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  1. The rhyme scheme of each stanza is AABB, which means that each verse consists of two rhyming couplets. The meter used in iambic tetrameter. On Another’s Sorrow Summary

    The rhyme scheme of each stanza is AABB, which means that each verse consists of two rhyming couplets. The meter used in iambic tetrameter.

    On Another’s Sorrow Summary

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  1. The central idea of the poem is the profound empathy that is shared by the entirety of mankind and the divine towards the sorrows of humanity. Through several questions, Blake challenges the notion that people and God are indifferent and cold towards the suffering of others. Rather, in his opinion hRead more

    The central idea of the poem is the profound empathy that is shared by the entirety of mankind and the divine towards the sorrows of humanity. Through several questions, Blake challenges the notion that people and God are indifferent and cold towards the suffering of others. Rather, in his opinion humans are compassionate and can relate to the sorrows of others. Blake also portrays God as someone who is intimately involved in comforting not only humans but also small creatures like the wren and infants. Ultimately, it conveys a message of divine empathy and the transformative power of God’s compassion.

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  1. Anaphora- Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines.  It can be seen in the lines, “Think not thou canst sigh a sigh,/ And thy Maker is not by:/ Think not thou canst weep a tear,/ And thy Maker is not near.” where “Think not” is repeated. RhetoricRead more

    • Anaphora- Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines.  It can be seen in the lines, “Think not thou canst sigh a sigh,/ And thy Maker is not by:/ Think not thou canst weep a tear,/ And thy Maker is not near.” where “Think not” is repeated.
    • Rhetorical Questions- Rhetorical Questions are questions posed not to elicit answers but to make a point or to emphasize a particular idea. In this poem, rhetorical questions engage the reader in reflecting on the themes of empathy and compassion. This can be seen in the line, “Can I see another’s woe,/ And not be in sorrow too?”
    • Symbolism- Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities beyond their literal meaning. In the poem, the wren, small bird, and infant symbolize the universal nature of suffering.
    • Alliteration- Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.  It can be found in several instances like- “sorrow’s share”, “No, no! never”, “sorrows small”, and “Pouring pity”.
    • Personification- personification is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human entities. In the lines, “And not sit beside the nest, Pouring pity in their breast,” personification is used to describe God as if He were a compassionate human figure.
    • Repetition- Repetition is the recurrence of words or phrases for emphasis. In the poem, the repetition of “Never, never can it be!” strengthens the poet’s assertions about the impossibility of certain scenarios.

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  1. The poem explores the concept of how to tell apart a genuine, faithful friend from someone who only pretends to be our friend. In doing so, the poet provides us with several contrasting themes. For instance, our true friends will stay with us in times of trouble but the fake friends will leave us ifRead more

    The poem explores the concept of how to tell apart a genuine, faithful friend from someone who only pretends to be our friend. In doing so, the poet provides us with several contrasting themes. For instance, our true friends will stay with us in times of trouble but the fake friends will leave us if they find us amidst misfortune. The speaker further says that these fair-weather friends further push us on the path of vice to see our downfall. The speaker highlights attributes such as empathy and solidarity which one can only find in a faithful person, and not in a fake friend.

    Friends and Flatterers Summary

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  1. Each quatrain follows the rhyming scheme of AABB, which means that each verse is made up of two rhyming couplets. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter. Friends and Flatterers Summary

    Each quatrain follows the rhyming scheme of AABB, which means that each verse is made up of two rhyming couplets. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter.

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  1. The poem explores the nature of human relationships, distinguishing between genuine friendship and mere flattery. The poem provides its readers with caution against fair-weather friends who are quick to take our side and flatter us in prosperity but vanish if we are in adversity. Whereas, a real friRead more

    The poem explores the nature of human relationships, distinguishing between genuine friendship and mere flattery. The poem provides its readers with caution against fair-weather friends who are quick to take our side and flatter us in prosperity but vanish if we are in adversity. Whereas, a real friend is someone who is not materialistic and stays with us in times of misfortune. Ultimately, the poem stresses the importance of true friendship, which is characterised by empathy, consideration and support in times of both joy and sorrow.

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  1. Alliteration- Alliteration involves the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighbouring or closely positioned words. It can be seen in phrases such as “Faithful friends from flattering foe.”, “help thee in thy”, “he be bent”, etc. Simile- A simile is a figure of speech that involves comparingRead more

    • Alliteration– Alliteration involves the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighbouring or closely positioned words. It can be seen in phrases such as “Faithful friends from flattering foe.”, “help thee in thy”, “he be bent”, etc.
    • Simile- A simile is a figure of speech that involves comparing two different things using the words “like” or “as” to highlight a shared quality or characteristic between them.  It can be seen in the line, “Words are easy, like the wind;” where the speaker tells how words are flattery and are spoken with ease by a fake friend.
    • Metaphor- A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. It can be seen in the line, “But if store of crowns be scant” which is a metaphor for misfortune.
    • Personification- Personification is a literary device in which human qualities are attributed to non-human entities or objects. It can be seen in the line, “But if Fortune once do frown,” where fortune is personified as someone who can frown.
    • Parallelism- Parallelism is the use of similar grammatical structures, phrases, or patterns in a series of words or ideas. It adds balance and rhythm to the writing. It can be seen in the lines, “If thou sorrow, he will weep; / If thou wake, he cannot sleep;”.
    • Allusion- An allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance. The poem alludes to the biblical story of The Prodigal Son.
    • Inversion- Inversion is a poetic and rhetorical technique in which the normal order of words is reversed for emphasis or stylistic purposes. It can be seen in the line, “Bountiful they will him call,”.
    • Anaphora- Anaphora is a rhetorical device in which a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines. It can be seen in the lines, “He that is thy friend indeed,/ He will help thee in thy need:”
    • Hyperbole- Hyperbole is a figure of speech characterized by exaggeration or overstatement to emphasize a point. It can be seen in the line, “Pity but he were a king” which is an exaggerated remark by a flatterer.

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  1. The lines largely emphasise the fleeting nature of human existence and experience. Phrases such as "melted into air" and "like the baseless fabric of this vision" convey the idea that the revels and the world itself are temporary and illusory. Prospero refers to grand structures and the associated iRead more

    The lines largely emphasise the fleeting nature of human existence and experience. Phrases such as “melted into air” and “like the baseless fabric of this vision” convey the idea that the revels and the world itself are temporary and illusory. Prospero refers to grand structures and the associated institutions such as the kings and their kingdoms, the clergy and their temples, etc, which are monumental but will come to an end eventually, just like mankind itself.

    Our revels now are ended Summary

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  1. The lines are written in blank verse form, which means that even though the lines are unrhyming, they have a specific meter. Here, the whole dialogue is in iambic pentameter except for the last line, which is in iambic trimeter. Our revels now are ended Summary

    The lines are written in blank verse form, which means that even though the lines are unrhyming, they have a specific meter. Here, the whole dialogue is in iambic pentameter except for the last line, which is in iambic trimeter.

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  1. The central idea that this dialogue explores is the transient nature of all things in this world. Prospero uses vivid imagery to convey the temporary and illusory nature of life itself, comparing it to a theatrical performance that will eventually come to a stop. Thus, these lines show how everythinRead more

    The central idea that this dialogue explores is the transient nature of all things in this world. Prospero uses vivid imagery to convey the temporary and illusory nature of life itself, comparing it to a theatrical performance that will eventually come to a stop. Thus, these lines show how everything is mortal and limited, from happiness to grand creations to human life itself.

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