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  1. The poem chiefly explores the subject of human fallibility as the speaker indulges in an introspection of their personal shortcomings, regrets and the consequences of their actions. This theme is strengthened especially on account of the speaker recognising that they are their own obstacle. The poemRead more

    The poem chiefly explores the subject of human fallibility as the speaker indulges in an introspection of their personal shortcomings, regrets and the consequences of their actions. This theme is strengthened especially on account of the speaker recognising that they are their own obstacle. The poem delves into existential themes as the speaker acknowledges the limitations of understanding and control, offering apologies to chance, necessity, happiness, and other abstract concepts. Thus, the poem reflects a great deal of humility and the willingness to admit mistakes by the speaker.

    Under a Certain Little Star Summary

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  1. There is no specific rhyme scheme or meter used in the poem. It is written in free verse. Under a Certain Little Star Summary

    There is no specific rhyme scheme or meter used in the poem. It is written in free verse.

    Under a Certain Little Star Summary

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  1. The poem is an introspective journey of the speaker as they delve into their flaws, faults and inadequacies. The speaker addresses both tangible forms and entities and intangible concepts and notions and asks for forgiveness for being ignorant or knowingly committing a mistake and doing wrong to othRead more

    The poem is an introspective journey of the speaker as they delve into their flaws, faults and inadequacies. The speaker addresses both tangible forms and entities and intangible concepts and notions and asks for forgiveness for being ignorant or knowingly committing a mistake and doing wrong to others. The speaker reflects on their existence as a human and the poem shows how it is very normal to make errors or hurt people unintentionally.

    Under a Certain Little Star Summary

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  1. Personification - Personification is a literary device in which human qualities or attributes are attributed to non-human entities, animals, or abstract concepts. For example, the concept of happiness is personified as someone who can be angry at the speaker.  Apostrophe- Apostrophe occurs when theRead more

    • Personification – Personification is a literary device in which human qualities or attributes are attributed to non-human entities, animals, or abstract concepts. For example, the concept of happiness is personified as someone who can be angry at the speaker. 
    • Apostrophe- Apostrophe occurs when the speaker addresses someone or something that is not present or cannot respond directly. It can be seen in the lines, “Truth, do not pay me too much attention./ Solemnity, be magnanimous to me./ Endure, O mystery of being that I might pull threads from your veil.”
    • Anaphora- Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines. An example is anaphora is “Forgive me far-off wars for taking my flowers home./ Forgive me open wounds for pricking my finger.” where the phrase “forgive me” is repeated at the start. 
    • Repetition- Repetition involves the recurrence of words or phrases for emphasis. The repetition of apologies and the recurring “My apologies” contribute to the poem’s structure and thematic emphasis.
    • Symbolism- Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. The caged hawk, for instance, may symbolize confinement or stagnation, while the tree felled for table legs could symbolize the consequences of human actions on the natural world.
    • Metaphor- Metaphor involves making a direct comparison between two unrelated things to highlight a similarity. An example is “the mystery of being,” where the mystery is compared to a veil that can be pulled.

    Under a Certain Little Star Summary

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  1. The poem is a poignant reflection of the physical and emotional aftermath of a war. It greatly emphasises all the destruction left in the wake of the war and how laborious it is to reconstruct and rebuild a war-ruined space. The poem also highlights the vicious cycle of human conflict where wars comRead more

    The poem is a poignant reflection of the physical and emotional aftermath of a war. It greatly emphasises all the destruction left in the wake of the war and how laborious it is to reconstruct and rebuild a war-ruined space. The poem also highlights the vicious cycle of human conflict where wars come and go and ruin a place from its core. The poem also shows how there is a gradual forgetting done by the future generations as they move further away from the war and become more clueless about its destructive nature.

    The End and the Beginning Summary

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  1. There is no specific rhyme scheme or meter employed in the poem. It is written in free verse. The End and the Beginning Summary

    There is no specific rhyme scheme or meter employed in the poem. It is written in free verse.

    The End and the Beginning Summary

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  1. The poem essentially highlights the negative effects of war and how it leaves chaos and disorder in its wake. The poem addresses different aspects of the war, starting with the task of rebuilding that is given to workers who are largely left unknown by the people. We see how war impacts the personalRead more

    The poem essentially highlights the negative effects of war and how it leaves chaos and disorder in its wake. The poem addresses different aspects of the war, starting with the task of rebuilding that is given to workers who are largely left unknown by the people. We see how war impacts the personal and social aspects of a person’s life equally. Lastly, the progression of time after a war has the gradual effect of forgetting.  The survivors remember but they prefer to forget about their trauma. And the future generation grows up being further away from the effects of the war and thus, having more peace and ignorance.

    The End and the Beginning Summary

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  1. Imagery- Imagery involves the use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory experiences for the reader. It can be seen in the lines, “someone must be stretched out/ blade of grass in his mouth/ gazing at the clouds.” Repetition- Repetition is the use of the same word or phrase multiple timRead more

    • Imagery- Imagery involves the use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory experiences for the reader. It can be seen in the lines, “someone must be stretched out/ blade of grass in his mouth/ gazing at the clouds.”

    • Repetition- Repetition is the use of the same word or phrase multiple times for emphasis. In the poem, the word “someone” is repeated.

    • Symbolism- Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Things like “Sofa springs,” “splintered glass,” and “bloody rags” are symbolic of how the war impacts even the domestic aspects of people’s lives.

    • Enjambment- Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause. It creates a flowing and uninterrupted rhythm in the poem.

    • Personification- Personification involves attributing human characteristics to non-human entities or abstract concepts. The poem’s line “Things won’t / straighten themselves up” personifies things.

    • – Alliteration- Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity. It can be seen in the lines, “Someone has to get mired/ in scum and ashes,/ sofa springs,/ splintered glass,/ and bloody rags.” where the /s/ sound is repeated.

    The End and the Beginning Summary

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