flourishing under the American regime, but has only degraded into more poverty.

    West Indies, U.S.A. Summary

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  1. The poet tries to tell the readers how the regions under America do not enjoy the same level of comfort and standard of living as America. Moreover, the gap between prosperity and poverty is wider than anywhere else. The country of San Juan has now become a danger zone due to the cultural and politiRead more

    The poet tries to tell the readers how the regions under America do not enjoy the same level of comfort and standard of living as America. Moreover, the gap between prosperity and poverty is wider than anywhere else. The country of San Juan has now become a danger zone due to the cultural and political clash between America and San Juan.

    West Indies, U.S.A. Summary

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  1. Enjambment- enjambment is used when a line in a stanza runs over to the next line. In this poem, the poet has used enjambment. The lines do not end but flow over to the next line and even stanza. This creates a connection between the lines and stanzas. Metonymy - metonymy is used when a word is subsRead more

    • Enjambment- enjambment is used when a line in a stanza runs over to the next line. In this poem, the poet has used enjambment. The lines do not end but flow over to the next line and even stanza. This creates a connection between the lines and stanzas.
    • Metonymy – metonymy is used when a word is substituted for another word as it is closely related. In the poem, the poet substitutes “Uncle Sam” in place of America, as Uncle Sam is often seen as a mascot for the country.
    • Irony – irony is used when the poet says something but means something completely different or opposite. In the poem, the poet uses irony when he uses the phrase “island of the free”, here even though he poet is saying that San Juan is an island of the free, in reality he means that the country is not free at all and under the rule of America.

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  1. Personification: The poet has given the star human qualities of having eyelids in line 2 and 3. Enjambment: Line 7-10 are broken into different verses for better emphasis. Simile: The first line of the poem is where the speaker is directly comparing himself with the star. Alliteration: Line 3 and liRead more

    1. Personification: The poet has given the star human qualities of having eyelids in line 2 and 3.
    2. Enjambment: Line 7-10 are broken into different verses for better emphasis.
    3. Simile: The first line of the poem is where the speaker is directly comparing himself with the star.
    4. Alliteration: Line 3 and line 13 use Alliteration where two consonant sounds are next to each other in the same verse.

    Bright Star, Would I Were Stedfast as thou art Summary

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  1. The theme of this poem is Christianity. The whole poem narrates a biblical tale and elucidates the glory of God. The death and destruction that accompanies war can also be taken as a theme of the poem. The Destruction of Sennacherib Summary

    The theme of this poem is Christianity. The whole poem narrates a biblical tale and elucidates the glory of God. The death and destruction that accompanies war can also be taken as a theme of the poem.

    The Destruction of Sennacherib Summary

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