English Notes Latest Questions

  1. The poem revolves around the central themes of hypocrisy, discrimination and oppression. The persona is a man who is at a position of power and he abuses it to discriminate and oppress women and other people. At the same time he is hypocrite who thinks his actions are pure and holy while he hurts thRead more

    The poem revolves around the central themes of hypocrisy, discrimination and oppression. The persona is a man who is at a position of power and he abuses it to discriminate and oppress women and other people. At the same time he is hypocrite who thinks his actions are pure and holy while he hurts the woman.

    A Stone’s Throw Summary

    See less
  1. The concept of nostalgia and how it affects our identity and feelings is the theme of the poem "Nostalgia." As we are reminded of experiences that we may have forgotten or suppressed, nostalgia can be both soothing and frightening, as the poem examines. Duffy mentions the concept that nostalgia mighRead more

    The concept of nostalgia and how it affects our identity and feelings is the theme of the poem “Nostalgia.” As we are reminded of experiences that we may have forgotten or suppressed, nostalgia can be both soothing and frightening, as the poem examines. Duffy mentions the concept that nostalgia might function as a type of escapism, as we withdraw into the past to escape the present.

    Nostalgia Summary

    See less
  1. The poem's central idea is nostalgia and how it might influence our lives. Duffy puts out the notion that nostalgia, which may have a significant influence on our feelings and memories, can be both beneficial and unpleasant. The poem makes the point that nostalgia is a difficult and sometimes contraRead more

    The poem’s central idea is nostalgia and how it might influence our lives. Duffy puts out the notion that nostalgia, which may have a significant influence on our feelings and memories, can be both beneficial and unpleasant. The poem makes the point that nostalgia is a difficult and sometimes contradictory feeling since it may be both reassuring and sad at the same time.

    Nostalgia Summary

    See less
  1. Imagery: The use of vivid and descriptive language to create mental pictures and sensory impressions. For example, "a photograph torn in half / two halves of a black and white / kiss" creates a vivid image of a torn photograph. Metaphor: The comparison of one thing to another to highlight similaritiRead more

    1. Imagery: The use of vivid and descriptive language to create mental pictures and sensory impressions. For example, “a photograph torn in half / two halves of a black and white / kiss” creates a vivid image of a torn photograph.
    2. Metaphor: The comparison of one thing to another to highlight similarities and differences. For example, “nostalgia, which bathes the past / in a rosy, sunset glow” uses the metaphor of bathing to describe the way nostalgia colors our memories.
    3. Repetition: The repetition of words, phrases, or sounds for emphasis and to create a sense of rhythm. For example, “I remember, I remember” is repeated several times throughout the poem to create a sense of nostalgia and longing.
    4. Personification: The attribution of human qualities to nonhuman things. For example, “nostalgia, who lives in the back of my head” personifies nostalgia as a living entity.
    5. Alliteration: The repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. For example, “moons, marble, mirrors” uses alliteration to create a sense of musicality and rhythm.
    6. Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or phrase over a line break, without a pause. For example, “nostalgia, who lives in the back of my head / like a lodger, has paid rent / for years” uses enjambment to create a flowing, continuous rhythm.
    7. Irony: The use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite to their literal meaning. For example, “nostalgia, which tingles / like sherbet in the tongue” uses irony to convey the bittersweet nature of nostalgia.

    Nostalgia Summary

    See less
  1. The poem is divided into four stanzas. Each of the four stanzas consist of eight lines each. The rhyme scheme followed by stanza one is ‘ababbcbc’ and rhyme scheme followed by rest of the stanzas is ‘ababcdcd’.   The Vagabond Summary

    The poem is divided into four stanzas. Each of the four stanzas consist of eight lines each. The rhyme scheme followed by stanza one is ‘ababbcbc’ and rhyme scheme followed by rest of the stanzas is ‘ababcdcd’.

     

    The Vagabond Summary

    See less
  1. Alliteration- Alliteration is a literary method that involves the prominent recurrence of similar starting consonant sounds in subsequent or closely related syllables.Give to me the life I love, Let the lave go by me The Vagabond Summary

    1. Alliteration- Alliteration is a literary method that involves the prominent recurrence of similar starting consonant sounds in subsequent or closely related syllables.Give to me the life I love, Let the lave go by me

    The Vagabond Summary

    See less
  1. The core concept is that genuine freedom is more valuable than romance, money, hopes, or friendships. It is the most important thing to the poet.  A life lived without problems or responsibilities is the ideal type of life for the poet. He wants to be able to wander freely with nothing but the sky aRead more

    The core concept is that genuine freedom is more valuable than romance, money, hopes, or friendships. It is the most important thing to the poet.  A life lived without problems or responsibilities is the ideal type of life for the poet. He wants to be able to wander freely with nothing but the sky above him and the road beneath him. The poem makes no mention of the difficulties of surviving, obtaining money, or anything materialistic.

     

    The Vagabond Summary

    See less
  1. This answer was edited.

    Anastrophe: The syntactic reversal of the normal order of the words and phrases in a sentence. As in the line ‘my grief a proud man heard’ the proper syntax should have been ‘A proud man heard my grief’. Alliteration: A poetic device that uses the same letter sound at the start of adjacent or closelRead more

    1. Anastrophe: The syntactic reversal of the normal order of the words and phrases in a sentence. As in the line ‘my grief a proud man heard’ the proper syntax should have been ‘A proud man heard my grief’.
    2. Alliteration: A poetic device that uses the same letter sound at the start of adjacent or closely connected words in a sentence. The first eight lines show the instance with such words as ‘distressed’, ‘proud’,’ heard’, ‘cold’, ‘gold’, where there is the internal Alliteration /d/ sounds.
    3. Aphorism: A statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner. For example, “Oh! Gold is great. But greater far Is heavenly sympathy!”
    4. Juxtaposition: It means placing two things side by side so as to highlight their differences. For example, “night and day”
    5. Rhetorical Question: It is asked when the speaker already knows the answer and is not expecting or needing any information from the listener. For example, “For all he did to me?”

    Sympathy Summary

    See less