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  1. The transient nature of chance human encounters is the central theme in the poem. The poem shows how often one might catch sight of a stranger who evokes a sense of curiosity and yearning in us. Even though the encounter between the speaker and the stranger is fleeting and momentary, it significantlRead more

    The transient nature of chance human encounters is the central theme in the poem. The poem shows how often one might catch sight of a stranger who evokes a sense of curiosity and yearning in us. Even though the encounter between the speaker and the stranger is fleeting and momentary, it significantly impacts the speaker as they yearn for a connection with the stranger. The speaker also interestingly comments how in another life, they could be very close to the stranger. And this highlights how in our lives, there are innumerable sets of possibilities that we sadly do not experience, even if we want to.

    To a Stranger Summary

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  1. There is no specific rhyme scheme or meter that the poem utilises. However, it is written in free verse and incorporates instances of internal rhyming which introduces musicality in the poem To a Stranger Summary

    There is no specific rhyme scheme or meter that the poem utilises. However, it is written in free verse and incorporates instances of internal rhyming which introduces musicality in the poem

    To a Stranger Summary

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  1. The poem portrays the speaker's emotional state as they catch a glimpse of a stranger that they admire. The speaker yearns to develop a connection and a close bond with the stranger but they cannot do so, because of obvious reasons. Owing to this, the speaker imagines a life where they are close toRead more

    The poem portrays the speaker’s emotional state as they catch a glimpse of a stranger that they admire. The speaker yearns to develop a connection and a close bond with the stranger but they cannot do so, because of obvious reasons. Owing to this, the speaker imagines a life where they are close to each other. The speaker imagines sharing cherished memories with the stranger, when in reality they can only perceive the stranger. Lastly, the speaker has a sense of anticipation for the future. Despite the present separation, they have a belief in a future meeting or encounter.

    To a Stranger Summary

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  1. Apostrophe- Apostrophe involves addressing an absent or imaginary person or entity. In this case, the speaker directly addresses the passing stranger. It can be seen in the first line where the speaker says, “Passing stranger!”. Anaphora- Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginniRead more

    • Apostrophe- Apostrophe involves addressing an absent or imaginary person or entity. In this case, the speaker directly addresses the passing stranger. It can be seen in the first line where the speaker says, “Passing stranger!”.
    • Anaphora- Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. There is a repetition of the phrase “I am” from the tenth to the thirteenth lines.
    • Simile- Simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words “like” or “as.” in the line, “it comes to me, as of a dream”, the speaker compares the realization to the coming of a dream.
    • Enjambment- Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, stanza, or verse. It creates a flowing and uninterrupted rhythm in the poem. This has been used in the poem.
    • Metaphor- A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not applicable. It can be seen in the line, “your body has become not yours only, nor left my body mine only,” where the poet metaphorically shows how the speaker and the stranger share a small part of their life with their other.
    • Alliteration- is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. An example of alliteration in the poem is “You must be he I was seeking, or she I was seeking, (it comes to me, as of a dream” where the “e” sound is repeated.

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