English Notes Latest Questions

  1. The central idea of the poem is the new perspective given to old folk tales. The poet shows the readers a new side to old myths and gives a justification and explanation for the monsters of these myths. Ole Higue very effectively expresses her stance, why she does what she does and how her story isRead more

    The central idea of the poem is the new perspective given to old folk tales. The poet shows the readers a new side to old myths and gives a justification and explanation for the monsters of these myths. Ole Higue very effectively expresses her stance, why she does what she does and how her story is still continued on due to the mothers. The poem is a reflection on the myths created by society.

    Ol’Higue Summary

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  1. The poem is written in free verse and thus follows no rhyme scheme. But the last word of the previous stanza rhymes with the next line. Like “rice” and “nice” in the first two stanzas and “hum” and “come” in the next two stanzas. Ol’Higue Summary  

    The poem is written in free verse and thus follows no rhyme scheme. But the last word of the previous stanza rhymes with the next line. Like “rice” and “nice” in the first two stanzas and “hum” and “come” in the next two stanzas.

    Ol’Higue Summary

     

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  1. The poem revolves around the theme of the supernatural. The protagonist is a nocturnal being, a cross between a vampire and a witch. The poem is a reflective poem as Ole Higue tries to justify her actions and what drives her to do them. It is also defensive as she knows that she is used as a scapegoRead more

    The poem revolves around the theme of the supernatural. The protagonist is a nocturnal being, a cross between a vampire and a witch. The poem is a reflective poem as Ole Higue tries to justify her actions and what drives her to do them. It is also defensive as she knows that she is used as a scapegoat by some inattentive mothers.

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  1. Rhetorical question - rhetorical question is used when the poet asks a question not to receive an answer but to emphasize on a certain point. The poem begins with rhetorical questions meant to show the reader the stance of Ole Higue. Questions like “to frighten the foolish”, “and for what? A few droRead more

    1. Rhetorical question – rhetorical question is used when the poet asks a question not to receive an answer but to emphasize on a certain point. The poem begins with rhetorical questions meant to show the reader the stance of Ole Higue. Questions like “to frighten the foolish”, “and for what? A few drops of baby blood”. Here the speaker does not want an answer but is trying to express the incredulous situation.
    2. Alliteration – alliteration is used when a consonant or a sound is repeated in a line. In this poem the sound /f/ is repeated in “frighten the foolish” and the sound /s/ is repeated in the line “singing the sweet song of life”.
    3. Allusion – allusion is used when the poet makes a reference to a person, event or text in the poem. The poem is based on the reference to the Caribbean folktale of an old woman who drinks the blood of babies at night.

    Ol’Higue Summary

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  1. Repetition - repetition is when the poet repeats a word or a phrase in the same stanza or in different stanzas. In this poem the poet has repeated the line “This is the dark time, my love” at the beginning of both stanza 1 and stanza. Personification - personification is when human-like characteristRead more

    1. Repetition – repetition is when the poet repeats a word or a phrase in the same stanza or in different stanzas. In this poem the poet has repeated the line “This is the dark time, my love” at the beginning of both stanza 1 and stanza.
    2. Personification – personification is when human-like characteristics are attributed to non-human objects. In this poem, the poet has personified the “sun”, “red flowers”, “death” and “love”.
    3. Rhetorical question– rhetorical question is when a question is asked not for an answer. It is asked to reveal or hint at something. In the poem, stanza 3 has two rhetorical questions to later reveal that the strange invader is a man of death, i.e. the British colonists.

    This is the Dark Time, My Love Summary

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  1. The poem revolves around the central theme of war and oppression. The poet talks about how it is a dark time, meaning a time of sadness caused by war and racism. The poem also talks about dreams and aspirations and how they are under threat due to the circumstances. This is the Dark Time, My Love SuRead more

    The poem revolves around the central theme of war and oppression. The poet talks about how it is a dark time, meaning a time of sadness caused by war and racism. The poem also talks about dreams and aspirations and how they are under threat due to the circumstances.

    This is the Dark Time, My Love Summary

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