English Notes Latest Questions

  1. This answer was edited.

    “The last Visit” involves themes of Culture, which is seen when the speaker and his father are served with tea several times. Offering tea is a prominent way of hospitality in Asian culture. The Last Visit Summary      

    “The last Visit” involves themes of Culture, which is seen when the speaker and his father are served with tea several times. Offering tea is a prominent way of hospitality in Asian culture. The Last Visit Summary      

    See less
  1. Didacticism: The very poem is didactic in nature as it conveys a message of not being afraid of death and to accept death as a part of life.  Disillusionment Summary

    1. Didacticism: The very poem is didactic in nature as it conveys a message of not being afraid of death and to accept death as a part of life. 

    Disillusionment Summary

    See less
  1. Everything eventually degrades and turns back into dust, signifying that one returns to their original state. The course of life has completely changed. Both life and life after death are unknown to everyone. Nobody can predict what will occur tomorrow or whether they will still be alive. However, tRead more

    Everything eventually degrades and turns back into dust, signifying that one returns to their original state. The course of life has completely changed. Both life and life after death are unknown to everyone. Nobody can predict what will occur tomorrow or whether they will still be alive. However, that does not prevent someone from having dreams or aspirations. In the same vein, one should not fear death but rather press on with their lives. The poem clarifies the Islamic notion of fate. Islam maintains that everything, even death, is recorded in the book of fate and that no one can obtain or do anything beyond what is recorded.

    Disillusionment Summary

    See less
  1. The main theme of the poem is undeniably death. The poet emphasizes on the fact that every creature will have to face death, irrespective of when and how. The poet even mentions all those who tried to resist death’s authority but were helpless and left helpless at the threshold of death. The poem alRead more

    The main theme of the poem is undeniably death. The poet emphasizes on the fact that every creature will have to face death, irrespective of when and how. The poet even mentions all those who tried to resist death’s authority but were helpless and left helpless at the threshold of death. The poem also addresses fate and destiny. Faiz makes it clear that no one can outsmart death and will receive what is intended for them. By this he aims to convey the message that humans are mere beings who can never change their fate, no matter how hard they try. The poem’s title provides a basic summary of what the poet is trying to say. By discussing the ultimate fact of existence, the poet intends to dispel all illusions and disillusion the mankind. 

    Disillusionment Summary

    See less
  1. An ode is usually written as a song of praise but Kamal diverts the topic from celebration to the macabre reality of dying. An ode follows the abab rhyme structure but in this poem Kamal has opted not to follow one, thereby following a blank verse.   An ode to death summary

    An ode is usually written as a song of praise but Kamal diverts the topic from celebration to the macabre reality of dying. An ode follows the abab rhyme structure but in this poem Kamal has opted not to follow one, thereby following a blank verse.

     

    An ode to death summary

    See less
  1. The central theme of the poem revolves around the inevitable concept of death and dying. Death is a part of life and there is no substitute for that. The poet however adds that death is not as mystic as it seems. It can be understood through life itself. One shouldn’t avoid death, rather should tryRead more

    The central theme of the poem revolves around the inevitable concept of death and dying. Death is a part of life and there is no substitute for that. The poet however adds that death is not as mystic as it seems. It can be understood through life itself. One shouldn’t avoid death, rather should try to understand it and accept it to attain the pinnacle of life. Kamal also points out that it’s not just humans who are subjected to death but all things in this world endure a temporary life span. The temporality of life is handed down to each and every materialistic thing as well. They might not have the same idea of death but they all have a limited shelf span. Kamal warns his readers through this idea that everything will be destroyed. Nothing lasts forever except for death. Death is the ultimate end to all things, irrespective of their timeline. Kamal makes use of several images and symbols to place death as a permanent thing and that one shouldn’t pry away from it. 

    An ode to death Summary

    See less
  1. Metaphor: “And in every particle of carbon dust/There lives a diamond dream,” “how many galaxies yet to be explored,” “The pine tree blasted by last year’s thunderbolt…look so terribly alike.” A figure of speech to describe an object or an action by making a comparison of ideas. These lines help comRead more

    1. Metaphor: “And in every particle of carbon dust/There lives a diamond dream,” “how many galaxies yet to be explored,” “The pine tree blasted by last year’s thunderbolt…look so terribly alike.” A figure of speech to describe an object or an action by making a comparison of ideas. These lines help compare the ideas of trivial aspects in life with the larger than life picture that is death. The poet wants to say no matter whether all dreams result in success or not, just like all carbon molecules don’t constitute in the making of a diamond, similarly death doesn’t look into a person’s achievement before claiming them. No matter how big or small a life is like that of a pine tree or a matchstick, everyone and everything will meet the same end.
    2. Imagery: “I have sat by your bedside…dissolve in the grave.” A figure of speech using various images, actions, ideas to appeal to the physical senses.  This entire part depicts the final thoughts or laments of a dying person. The poet has glanced deep into a dying person’s soul to reflect the pessimism one has and how helpless and hopeless they feel at approaching death.
    3. Alliteration: “But let bygones be bygones” Repetition of the first consonant in following words to provide a sense of the same sound. The letter ‘b’ has been repeated in this line for almost all of the words which looks like an alliteration.

    An ode to death Summary

    See less
  1. The main idea revolves around the fragility of life. Death and dying is indeed bleak and morose and macabre but that shouldn’t scare one away. Life is incomplete without death. It doesn’t matter which one of them is out to deceive as at the end everyone will get to taste death. The poet highlights tRead more

    The main idea revolves around the fragility of life. Death and dying is indeed bleak and morose and macabre but that shouldn’t scare one away. Life is incomplete without death. It doesn’t matter which one of them is out to deceive as at the end everyone will get to taste death. The poet highlights the temporality of materialistic life including the human body. With time everything decays and goes back to dust, indicating one goes back to one where it came from. The circle of life takes a complete turn. Life after death is unknown to everyone but so is life. No one knows what will happen tomorrow and whether one will be alive or not. But that doesn’t stop one from dreaming or setting out to achieve their goals. Similarly one shouldn’t worry about death but shoulder on with their lives. 

    An Ode to Death Summary

    See less