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  1. The main theme reflected in the poem Snowdrop is cruel nature of winter season. Usually, in the poetry, nature is presented as full of life, energy, hope and beauty. However in the poem the poet throws light on the other side of nature. When the winter appears, everything seems to be lifeless and waRead more

    The main theme reflected in the poem Snowdrop is cruel nature of winter season. Usually, in the poetry, nature is presented as full of life, energy, hope and beauty. However in the poem the poet throws light on the other side of nature. When the winter appears, everything seems to be lifeless and warmth less. There are no colours, no swift movements. The mouse which is known for its quick movements is dulled and looks dead. Crow and weasel also appear like brass. They loose their senses.

    Usually a flower is a sign of beauty, hope and life. However the colourless and pale flower of snowdrop depicts doom and death. It is the sign of harsh nature which makes the animals to die.

    1. Snowdrop Poem Explanation – Summary & Analysis
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  1. The poet uses metaphors in the poem to symbolise the harsh behaviour of nature towards living beings. e.g. "globe shrunk tight" means that the winter has appeared which has made everything tight. "outer darkness" refers to the day which is like a night for the animals as they are unable to see anythRead more

    The poet uses metaphors in the poem to symbolise the harsh behaviour of nature towards living beings. e.g. “globe shrunk tight” means that the winter has appeared which has made everything tight. “outer darkness” refers to the day which is like a night for the animals as they are unable to see anything because they are lifeless due to extreme cold.

    1. Snowdrop Poem Explanation – Summary & Analysis
    2. Watch Video on Snowdrop Poem Summary
    3. Listen to Snowdrop Poem Summary & Analysis
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  1. Following literary devices/figures of speech have been used in the poem Snowdrop: Metaphor: Metaphor is a poetic device that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. The poet uses metaphors in the poem to symbolise the harsh behaviour of nature towards living beingRead more

    Following literary devices/figures of speech have been used in the poem Snowdrop:

    1. Metaphor: Metaphor is a poetic device that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. The poet uses metaphors in the poem to symbolise the harsh behaviour of nature towards living beings. e.g. “globe shrunk tight” means that the winter has appeared which has made everything tight. “outer darkness” refers to the day which is like a night for the animals as they are unable to see anything because they are lifeless due to extreme cold.
    2. Alliteration: It is the occurrence of the same sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. e.g. “the stars of this month”, “pale head heavy”.
    3. Simile: It is a figure of speech that directly compares two things using “as” or “like”. e.g. Brutal as the stars of this month: Snowdrop is compared to the stars of winter. Hence it is an example of simile.  Her pale head heavy as metal: The pale heavy head of snowdrop is compared to metal. hence it is an example of simile.
    4. Personification: It is the attribution of human characteristics to animals and non-living things. In the poem the poet calls Snowdrop flower by the word “She” which is used for women. Hence it is personification.
    5. Enjambment: It is the continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break. e.g. “Now is the globe shrunk tight Round the mouse’s dulled wintering heart”.

     

    Snowdrop Poem Explanation – Summary & Analysis
    Watch Video on Snowdrop Poem Summary
    Listen to Snowdrop Poem Summary & Analysis

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

    The poem Speak Up was written before independence of India. It is full of encouraging words which the poet uses to fill courage and determination among his countrymen to stand against British Rule. We cannot overthrow them until we struggle against them. For this we need to lit the flames of anger,Read more

    The poem Speak Up was written before independence of India. It is full of encouraging words which the poet uses to fill courage and determination among his countrymen to stand against British Rule. We cannot overthrow them until we struggle against them. For this we need to lit the flames of anger, strong will-power and firm determination. Only then we will be able to break the chains of slavery and get independence. This poem gives hope to the freedom fighters of India.

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

    The padlocks of slavery symbolise Indians who were ruled over by British. According to the poet, these padlocks will open their mouth when the flames of our will-power, courage and enthusiasm will start burning. In other words, we can get rid of the slavery if we leave no stone unturned to struggleRead more

    The padlocks of slavery symbolise Indians who were ruled over by British. According to the poet, these padlocks will open their mouth when the flames of our will-power, courage and enthusiasm will start burning. In other words, we can get rid of the slavery if we leave no stone unturned to struggle against it.

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

    Red oven symbolises heart full of courage and will-power against the tyranny. Fierce flames symbolise the outcome of this courage i.e. struggle against them (British) Read text summary of Speak Up Watch video on Speak Up Summary Listen to Speak Up Poem Summary

    Red oven symbolises heart full of courage and will-power against the tyranny. Fierce flames symbolise the outcome of this courage i.e. struggle against them (British)

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

    The line "Look there in that smithy" is an example of metaphor as smithy here symbolises heart burning with anger against the tyrannical rule of British. Read text summary of Speak Up Watch video on Speak Up Summary Listen to Speak Up Poem Summary

    The line “Look there in that smithy” is an example of metaphor as smithy here symbolises heart burning with anger against the tyrannical rule of British.

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

    The padlocks of slavery symbolise enslaved Indians who were ruled over by British. The poet says that these padlocks will open their mouth when the flames of our will-power, courage and enthusiasm will start burning. In other words, we can get rid of the slavery if we leave no stone unturned to struRead more

    The padlocks of slavery symbolise enslaved Indians who were ruled over by British. The poet says that these padlocks will open their mouth when the flames of our will-power, courage and enthusiasm will start burning. In other words, we can get rid of the slavery if we leave no stone unturned to struggle against it.

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

    Smithy symbolises struggle of Indians against British Rule. This struggle is full of strong will-power, courage and firm determination. Read text summary of Speak Up Watch video on Speak Up Summary Listen to Speak Up Poem Summary

    Smithy symbolises struggle of Indians against British Rule. This struggle is full of strong will-power, courage and firm determination.

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

    The poet calls upon his countrymen to speak because they are enslaved by British. But their hearts are also enslaved. Hence he tells them that they still own their mouths, bodies and words and they are free to use them against rulers. No one can take away this freedom from us until we die. Hence theRead more

    The poet calls upon his countrymen to speak because they are enslaved by British. But their hearts are also enslaved. Hence he tells them that they still own their mouths, bodies and words and they are free to use them against rulers. No one can take away this freedom from us until we die. Hence they should leave no stone unturned to struggle against British.

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