English Notes Latest Questions

  1. Repetition- Repetition is a literary device in which a word, phrase, or line is repeated for emphasis or effect. The word “big” has been repeated twice to lay stress on the burden of the woman. Simile- simile is used when the poet directly compares one thing to another by using the words “as” or “liRead more

    1. Repetition- Repetition is a literary device in which a word, phrase, or line is repeated for emphasis or effect. The word “big” has been repeated twice to lay stress on the burden of the woman.
    2. Simile- simile is used when the poet directly compares one thing to another by using the words “as” or “like”. In this poem, the poet uses a simile in the lines “Where young women drew water like myself” and “mud container on my head/ Like a big painful umbrella.”
    3. Symbolism- symbolism is when the poet uses words to symbolize a concept, person or idea in a poem. In this poem, the “heavy umbrella” symbolizes the burden of domestic responsibilities and the gender roles the woman has to carry.
    4. Metaphor- metaphor is used when the poet makes an undercut comparison between two things without using the words “like” or “as”. In the poem, the poet uses metaphors in the lines “the pleasures of the flesh” and “angry vigilance of the sun”.
    5. Enjambment – enjambment is when the line is continued onto the next line without any pause. In the poem, the poet uses enjambment to create an internal connection between the concept and the idea presented by the poet.
    6. Rhetorical question- a rhetorical question is a question asked by the poet without the intention of getting an answer but to put stress on an idea. The poem ends with the poet asking two rhetorical questions. These questions are asked only to highlight the suffering of the woman.

    The Woman Summary

    See less
  1. The poem revolves around the central idea of rigid traditional gender roles, highlighting the weight of domestic duties and the woman's subjugation. It vividly portrays the physical and emotional toll of labor, emphasizing weariness from meeting societal expectations. Unequal power dynamics within tRead more

    The poem revolves around the central idea of rigid traditional gender roles, highlighting the weight of domestic duties and the woman’s subjugation. It vividly portrays the physical and emotional toll of labor, emphasizing weariness from meeting societal expectations. Unequal power dynamics within the relationship are explored, unveiling issues of control, abuse, and the quest for autonomy. Throughout the poem, societal expectations are evident as the woman grapples with fulfilling roles as a wife, mother, and laborer.

    The Woman Summary

    See less
  1. The poem addresses the theme of traditional gender roles assigned to women, emphasizing the burden of domestic duties and the subjugation faced by the woman. The poet also talks about the physical and emotional toll of labor, portraying the weariness and exhaustion resulting from fulfilling societalRead more

    The poem addresses the theme of traditional gender roles assigned to women, emphasizing the burden of domestic duties and the subjugation faced by the woman. The poet also talks about the physical and emotional toll of labor, portraying the weariness and exhaustion resulting from fulfilling societal expectations. The poem also explores the theme of unequal power dynamics within the relationship, shedding light on issues of control, abuse, and the struggle for autonomy. The societal expectations placed on the woman to fulfill her roles as a wife, mother, and laborer are evident throughout the poem.

    The Woman Summary

    See less
  1. This answer was edited.

    This poem has a myriad of poetic devices, some of which are as follows: 1. Simile: One example would be “the long body curved/like the horizon” where the curves of a woman are compared to the horizon. 2. Metaphor: The phrase “great stars” acts as a metaphor for a woman’s eyes. 3. Allusion: The poemRead more

    This poem has a myriad of poetic devices, some of which are as follows: 1. Simile: One example would be “the long body curved/like the horizon” where the curves of a woman are compared to the horizon. 2. Metaphor: The phrase “great stars” acts as a metaphor for a woman’s eyes. 3. Allusion: The poem alludes to the Christian faith of Eve being the first woman created and God granting her motherhood with a thorn.  The Woman Summary  

    See less